Rewiring a pink rosebud Lamp ...

I love old lamps.  I can't resist them, like most things they just don't make 'em like they usedta.  Usually they need a bit of TLC, along with a good cleaning a new cord and lampshade.
Several ladies have said they would like to know how to re-wire a lamp so I decided to show how I do it.

Cords are fairly easy to replace, finding the right lampshade is the difficult part for me.   Since I buy so many old lamps I use extension cords to re-wire. I like that I can get them white or green and in different lengths.
  I am not suggesting you do this, I'm just sayin' it's what I  use.  You can buy replacement cords in a hardware store for about seven dollars.  
I wanted to replace this old brown cord with a white one.







                           

After you have your lamp cord, gather your tools. You will need wire strippers, wire cutters and a flat blade screwdriver.    

If you have a harp and finial remove them and set aside.  Then grasp the socket base in one hand and the socket shell/cover in the other, squeeze the shell/cover and pull up.  It should come right off.  Set the shell/
cover aside.

You can now pull the socket up along with the old cord...the cord may need some encouragement from the bottom, just push and wiggle.  You will see a screw on each side of the socket with wire going to each one.
Using a flat blade screwdriver turn the screws enough to release the wire. ( Remember, Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty ) this on each side and set the socket aside.   Once that is done use the wire cutters to cut below the old Underwriters knot in the wire...you can see this knot just below the socket.  This will make it easier for you to pull the old wire out from the bottom which is the next step.  If your lamp is extremely tall or long, tie a long strong piece of string or twine on the end of it before pulling it out of the lamp ... then you can tie it to the end of the replacement cord to help pull it through to the top of the lamp.

Get your extension cord ready to put into the lamp by cutting off the end ... remember I'm not telling you to use an extension cord, I'm just showing you what I do. :))

Next push your new cord up the lamp base until you have enough to grasp at the top. If it's a tall or long base this is where the string going through the base and tied on the new end will come in handy.  For this lamp I didn't need it.   Pull out enough cord to work with comfortably.

Now we are going to tie our own Underwriter's knot. Don't skip this step, it's important.  It will keep your wire from pulling out if someone trips over the cord.and is a safety measure.  First pull apart the cord so you have two pieces about 3" to 4"  long. You may need to use the wire cutters to cut in the center rib down about an inch to make it easy to pull the wire sides apart.  Take one piece and loop it in front of itself. 

Take the other piece and put it through the loop and pull until it's snug.  Now take the piece you just pulled through, loop it in front of itself and pull the other piece through it .. grab both ends and pull until snug.
Congratulations you have just made an Underwriter's Knot !!!

This is how your Underwriter's Knot should look. Now pull the cord down from the bottom of the lamp until the knot is snug against the socket base.

Now set the socket on the socket base, (you didn't 

forget where you put it did  you? ummm ...me either),     fold the wire over one screw terminal... you don't want it too short or too long, about 1/2" is just right, cut with wire cutters, do this to each side just getting the length you need .                                                                    

Now take the wire strippers and strip off that 1/2" of covering that is over the wire.  It should be about 18 gauge marked on the wire stripper.  You may need to squeeze, then turn the stripper and squeeze the other side of the wire covering to cut through it, then holding the wire in one hand and the strippers firmly in the other pull the wire covering off the wire.   You will see a bunch of pretty little copper wires.

Now if you haven't noticed before, one side of the wire cover is ribbed and one side is smooth. You will wrap the smooth side to the brass screw terminal and the ribbed side to the silver.  Be sure none of the little wires are cut shorter than the others (this is one reason for the wire strippers).  I usually take and curl them first, then place them over the screw, making sure they are all wrapped around and neatly tucked in before tightening the screw.

Set the socket into the base, pull gently on the cord from the bottom to snug it up, replace the socket cover snugly as well.   VIE OH LAH !!!  You have replaced a cord.  And after finding the right lamp shade ... have a beautiful, probably one of a kind, lamp.

       Thanks for stopping by ... hope this tutorial has helped you.  I will be linking up with Beverly's   Pink Saturday, hope to see you there.  Thanks for your sweet comments and ya'll com back soon (())