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Rawhide Lamp Shades - Measuring & Ordering
By Craig Chambers
The right rawhide lamp shade can make a perfect lamp. But the wrong size shade can make a beautiful lamp look out of balance. And ordering the wrong size lampshade is inconvenient and expensive. See how we choose the right shade for your lamp without seeing them together.
Mission Del Rey offers rawhide lamp shades for southwestern lighting and western lamps but the technique our buyers use will work with any lamp shade. Give it a try to help choose the right shade for your lamp even before you order. Follow this simple procedure and you will make the right choice the first time when taking advantage of great deals on the internet or when catalog ordering.
First, we need to understand how rawhide lampshades are measured. You will need three measurements, bottom diameter, top diameter and height. The height of a shade should be measured straight up and down vertically...not along the slant as some people do.
Measuring Tip #1: The reason we measure height up and down, "vertically" is that the height measurement of you lamp from bulb socket base to top of harp is probably the minimum vertical height you will want to cover with your shade. For example: The slant may be 9" but the actual height only 6" which would leave 3" your brass bulb socket exposed if you really need 9" inches in vertical height.
Measuring Tip #2: The height of your lamp can be adjusted with a shorter or taller harp to be able to use a standard lampshade rather than ordering a custom shade in many cases. For example: Using a shorter harp lowers the shade on the lamp allowing you to use a shorter shade, while using a taller harp raises a taller shade on the lamp.
Now, here is the trick to ordering the right shade. You probably have an idea of the approximate size, so simply consult our list of standard rawhide lamp shade sizes or any shade outlet. Select the shade size that you are considering. Each lampshade's measurements should be listed as described above.
Next, make a simple two-dimensional "flat" pattern the size of the shade out of paper or cardboard. For example, use the lower edge of the cardboard for the base line. Measure up the height of the shade and draw a horizontal line parallel to the base line which will represent the top edge of the shade. Now draw a vertical line straight up and down from base line or to the top edge line. If you imagine the base line, vertical line and top edge line as the capital letter "I" you are on the right track.
Then, mark the top and bottom dimensions of the shade on your pattern so that you get the correct slant for the edge of the shade. From the center line measure and mark the top diameter of the shade. If the top diameter is 5" then measure to the left and right of the center line along the top edge line 2.5" on both sides and make a mark. Those points are the top corners of your pattern. Repeat along the baseline using the shade's bottom diameter. If it seems confusing, it's really not, but very simple and quick. Consult the lamp shade measuring instruction and diagram on our website if you need help.
Finally, If you will cut out the pattern and have someone hold it in place over the lamp, you will be able to step back and look. Even though it is flat, you will be able to get a feel for how the shade will look on your lamp and order with confidence.
It's not full proof but it is a quick and easy way to make sure that you are on the right track in your shade size selection. This simple idea has helped our rawhide shade clients save a lot of aggravation and money over the years and we trust it will benefit you too. http://www.missiondelrey.com
About the Author
Craig Chambers is the President of Mission Del Rey, an Arizona non profit organization preserving the culture of the Tarahumara Indians through traditional skills, offering hand laced rawhide lamp shades and rustic lamps for southwestern lighting, western lamps and decor. More information is available at http://www.missiondelrey.com
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