How to Rewire a Vintage Three-Way Table Lamp

If your vintage table lamp has begun flickering, it may need a new lamp cord. The existing cord may be damaged, or the wires beneath the insulation may have become partially broken. Rewiring a table lamp is a relatively simple task. Replacement cords are available at most home improvement centers, hardware stores, or electrical supply houses. Your project will only take a few minutes to complete, and you will only need to use one common tool. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Unplug the lamp from the wall outlet. Remove the finial, shade, shade harp, and light bulb. Put them aside. The lamp socket will now be completely exposed.

2

Squeeze the socket shroud where the word "Press" is stamped into the metal. Wiggle the socket shroud and remove it from the socket base. This will expose the socket interior.

3

Loosen the screws holding the waires to the socket interior. Remove the wires from the screws, and remove the socket interior. Set it aside with the other components you removed earlier.

4

Pull the old lamp cord out through the base of the table lamp and discard it. Insert the new cord into the base of the lamp. Thread it upward until the end emerges through the hole in the socket base.

5

Remove the precut insullation from the tips of the lamp cord wires. Wrap each around one screw of the socket interior and tighten the screws back down until the wires are securely attached.

6

Reinstall the socket shroud. Press your fingers where the word "Press" is stamped into the metal. Wiggle the shroud down over the socket interior until it snaps and locks into the socket base.

7

Reinstall the light bulb, shade harp, shade, and finial. Plug the lamp into a wall outlet and turn it on.