| We work with rawhide lamp shades everyday and | | | | The reason that you want to measure height straight |
| measuring a shade seems like it would be a simple | | | | up and down, "vertically" is that the height |
| task. Actually it is, but the difficulty comes into play | | | | measurement of your lamp from bulb socket base to |
| when you try to communicate the measurements to | | | | the top of the harp is probably the minimum vertical |
| someone else. Then it can get complicated. Know | | | | height you will want to cover with your shade. |
| what I mean? | | | | By knowing that measurement vertically, you will |
| We make lampshades out of rawhide so we talk | | | | make sure that your shade sits on the harp so that it |
| with a lot of people about the sizes of lamp shades | | | | drops sufficiently below the socket to look good. |
| that might work for them. Something we find a lot is | | | | The length is really important because if you have |
| that everyone seems to have different ways to | | | | the top and bottom diameter set and the vertical |
| measure and we all need to be on the same track. | | | | height calculated correctly, the slant or length of the |
| The Challenge: | | | | shade will take care of itself. |
| Some people give the bottom diameter then the | | | | Lamp Shade Measuring Tip #2: |
| height, then the top. Some do it exactly the opposite. | | | | Something that most people don't consider when |
| Others offer either the top or bottom | | | | trying to buy a stock lamp shade for their lamp is |
| measurements first then refer to the length of the | | | | adjusting the height of the lamp. An inch or so on the |
| shade meaning the angled side. | | | | overall height of the lamp won't make much |
| It can be very confusing until everyone gets on the | | | | difference but it might be just what is needed to be |
| same track so that we know what each other is | | | | able to use a stock shade rather than purchasing an |
| talking about. In order to help our clients we have | | | | expensive custom made lamp shade. |
| established some standards to try to help | | | | The height of your lamp can be adjusted by using a |
| communicate the correct information. | | | | taller or shorter harp, the wire hoop over the bulb |
| It really doesn't matter which measurements come | | | | that holds the shade. A shorter harp drops the shade |
| first or last as long as everyone understands what is | | | | down lower on the lamp. A taller harp raises the |
| being talked about. Here is how we do it to avoid | | | | shade higher up on the lamp. |
| misunderstandings. You basically need three | | | | By changing out the harp, you are altering the vertical |
| measurements, bottom diameter, top diameter and | | | | measurement of the shade needed to cover the |
| the height. | | | | electrical components as mentioned earlier. |
| The bottom and top diameter are simply measured | | | | This difference in height may allow you to make a |
| across the opening from one side to the other. The | | | | stock lamp shade look good. That way you eliminate |
| height of a shade should be measured straight up | | | | the need to have a custom shade made. The result |
| and down vertically, not along the slant. This is the | | | | is that you get the correct look on your special lamp. |
| trouble maker that usually causes the most confusion. | | | | Keep these two simple rawhide lamp shade |
| You will be better off thinking of the shade height in | | | | measuring tips in mind. For your next project, give |
| terms of a vertical measurement rather than | | | | them a try. You will see how easy it is to measure a |
| measuring the slant or "length" of the shade. | | | | lamp shade. You'll correctly fit your lamp just like the |
| Lamp Shade Measuring Tip #1: | | | | professional do it. |