Which fabrics shouldn't be sewn into lampshades because they're flamable?

Question

I have a plain, white lampshade that I would like to wrap a pretty, transparent, cloth in, but I'm concerned that the heat of the lamp can set it on fire. Which fabrics should be stayed away from in this regard?

Answer 1

All fabrics are flammable if they come into contact with the light source. That is why you see "Maximum wattage of 60 watt bulb" The key is to make sure the fabric stays far enough away from the bulb to be safe. You should have no problems recovering a pre-made lampshade as long as you keep the same distances from the bulb.

You can also make fabric even safer by rinsing in a solution of 1 gallon of water and 1 cup of Borax. Allow the material to air dry. Fabric treated this way is highly flame resistant and will only burn in extreme cases.

Here is a great site for ideas and supplies: http://www.lampshop.com/