How To Rewire And Restore A Vintage Antique Light Fixture

Fun little video showing how easy it can be to rewire a light fixture. Its fun, and you can be really proud of your work when completed.
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Sconce 1
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Sconce 2
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[@alisonmcirvin4763]

This is really a great and well explained process, thanks! I just bought 3 vintage wrought iron sconces that are perfect for my tiny home, but they def need re-wiring. You have given me confidence!

[@Ben-rj7xs]

Great video.. I agree with you most of things such as computers, lamps, and even cars.. it's pretty straight forward on how to repair these things.. alot of people don't think they can make repairs like this because there not an electrician or computer tech or mechanic. If people just take a look at it they will find they can do these things and save hundreds of dollars by doing it themselves.. excellent video thank you

[@122MLJ]

I bought a junky 6 light old chandelier at a flea market and hope to rewire. Your video is helpful and I like you philosophy but feel like I need you to walk me through the wiring process a little slower. Wish you were local! Thanks.

[@noelways]

Thank you. Another option for the switch is to simply bypass it and not use it, since the sconce may very well be controlled at a wall switch. This way, the old hardware switch can be left in place and matches the fixture. I really appreciate this video. I just purchases 5 sconces off ebay and restoration is this afternoons project. Also, you are a good educator.

[@ChadAmI80]

Great video. Thanks for the explanation of how the screws vs center vs threaded outer metal piece work in conjunction with each other.

[@auaiao9]

They look great!

[@chubbieminami3274]

Thank you. Your video helps a lot. I just bought broken sconces from France. I used to be scared of anything around electric repairs so I never did anything. My dad used to do some. I thought it would be a plus to study to get an electrician license. After knowing how electricity works, I am no longer afraid. Fear came from not knowing enough about electricity.

[@davidmoore6518]

Excellent video! I had a nearly identical style, antique fixture, with wiring that looked like Thomas Edisons grandfather had installed it. I wasn't quite sure just how to safely rewire it. Thanks for your help!

[@cherrysdiy5005]

Nice rotary! I myself used a toggle switch on my 1920's romantic revival sconces.

[@CathannSmith]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, it really helped me. I found a vintage electric wall clock with two scones lights, the clock works but the lights don't so I think I will take my time and try to repair it. I think it's a art piece, it is really unique and someone put it in out for garbage and I took it. I think it is from the 50's and it was in a home that someone smoked.I am trying to keep as original as possible, some of the paint has come off and is showing bare metal on the clock part and I don't know if I should paint it or just leave it.

[@vickileimback3957]

thanks!! this is great!

[@timweidner3335]

Nice and informative video.

[@karenbearden6198]

very cool.

[@Treebronx]

Like those sconces

[@barbiedesoto7054]

Thank you! I just scored a free mid century fixture that needs rewiring and this is so helpful! I love your vintage washer restore videos, too. Question: would this wiring work on a chandelier type fixture that I want to have on a dimmer switch? Or would there need to be another mechanism added to the fixture itself for dimming? Thanks!

[@leahmccall9758]

You are correct.....it is already broken so try to fix it. Never even thought of it!!

[@carolynfeser3582]

Yup. Knot in the hot. It rhymes so you don't forget it.

[@s.s.taylor4423]

Do you have a video about double or triple porcelain light fixtures. Like a flush mount. Appreciate your time. 😍

[@lass-inangeles7564]

I watched this video twice but still did not understand the wiring you did. Very confused about the black wire - not sure what it hooked up to. The sockets were not shown so unclear about where the positive and neutral wires connected in the socket. Also unclear about the bundling of wires. If both positive wires (hot wires) from each sconce was capped off with a plastic cap, how does it connect to 110V outlet? Unless, your black wire is connected to positive bundle, and also runs to ON/OFF switch on lamp, and the switch runs a black wire (positive) to wall 110V. Hope I got that right. Wish you had made this clearer. Also, the two neutrals coming out of the lamps go where? Do both get bundled up and attached to the neutral wall outlet? Is there a ground wire anywhere? Regarding stripping, I've done this strip to bare metal on two lamps. These lamps are usually some alloy metal mix with aluminum. After stripping, they look like unpolished aluminum. I found that polishing with a wire wheel does restore a dull gleam to the metal like pewter, a dark silvery gleam, which is attractive. Over this you can spray gold or copper, and add acrylic or enamel colors, then lacquer up the whole thing to avoid corrosion.

[@antoniocarter7111]

Wonder if it can be converted to a gas lantern?

[@jennifermann6498]

I do have a question - since there’s not a ground wire coming off of the fixture. How do u ground the fixture to the outlet?

[@me8042]

It’s interesting why old fixtures have no shades. When America electrified, having electricity was a status symbol. Not having shades showed visitors that you had electric lightbulbs, not gas or coal oil. This was to impress friends and family.

[@carolynfeser3582]

Ok. I have two screws. ONE is gold color. The other is a darker color. I was expecting a gold one and a silver one. Which is the hot?

[@emilys3638]

I enjoyed the video but I was disappointed that it wasn't a more detailed and thorough walk-through of the process. I do appreciate the video, but I wasn't able to understand enough of the wiring process to embark on my project yet. I needed less of the cleaning advice and more of the actual rewiring tutorial. 🙂 Would appreciate a follow-up at a beginner level, or if anyone else knows a good resource, please feel free to share a link with me! I just purchased my first vintage fixture today (a pendant that hangs from a chain) and am very excited but also quite daunted. I know next to nothing about electricity, but was hoping to learn through this small-scale project.

[@debradaleo4986]

GROUND WIRE??? no? i mean is it needed?

[@jakephelps7718]

I USED TO HAVE THREE WALL SCONCES AND USED TO NOTICE THAT THEY LOOKED DIFFERENT WHEN THEY WHERE TURNED ON THEN WHEN THEY WHERE TURNED OFF AND HAD A FLASHLIGHT SHONE ON THEM, HAS ANYONE ELSE DONE THAT?

[@OwlingDogDesign]

I've listened to this several times and I cannot figure out what you're saying when you mention testing out the lights. It sounds like, "I just have two staid connections" or "I just have two state connections" or "I just have two spade connections." What does this mean and how can I get two staid, spade, state connections? Thanks so much.

[@banddad5860]

He is saying spade connections which are the small square or round pronged pieces that are crimped to wires. Can buy them at home depot. He cut an extension cord and crimped the spade connectors to the wires. Connect them to the sconce wires and plug it in. Don't do this if you aren't sure what you're doing if you touch the bare spade connectors while power is on you can get a bad shock. Just wire the plug to the sconce.

[@mquijanotorres4802]

Do you know how to “re paint” that metal and make it shine (like chrome ) ? I want to do that with an 1800 lamp but all I can find is “chalky finish” “spay it and kill the shine “ , or the typical DIY and how to murder a piece of art . :/

[@Debisha_MCGA]

No ground wire!?!

[@customizedtrainingservices2079]

Should clearly mark the hot and neutral so that the next person who works on it knows what is what. Definately needs a ground wire per code.

[@leeluv96]

I have a similar sconces. Only one of the lights is out and it's missing the faux candle cover. If anyone knows where to get the faux candle cover please let me know.

[@stara808]

watch the DIY vids on Utube using TP rolls and hot wax/paint for ideas. You could use epoxy clay to form one ( tp roll for the form only-remove after its hard)and paint to match. I'm trying that for mine.

[@leeluv96]

@@stara808 YES!!! Thank you so much. ❤

[@francescogalle9]

I am *very* hesitant to use those oil impregnated paper sheathes between the socket and the metal housing...

[@bjspyder4148]

Where is the ground wire?

[@nataliehidalgo8933]

Lol can you find a longer screwdriver?

[@TheSharoncat]

Only warm water and baking soda

[@8675-__]

Is it fear or plain laziness? I mean most people are spending 4 or 5 hrs a day on their phones right?

[@leslielandberg5620]

I’m concerned by the speed, lack of detail and explanation and the many safety omissions. If you wanted to craft a beginner’s tutorial, this isn’t it. If someone without a lot of experience attempts to follow this, they could hurt themselves trying to install it or even cause an electrical fire. ALL antique components should have been removed, including ballasts. This video makes no sense to me. What and who is it for?

[@LorainFurnitureandAppliance]

leslie landberg hi, this light does not have ballasts. If you are referring to the light socket, it was in perfect condition and no need to replace. This tutorial is for people with very basic skills. It seems you don’t meet that threshold so I recommend you search for a more appropriate video to suit your needs.

[@leslielandberg5620]

Disagree that this video is adequate for the uninitiated and having read the comments, it would seem quite a few others felt as Ido.. By the way, I have done this rewiring before and with lamps of a similar age. You are literally playing with fire.

[@lojoe45]

this is not very helpful for rewiring the lights, sorry frustrated,,,

[@robertblokdijk901]

So funny .. Americans think that 50 year old stuf is " antiek " Its just old neo.

[@suzannegrossMDS]

Talk about what you're doing with the light, the tools...too much chatter

[@theac3467]

Utterly lost.