DIY Network

Tiered Glass Display Stand Turn ceiling lights into a swanky glass stand. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-603

Make your own stunning stand.

Turn glass ceiling light covers into a posh tiered stand with some help from Michele Beschen. The B. Original host shows how to reinforce one of the shades with concrete, then thread several onto a metal rod to create a stand that will dress up any table.

Use this terrific tower to add height to a buffet, show off some favorite trinkets or conquer the clutter on any surface. Scroll down to get started.

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Tiered Glass Display Stand

Materials:

Figure A

4 glass ceiling light shades (figure A)
wire clothes hanger with cardboard insert
small saw
16-ounce disposable cup
Portland cement
play sand
concrete acrylic fortifier
bucket
trowel
scrap piece of wood
1/8" threaded lamp rod or nipple, 30" long
hex nuts and flat washers to fit the outside of the lamp rod
decorative finial to fit the outside of the lamp rod
heavy-duty felt pads

	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• Remove the cardboard tube from the wire hanger. Cut the tube in half with a small saw, being careful not to crush the tube.

• Determine which glass shade will serve as the stand's base. Place the base concave side up – like a bowl – on a work surface and insert one piece of the cardboard tube into the hole in the glass (figure B).

• In a clean bucket, mix three 16-ounce cups of Portland cement and six 16-ounce cups of play sand.

• Instead of water, mix in 1/2 quart of concrete acrylic fortifier to the dry cement and sand. The fortifier is a bonding agent that will enable the mix to stick to the glass.

• Carefully fill the glass shade with the cement mix, taking care to keep the cardboard tube completely straight
  (figure C).

• Use a scrap piece of wood to screed (level off) the cement flush with the top of the shade.

• Give the mix a few minutes to set up, then smooth it further with a trowel. Use a finger to create a slight recess in the cement around the cardboard tube. This recess should be deep enough to accommodate a washer and nut (figure D).

• Let the concrete dry completely, then remove the cardboard tube.

• Install a washer and a hex nut on one end of the 1/8" threaded rod. These rods are available in the lighting department of hardware or home improvement stores. Thread the washer and nut about 3" onto the rod.

• Place the concrete-filled base flat-side down on a work surface . Insert the rod through the hole in the base (figure E) and install another washer and nut on the underside (flat side) of the base. Secure the rod to the base by gently tightening the nuts on both sides of the base (figure F).
  

  Figure E

  Figure F

  
  

  Figure G

• Thread another nut on the rod until it sits about 8" above the base. Add a washer and place a glass shade over the rod, bowl-side up. Secure the shade with another washer and nut.

• Continue to add as many shades as desired. When the top shade is added, use a decorative lamp finial instead of a hex nut (figure G).

• To protect furniture, adhere heavy-duty felt pads to the bottom of the concrete base.