Choosing a bulb for a 3D printed lamp, and how to care for it

3D printed lamps are built up layer by layer; that is where the fine texture of the body and the way it spreads light come from. The method gives each lamp its character, but it asks for care on one point: heat. Follow the few rules below and your lamp will stay as it was on day one for years.

Which bulb should you use?

Our lamps with a standard E27 socket ship with a 10 W warm white LED bulb. If you ever replace it, check three things:

• LED only, 10 W at most. A 10 W LED bulb gives roughly the light of an old 60 W incandescent bulb, which is plenty for a decorative table lamp.
• No incandescent or halogen bulbs. They produce a lot of heat along with the light and can warm the body enough to deform it.
• Prefer warm white. Pleated and wavy shades look softest with warm white light. Cool white feels harsher, more like an office.

The KIŞ MASALI Christmas House Set works without a bulb: battery LED tea lights give its light. Use only LED candles inside, never an open-flame candle.

The MOKKA Table Lamp has no replaceable bulb: its light comes from a 5V 3W LED module, with an inline on/off switch on the USB cable. Use it only with USB sources that output 5V and do not connect it to power sources that supply a higher voltage; the USB adapter is not included. The product may soften and change shape at temperatures above about 55–60 °C. Keep it away from direct sunlight and from heat sources such as radiators, stoves and ovens; do not leave it in a closed car in hot weather.

Where should the lamp go?

A 3D printed body may soften above roughly 55–60 °C. Everyday use never gets close, but some places easily go beyond it:

• A sunny window or windowsill
• Next to a radiator, stove or fireplace
• Inside a parked car in summer (don’t leave the lamp in the car while moving it)

A nightstand, console, bookshelf or side table away from direct sun and heat sources is ideal.

Cleaning and care

• Unplug the plug or the USB cable before cleaning, and before changing the bulb on E27 lamps.
• Wipe with a dry or slightly damp soft cloth. A soft brush helps to dust pleated and wavy surfaces.
• Avoid abrasive cleaners and solvents; they can dull the silky finish.

Every piece is a little different

Because each lamp is printed individually, you may see small size differences of up to ±1 cm and fine layer lines on the surface. They are not flaws, just the natural traces of how it was made.

To see our lamps up close: the wavy Aura, the translucent FLORA Table Lamp, the mushroom-shaped Retro Pleated Table Lamp and the curved MOKKA Table Lamp.