Faux Shell Chandelier - Part 4

So, we're finally here in the home stretch.  All the hardware is assembled and all your strands of shells are ready.  The only thing to do now is to attach the shells and finishing metal and then to install the chandelier.

First up, you need to suspend the hardware somehow to attach the shells.  What we did was use some spare pieces of 2 by 4 and attach them to our mantle with clamps.  Then we just placed the ceiling plate across the boards.

Our suspension set-up

Then I started attaching the strands from the bottom.  I used pliers to open a jump ring, put it around the basket wire, and then close it.  It's a very simple process, which, unfortunately I didn't photograph because it takes both hands.  I put the bottom row on the bottom of the basket, one box in from the edge and each strand was 7 shells long.

For the second layer I attached the strands one box up from the bottom on the outside edge.  Like the bottom layer these were attached with jump rings.  Each strand was 6 shells long.

Finally, the top layer was attached with hot glue.  These are the strands that were 5 shells long and didn't have a hole punched on either end.  I didn't bother with the punching holes at the top of the strands because I knew I would be gluing them on.  Gluing is faster than attaching with jump rings, but the downside is that you can see the glue through the shells.  Not cool.

To remedy this we added another piece of aluminum to the top all the way around the chandelier.  We used the same type of L-shaped aluminum that we used for the ceiling box and painted it bronze with the same spray paint.  The trim pieces were cut on an angle just like what we did for the ceiling box.  They were then screwed to the top in two places on each side.

A view after the top trim has been attached.  

And, here it is, fully assembled and waiting to be installed:

Installing the chandelier is not too tough, but you will need two people, most likely, at least at first when you screw it in. Once it's hanging from the mounting box, one person can join the wires with the wire nuts and then close things up. This is a good tutorial that describes how to wire the chandelier: How to Install a Chandelier

So, now you hopefully have a beautiful chandelier that didn't cost you an arm and a leg to create. Plus, you can say you made it yourself! :)