Floor Lamp With Broken Swivel Repair

A customer brought in this floor lamp the other day with a broken swivel. Lamp swivels are designed to move the angle of the socket or lamp arm to cast the light in a different direction. For one reason or another, this swivel failed.

Brass Lamp Swivel

In addition to the lamp swivel, this customer also wanted to change the socket to a heavy turned brass premium socket and 12 foot brown SPT-2 lamp cord. With all the lamp parts in hand, we are ready to start the repair.

First, we need to disassemble the lamp. We start by opening the old socket. The socket shell (large part) is clipped into the socket cap (small part). With a flat head screwdriver, pry the cap from the shell. The shell slides off the socket interior.

Next, we remove the socket interior.

Now we can remove the socket cap, stamped leaf, and old swivel from the lamp body. Some socket caps have set screws and some may have glue to hold them on the threaded rod. The ease of removal can vary from lamp to lamp.

The rest of the old swivel body comes off the lamp.

If the customer were wanting to keep the old lamp cord and reuse it (to reuse a lamp cord: inspect the cord for any damage, cracks, or pinched wires, also make sure the plug is polarized) we would be ready to place the new swivel on the lamp body and attach the socket. Since they have elected to change the cord we need to push and pull the old cord back to the base of the lamp.

The new lamp cord goes in the same way the old one came out. Starting at the base and working up the tube and then across the bridge arm.

Now we are ready to attach the new swivel to the bridge arm of the lamp. Our replacement swivel is bright brass and the fixture is an antique or dark brass. To darken the swivel, we used some JAX metal darkener. It only takes a little to turn this brass piece to an antique finish. The newly darkened swivel is pushed over the cord and screws on the threaded rod of the lamp.

The new turned brass socket has a screw type connection with a collar. It does not snap together. Always remember the collar goes on the lamp with the cap.

The stamped leaf and socket cap are placed on the lamp.

A UL knot is tied in the lamp cord and the socket interior is attached to the cord. The smooth cord wire connects to the brass screw and the ribbed cord wire connects to the nickel plated screw.

The new socket shell slides over the socket interior. As the shell is pushed toward the socket cap, cord slack gets pulled back up the lamp arm. The socket collar is tightened on the socket shell. We add a bulb and test the lamp.

Back to great. Total time < 45 min Total cost < $40

Ceramic Table Lamp Socket Replacement

A customer brought in this blue ceramic lamp the other day and complained the lamp was not working. A quick inspection of the socket interior showed some corrosion and wear. We suggested a new 3-way socket interior, but the customer wanted to replace the whole socket with a solid spun brass heavy duty socket in antique brass finish.

First thing we do is remove the socket shell from the socket cap and unscrew the lamp cord from the screw terminals. Then the socket cap is removed from the lamp body.

The new socket cap is attached to the lamp body. The heavy turned brass sockets have a connection ring for the socket cap and shell. The new socket ring goes on the lamp first. The cord is pushed up the socket cap. The socket cap is screwed on the threaded rod and the set screw is tightened. Make sure the orientation of the socket cap is positioned for the socket key to face the front and center of the lamp.

A UL Knot is tied in the lamp cord and the socket interior is attached to the cord. The smooth wire goes on the brass screw and the ribbed wire goes on the nickel screw.

The socket shell is placed on the socket interior and the ring below the socket cap is screwed on the socket shell.

A bulb is added and the lamp is tested.

Job well done. Total cost <$30 Total time < 20 minutes

Floral Table Lamp Get a New Lamp Cord

A customer brought in this patient the other day and wanted a new lamp cord wired on it. The old lamp cord was not polarized, so a new cord is needed. In addition to the cord, we will generally inspect the lamp for wear and tear. The only lamp part we are sure is needed at this time is the replacement polarized lamp cord.

First we needed to remove the socket shell from the socket cap. Using a flat head screw driver the socket shell is pried from the socket cap where the shell is marked "Press here."

The socket interior is removed. Notice there is no UL knot in the lamp cord below the socket? Also notice the wire around the screw terminal is not tight against the screw? These are two areas for concern and will be fixed with this repair.

With the socket interior detached, the lamp cord is pulled through the lamp body.

With the socket off and the cord out, here are two simple checks to make with a repair. 1) Tighten the lamp. Even if the lamp is not loose, having the cord out give you a rare opportunity to tighten the lamp rod by turning the bottom nut. 2) Inspect the socket insulator (paper liner of the shell). Make sure the insulator is not dry and brittle. The insulator on this lamp is not pretty, but works just as well.

We are ready to replace the lamp cord. Push the new cord up the lamp rod from the bottom.

Tie a UL knot in the top of the new cord and attach the socket interior. The smooth wire connects to the brass screw and the ribbed wire connects to the silver screw.

Place the socket shell back on the interior and pull the cord slack down the lamp as you position the socket shell on the socket cap. Remember to have you push trough knobs or the socket key in the middle of the harp base before you click the socket closed.

Safe and ready for use. Total time < 10 minutes. Total Cost < $6.00