How To Fix A Floor Lamp With a Swing Arm?

Most of the time, your light isn’t technically broken. Since only a handful of parts go into making a swing arm lamp, fixing them is just as easy. However, different things can go wrong, and there is a solution for each of them. Read on to find out more.

You are most likely to have wiring issues. That’s what I’ll be focusing on primarily. It is not difficult to rewire a lamp. If you want to rewire a lamp, first start by removing the bulb socket. 

Remove the cord from inside the wire after that. Replacing the cord with a new one and tightening the uncovered ends to a socket and a plug is important.

How to Rewire a Swing Arm Floor Lamp?

An example of a bridge lamp is a lamp that has a swinging arm that comes out of the base. These lights are perfect for studying, reading, or working.

This is mostly because each lamp can be turned towards or away from an individual—all that without having to move the entire lamp around.  

As well as being available in different styles and colors, they can both be used for decoration and for illumination. Floor lamps with bridge arms wear out with time, just like all lights.

However, this does not mean you have to abandon a beloved lamp right away. Hopefully, the right steps can fix the worn lamp and give it a new lease of life.

Before Wiring

To begin, unplug the lamp, then take off the shade. You can now detach the socket, which holds the light bulb, allowing you to take it out. At the base, it’s secured by a nut.

Rotate the nut with your fingers or a wrench counterclockwise. After the nut is removed, you won’t be able to attach the bulb. The wires inside the lamp are all that keep it in place.

Removing Other Parts

A lamp cord is attached to the rest of the lamp body with two screws at the bulb socket base. Take the screws out of the socket and put it aside for later.

Your lamp is now ready for the next chord. Tape the end of that chord to the old chord and do that. You should be able to pull the old chord off the lamp at the top. Doing so will enable you to pull in a new chord.

There must be sufficient wiring coming out of the bottom of the bracket to reach electrical outlets. You won’t need much more distance from an outlet than 5 to 6 feet in most cases.

Consider extending the lamp’s chord by 8 to 9 feet if you plan to place it further away from an outlet. When your chord is the desired length, use wire cutters to cut it at the top.

Prepping And Connecting The Wires

When you have finished the new chord, the insulation should be removed. This is the rubbery material surrounding the wires. Use wire strippers to remove the insulation for about 2 to 3 inches.

Once you have finished that, grab the new electrical plug, and loosen the two screws on it. Once the wire is uncovered, wrap it around the two screws. Place the plug cover back on the electrical outlet once that’s done.

On the other end of the cord, you need to hook the bare end through the two screws in the socket where the bulb goes.

Wire each with one, then wrap each one tightly around the screw until it is secure.

Putting It Back Together

Get rid of any slack in the chord by pulling it from the bottom. Put the nut on the socket and attach it to the lamp. Screw the nut back on by turning it clockwise.

After you’ve put the lamp back together, you can re-install the dimmer and plug in the lamp to see that it’s working properly.

Check to make sure that the wires are properly connected to the plug and the socket on the lamp.

How to Tighten Swing Arm Lamp?

A floor lamp is an easy way to provide illumination to a room’s darkest areas. Decorating the room with floor lamp is also easy as you can place it anywhere you want.

Despite being compact, floor lamps provide a good deal of light where it is needed most. They will outstand table lamps in terms of brightness and be your friend while your work or study.

The lamp’s parts may become dislodged over time and repeated touching, making it wobbly and unstable. In most cases, hand tightening or tightening with standard household tools is enough.

Step 1

Find out where the looseness is coming from by closely examining the lamp. Wiggle and touch the lamp in various places, starting slightly beneath the socket and moving down.

To determine if the base is wobbly, stabilize the base by placing your foot on it and holding the pole or tube, gently wiggling it. See if parts near the base are wagging more than they should.

Step 2

The lamp should be unplugged from the outlet. When using a light that has recently been used, allow the bulb to cool to room temperature.

Step 3

On the ground, place a pillow. The lamp’s top and the area around the bulb should rest on the pillow as you lean the lamp downward. 

Shades that are solid or able to handle the weight of the sunlight may be left in place. In other words, unscrew the thumbscrew or remove the finial that keeps the shade attached to the harp and then remove the shade manually.

Step 4

Tighten a loose tube at the center of the lamp body by twisting the top end of the lamp tube (post) clockwise while holding the bottom end steady. You can tighten other parts attached to or on the tube by doing the same.

Step 5

Make sure the tube is attached to the lamp base with a screw or nut by looking at the underside of the base. Make sure the screw is tightened with a Phillips-head screwdriver or tighten the nut with a small adjustable wrench.

Step 6

Normally, the lampshade should be replaced after being removed. Once it’s tightened, wiggle it again to make sure it’s secure. If the lamp is not yet stable, repeat the inspection and tightening process.

Replacing/Fixing The Socket

Occasionally, the socket needs to be replaced or repaired. It would be easier to replace them in this case. The matching cord set can be found online easily. Here is how to replace a socket.

Let’s unplug the lamp first. Opening the socket is the first step in disassembling the lamp. By applying pressure on the socket shell near the cap of the socket, pry the socket open using a flathead screwdriver.

Unscrew the wire terminals and pull the socket shell off the interior of the socket. Turn the bridge arm swivel counterclockwise. Remove the socket cap. The new lamp cord will now be pulled through the bridge lamp arm and up from the lamp’s base. 

We will use the old cord for the feed line since it will be thrown away. The old plug should be cut off, and the cord should be snipped. You will need to attach the new cord to the old cord and pull the new cord upwards to where the bridge arm is located. 

Pull the lamp cord completely up from the socket and screw the new socket cap on. Ensure the new cord doesn’t have the old cord attached. UL knots should be tied to both ends of the new cord. 

The new cord interior should be attached to the socket interior. Wire connections for the ribbed cord and smooth cords are brass screw terminals and nickel screw terminals, respectively. 

You may want to pull back any slack in the cord and slide the socket shell over the interior of the lamp. Connect the socket shell to the socket cap by snapping it together. Try adding a bulb and testing the lamp.

Conclusion

Learning how to fix a floor lamp with a swing arm doesn’t just involve handling the swivel arm and the mogul socket, but also requires a nuanced understanding of the lamp’s several unique characteristics. The incorporation of a clear gold lamp cord, for instance, might seem like a minor cosmetic procedure, but it actually contributes to the lamp’s aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency. Remember, each lamp, with its unique characteristics, necessitates a tailored approach.

Moreover, it’s important to keep in mind that the repairs discussed here are just one part of the entire process. There might be other suggestions and approaches you could explore, based on the specific needs and conditions of your lamp. Ultimately, the path you choose to follow when fixing your floor lamp with a swing arm is a matter of personal choice, influenced by your comfort, familiarity with the process, and the specifics of the lamp you are working on.

Restoring your lamp to its former glory requires patience, knowledge, and the correct tools. But the satisfaction it brings upon completion is unparalleled. The shimmering light from your clear gold lamp cord, the smooth operation of the swivel arm, and the renewed look of the lamp altogether, demonstrate that even the most seemingly intricate repairs are possible with the right guidance. So, the next time your floor lamp needs a touch-up, remember this guide and take the challenge head-on!