Lighting fittings for professional makeup mirrors

[cybermonkey]

Hi there and hope you can help with this question. I've been given a rather random electrical job, I need to install the lighting on a number of professional free-standing makeup mirrors and I'm having trouble sourcing the correct fittings.

I want to install 8x100W lamps in each wooden frame through pre-drilled holes, and in the holes i'll fix the brass pendants and daisy chain these together to a switch and then to the socket. To hold the pendants in place I want to use a flanged lampholder with fixing centres in the flange so that I can push through the holes and attach from the back of the frame, then attach the pendant to this, add a brass decorative cover on the front, and then attach the lamp.

I've had a look around and I can't seem to find anywhere that sells these fittings as a kit. Can anyone point me in the right direction?! Thanks

 

[mogga]

why go to all that when you can get readymade ones and 100w gls lamps wont be around for long

 

[Knobhead]

Colour is important, have a look for “daylight” lamps.

 

[Rockingit]

I actually make these, on commission, as a side-line hobby. All started when I made one for the daughter as a pressy, then her friends wanted one, and their mums..... I got a job-lot order for sixteen on ebay, once!



Ikea sell the 4 lamp units, about £20ish quid each and they are just so much easier to use than messing about with individual fittings. Internally wired within the frame in singles. You can also use small fluro-strip fittings intended for bathroom use, but they're expensive and don't have that iconic look.

 

[cybermonkey]

Thanks all for the comments. Rockingit thanks for the pointer, I think i've found the units you described, would it be these? MUSIK Wall lamp - IKEA (liking your mirror designs btw). Do you know what size cables are in the unit? Although this would be the easier option I can't see how I could mount the lighting unit anywhere but on the front of the mirror frame, and then build up a surround like you've done with yours.

The client who ordered the mirrors was quite specific on how they should look as they will be part of a TV set. The closest I can find to the lighting design she asked for is this:



I've now found the brass pendants at tlc-direct, but still looking for flanged batten holders that will fit the pendants, as well as the brass faceplates...the hunt continues!

 

[mogga]

Pendants are hanging light fittings Confused.com You mean you want batten holders brass with flange even more worried.com
Might I ask are you an electrician ? trainee? or someone with electrical knowlage? or have you been asked to make these up as a DIY job
If your without electrical training ,background ,qualifications Personaly Id steer well clear as 1 you wont be insured should anything go wrong 2 you may get it working but in an unsafe manner that wont become apparent till used 3 you dont have correct qualifications to test this "unit" 4 You couldnt live with yourself IF anything went wrong

 

[Engineer54]

If you were thinking of using 100W lamps ...Don't!! You can't imagine the heat build up in front of that mirror, whoever is sitting in front of it, will be sweating like a pig and in all honesty the make-up they will be using will be running...lol!! I know, i've tried doing a similar thing for an amateur players group in Saudi at one time. had to go out and get small 20W lamps and even then it was still hot sitting in front of those make-up mirrors...lol!!!

 

[cybermonkey]

Haha yep I am qualified mogga, I retrained a few years ago and just going through the 17th ed and 2391 certs now, so installing and wiring up 8 lamps in series should be a relatively simple task...if you've got the materials! Ok so I might not be up with all the technical terms yet, but yes a brass batten holder is what I'm after if it means I can push it through the hole and screw it to the back of the frame via a pre-drilled flange/lip/lid/surface etc.

Thanks for your tip Engineer54 I'll get back to the client and warn her, again (I already told her it will be very hot with 100W). She wanted authentic but seeing as it will be for TV use only then I'm sure a lower wattage lamp would be fine, and a lot cooler!

 

[Rockingit]

Being a semi-retired theatre / TV sparks I can tell you quite categorically that there is no such thing as 'one right look'. Each theatre dressing room up and down this land (and I've been in most of them) is just a cobbled mash-up of batten holders (normally white plastic) with enormous signs hung everywhere telling people they get hot!!

Yes, the MUSIK ones are what I've used, and cabling is just 1 or 1.5mm singles which run inside a routed out channel right around the frame, coming from a perfectly normal 10A decorative lighting switch being fed from a 13A plug. If you want to get clever you could also mount in a 13A socket for hairdryers and the like (just up the incoming cable size to suit).

When I make them I do it in two pieces - the 'front' frame as a solid piece of 18mm MDF, with a 20mm or so routed channel all the way around (also routed on the inside edge to accept the piece of mirror), then just a solid 18mm MDF back panel. That way, you get an even depth mirror / frame, enough depth of timber to cut out 25-30mm to fit the switch plate flush and they also end up being very solid and robust.

Decent paint-job and some fairy dust and SOLD!

On a different note: You will probably discover that if they do get made as 100W BC's (or even close) when they actually come to do any filming the lighting cameraman is likely to moan like anything due to issues of shadow, colour temperature and hot-spots. Net result = they get turned off anyway!!!! I've seen it many times.

 

[Richard Burns]

From your picture you look look you have there just flanged brass batten fittings.
If you have a thin mirror frame then you could pass these through the frame and secure with the retaining ring, just make sure that there is enough clearance to allow heat escape or the frame will char.
Available all over e.g.
Pro Logic: Lighting and Control Gear Specialists
http://www.electrika.com/products/m/man-0260/pdfcat/05-161.pdf
QA Brass Batten Holder - BC - QVS Electrical Supplies | Electrical Wholesaler

These should be able to fit directly to the mirror surround surface and if you use brass screws, and don't slip too much tightening them up, should be very similar to the picture. Not sure about brass cover plates though.

Oh and by the way I hope you wire them in parallel not in series (though it may help with the heat!)
25W GLS may be better.

 

[GalTom]

100/60 W? Within the next few years they will be antiques. It might be better to use lamps with less electricity usage. Your client will be happy if you find a cheaper solution.

 

[Former Sponsor TM]

Something like these? Dressing room mirrors

 

[Rockingit]

I know that company............ and basically they are just making them to order from the bare bits the same as I do. If you want to spend money on buying them, mine are cheaper! :santa5: This isn't a serious sales pitch though, I hope we've given the OP enough ideas to get sorted.