DIY satellite project! (Yes, it's clickbait, it's really only about a reflector)

I find the top reflectors for Petromax lamps to be a bit pricey, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. Had an old satellite dish laying around, which I believed could do the job. Took some measurements and went at it with an angle grinder. Rough cut first, then grinded down to a smoother edge. Sanded down the edges to finish them off.



Roughly sanded down the underside. Left the paint on the top side for now.



Fits well enough! Tried it with both the Anchor 950 and Petromax 829. Not as curved (or circular! ) as the original reflectors, but it does the job.





A fun little afternoon project!

Cheers,
Håkon

 

@HaakonJ
Wow, that’s a great lamp shade. I like your ingenuity and how you repurposed the old satellite dish.
Well done and thank you for your detailed post.
Cheers
Pete

 

Excellent!

 

Well done indeed.
Now that's what I call thinking outside the box.

 

Well done! It’s a great feeling repurposing unused items.

 

I find hoods, reflectors or shades - no matter how you call them - the most practical accesories to any lamp. Mostly to shield one's eyes againt the glare when atop a table or carrying, they reflect - hence the white or bare metal finish underneath - more light downwards to where you usually want it. Nice conversion into a highly useful shade, Håkon!

Regards, Mike

 

As someone who has made diy parts myself, this is right up my alley! I've spent ages looking for cheap domestic shades that i could adapt but haven't had any success so far. Well done!

 

Thanks, I appreciate your kind comments! A little rough around the edges, and not the best aesthetically, but anyone who has worked with an angle grinder knows it's not exactly a precision tool
I believe I have another dish laying around the barn somewhere, and maybe I can make a nicer version with that. Or a smaller one for my Petromax 827.

@M.Meijer I agree! The glare can be quite bothersome.

@ColinG I read your great post about the side reflector made from a tin can, and it was a good inspiration for this project.

Cheers
Håkon