How to Rewire a Lamp 

This video is fantastic. She gets to the "Chase" immediately. She doesnt waste my time talking about her experiences with lamps and where she finds them, etc etc like so many HOW-TO videos do. Explains very well, distinct voice. Tells you exactly what you need. Goes thru all steps clearly. Hope there are many more of her videos I can learn from!!!

How can you possibly still be under a million subscribers?! So thorough. Never condescending. And no wasted time. Just business. One of the most helpful channels to ever exist on RU-vid! Thanks!!

You are the BEST teacher EVER! You took your time and explained everything in step by step detail. The camera was perfectly set, you nailed it. I finally have my beautiful lamp back. Thank You!!!

You are the BEST!!’ I’m 70 years old and wish I learned about your channel in my 50s. Love every video. You’ve made me feel empowered.

I especially appreciate that you work slowly, thoughtfully, and are deliberate. Too many people think that by working quickly they're impressive while the reality is the opposite. You obviously understand that one should do it slow and do it right. Love ya, Leah!

This may be an older video but it just helped me sooo much rewiring my first lamp!! Thank you for your clear directions!

So I literally don't think I've ever commented on a RU-vid video. But I just wanted to let you know, this video meant so much to me! I'm a single mother working two jobs and definitely on the budget. Now I'll do wood work and don't think twice about building stuff that I need inside the house and work with just about every material in different hobbies. But one thing I never mess with is electricity LOL. I know my limits ! However I have a lamp that cost me $2.50 that is priceless in value to me. My father lived on the West Coast for many years and I, the east coast. And rather not we talked several times during the week we always talked on Sundays and he always visited for a couple of weeks a year, typically about this time. During these visits, it was tradition for us to go yard selling, thrift shopping and to flea markets. I looked forward to it every year. About a year before covid hit, my father died a few months after a stroke. I was at his bedside holding his hand with my head on his chest when he slipped away. My lamp that cost $2.50 was one of my treasures that he got for me at a yard sale years back. The only things I took from a divorce were my children, clothes, and THIS LAMP lol. WELL the switch went bad a couple of months ago. It was depressing me so bad. But I watched your video and felt like this was one electric job I could handle. And I did and I just want to thank you because it means the world to me to have my lamp shining bright beside my bed!

I love how Leah showed where she put the underwriter knot in, then later realized she had to undo the knot, slip the cord through the receptacle, and redo the knot. Seeing how to recover from mistakes is so valuable to beginners. People who make educational videos so often just edit out mistakes, not realizing that this actually reduces their educational value. I love Leah's high quality videos. She explains things so well, and her calm, rational demeanor is an example to the rest of us when we try to tackle our own projects.

Thank you, Leah. I just rewired an old lamp that was blowing out expensive LED bulbs when I would screw them in. No more blown bulbs, and the three-way switch gives me low, medium, and ripping-out-seams light. Fantastic! Thanks for your clear instructions, from a sewer who was tired of squinting.

Great explanation and you have an excellent voice I could listen to all day, even if you read out the phone book! Keep it up Leah.

Best lamp re-wiring instructional video on RU-vid! Thank you for posting.

Thank you so much for this! I got a kit and sat here and fixed my bedroom lamp, one of the last gifts my mom gave me before she passed on. So happy it works again :)

Just rewired an old beloved lamp with your tutorial. Thank you!

You are the best instructor of rewiring lamps that ever graced RU-vid. You’re a “natural born” teacher. Oh, how I’d love to take a class under you. For the first time i can tie an underwriter’s knot. Look forward to seeing more of your videos. Thank you, Leah.

Very good instructional video. I rewired a vintage lamp last night and couldn't believe how easy it was. Your directions were very helpful! Thanks!

Hey Ms. Jane I'm 15 years old and I've been working on my lamp for months I was missing a few pieces to the lamp to make the vase stay and now it's finally complete ! Thank you for the tutorial of the lamp ! Comes in handy !

Great vid, but as an electrician, I want to mention 2 things: 1). The cardboard insert that insulates the the brass socket cover from the terminal screws often needs to be replaced. Better to buy the entire socket/switch set up rather than just the socket/switch itself. We're talking a difference of $1? $2? Worth it! Plus, you can get a twist switch or a push switch...if you prefer to change it. :) 2). If you cut the original cord further from the base, you can use it to fish the new wire through the fixture. In this case, it's not a big deal, but in a more complicated fixture, it is often helpful if not necessary.

Thank you for the precise instruction! I'm pretty darn proud of myself right now thanks to you!

Best site EVER for teaching how to wire a lamp! Thank you!

Of all of the "how to" videos I've watched, this is absolutely the very clearest and best I've ever seen. Thank you

Probably the best video on this topic for non-tool savvy people. Excellent!

Someone said today ‘keep creating. You never know when your gift will impact someone’. Posted 9 years ago, helping me become better today 🥰👌🏼🎯👍🏼🙌🏼 thank you!!

I cannot thank you enough. You are an amazing teacher. Most of the people demonstrating the rewiring of a lamp have done it many times. They went so fast in the video that I could not keep up and searched RU-vid until I found your video. You did it step by step explaining everything. My lamp is now rewired and working. Thank You😊 You have a new subscriber.

WOW you are an amazing teacher and your careful methodical explanation is so appreciated. Happy to sit thru the ads for you. I know it helps a little. You rock!

LEAH, you're a LEGEND! You know how to demo and teach with explicit simple explanation and instruction. I've had a lamp for years with an ill fitting socket and a wobbly shade. Now I can do it myself! Thanks to you. Love you!

Leah you are a cornucopia of knowledge. I use your channel all the time. Thanks for all your tutorials.

Thanks Leah! You gave me the confidence to fix an old lamp that was my grandparents. I purchased socket and wire kit, unfortunately the wire was to large for the stem. So off to hardware store we went ( my Mom and I ). We found the wire cord but no plug attached. Taking my shaky confidence we got a plug to attach. I put in the new socket and wiring tonight, with new plug attached. The crystal lamp that sat on nightstand by my grandmother's side of the bed, now sits on my nightstand. I am thrilled. Tomorrow, we tackle the 2 lamps that were my great-aunt and uncle's that sit on my Mom's nightstands. Thank you! I know to some it may not be a big deal to be able to do it, but to me, it's a big leap. Can't wait to see what your other videos teach me. Huge hugs! - Christine

Excellent video! On point, detailed enough for a complete novice but no extraneous rambling. Clear and concise instructions. I watched once and kept open for reference while I successfully rewired 2 Mid-century lamps tonight!

Leah, Absolutely excellent detailed step by step instructions!!! You are fantastic and a natural teacher. I just found this video and will now be searching for more here and on your website. Since this is an older post, I sure hope you’re still doin your thing! 🌞

Forget this old house! Perfectly slow clear instructions for anyone to understand. AND explanations, to keep you safe and why. Thank you Leah!! Hey, I think I can do this 👍😉

Great video - no unnecessary dialogue, good close-up filming, good clear commentry, no skimming over important electrical bits - thankyou - am saving this video for my lamp adventures!

THANK YOU! I've watched about 5 videos and yours was the best at showing how to tie an underwriter's knot AND how to tell the hot wire from the neutral wire. Excellent explanation and great camera work!

This is the clearest set of instructions on being your own electrician I've ever seen: detailed without using technical language, clear demonstrations of how to take apart and reassemble. Look out old lamps, here I come. I just finished rewiring an old iron, and this took a very long time because the hot and neutral terminals weren't labeled. At all. Next I'll subscribe to your channel. Thank you very much!

Inconceivable that anyone did not "like" this video. It's one of the clearest and most concise I've ever seen. New Leah fan!!

THANK YOU.....THANK YOU I was so lucky to find this beautiful OLD, OLD lamp, beautiful it was thrifted, I could hardly believe my luck that no one seen this vintage beauty....it was working...then it wasn't....I LOVE THIS OLD OLD LAMP it was a treasure, it is a treasure.....watched a couple of Utube " how to rewire a lamp, yours was a confidance builder " I'm a little worried about killing myself, electrifying myself...but I'm gonna buy what I need to get it done... next week I will take the lamp with me to the Home Depot for any other pointers...wish me luck...better yet...pray I don't actually kill myself. You showed perfectly how to do it, close ups on the steps...carefully and calm. Thanks again God bless

This is the 4th time I've looked up a home project and you've been there to save the day without even deliberately searching your channel (which I will do more often). Your videos are some of the most helpful things I've found on the internet and that's saying something. Thank you for making these, you're wonderful!

LEAH!! I did it! I've had a beautiful floor lamp from a thrift store sitting here for close to a year. I had ordered a new replacement wire kit and then...stall, fear, never mind. I had an electrician in for another issue and he wanted to charge me $75 to rewire it. Another two month's goes by and today, I think of looking up your older videos and BAM!! Let there be light!! I can't thank you enough...oh my goodness!! It worked!

Found this video by googling "how to rewire a lamp". This video was super straightforward and easy to follow. I haven't rewired a lamp yet, but now I'm confident I could. Thanks!

You are the best teacher ever for showing me how to do this correctly without frying myself. Thank you so very much.

WOW! I am SO impressed. Leave it to a woman to give clear directions. THANK YOU, JANE!

Thank you Jane, love the way you teach us and don't waste our time on a bunch of unnecessary stuff.

This is THE BEST video on the subject. Instructions are clear, complete and no blah blah vibrato. Thanks so much for taking the time to make it.

I have watched several videos and most people talk and talk with useless information and make it so complicated. Your video was to the point, easy to follow and understand the steps especially for an idiot like me, thanks again

YOU are AWESOME 👏. You taught my daughter and I how to put in a toilet last year. And now we just wired an old light. You are such a great teacher. Thank you 🙏🏻

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I watched a ton of videos but the men never mentioned the tips on the end of the new wires, and I didn't know if they were supposed to be left on or cut off, and your step by step instructions were super clear and the best video I watched to get help with this. I'm not sure I would have finished wiring the lamps that originally belonged to my great-aunt without your help, it felt like you were right here with me during the whole process

Leah thank you so much for the PERFECT video to get my mom's old lamp rewired! Every time I plugged it in I was nervous. Not now! Great video instructions - perfect length and description!

Thank you so much for taking it slow and being thorough in your explanation. I was so scared of messing up but you totally boosted my confidence and made this an easy project. I can't tell you how appreciative I am that you made this video. :)

Thank goodness for you, Leah! I bought a pair of lamps secondhand that didn't work. I ordered new wiring/switch kits, turned on RU-vid and those other guys were NOT explaining anything, they were jumping through steps, and were not helpful at all. I just got confused and frustrated. I tried three tutorials before I found yours. YOURS is AMAZING and perfect. You explained each step from beginning to end, even laid out the needed tools! Ahh, this video made me so happy, and at the end of it my lamps actually LIT UP! WOOHOO!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!

This will be my go to demo when I Re wire our antique lamps. Thanks for a well-organized lesson.

Awesome, Thanks for helping me save Grandpa’s hand made wooden lamps!

You have an EXCELLENT PRESENTATION STYLE! Thanks so much for your exceedingly clear, concise, & superb instruction in how to replace a light fixture. I learned so many new things, which will enable me to replace the light fixture. I purchased the kit, & I only had a BASIC CONCEPT of how & what to do. Your RU-vid Video has supported me in being able to do it with CONFIDENCE! I particularly appreciated your explanation on "How To Make Underwriters Knot." Thanks again keep up your GREAT PUBLIC SERVICE RU-vid VIDEOS!

Highly skilled, excellent communication skills, succinct videos, and a pleasant personality. It doesn't get any better. Thanks, Jane!

Leah, Great video. You explained everything clearly but didn't go on & on like some do. I own and operate a handyman business and there isn't much I don't know how to do but a customer asked me to rewire several of these old lamps she purchased from yards sales. I told her I wasn't sure how to do it. She laughed and said, "You just built me a new room for my home. You put the new wiring in, heat, windows, wood floors but your not sure how to rewire lamps." She told me to go home and sleep on it because it will come to me. She said she has confidence. So that's where you come in. Today I rewired her 7 lamps. She said,"see I knew you knew how". I had to be honest and told her "no I watched Leah from seejanedrill.com so I could learn it correctly". So Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

I am rewiring a lamp and couldn't get a good grip on the instructions. I looked at 2 other videos and still couldn't figure it out. THEN I saw your face, which I recognized from a previous video I had followed, I knew you were going to help me figure it out. AND you did. I agree with other comments posted that your directions are so easy to follow. Especially when dealing with something like electricity, a person needs to get it right. Thanks again...from a 72 year old woman.

by far the most helpful video i have seen on the topic. my lamp is finally working again. thank you!

Excellent clear instructions. I rewired my old lamp easily following this tutorial. Thank you!

thank u..searched for this video because I always meant to have my dad teach me this, but time got away from me ...he passed this week...I need to rewire something, & make dad proud ..thanks for going slow Leah...best video I found

Well done. I have watched other videos explaining the underwriter's knot, but yours was easy. Thank you.

Thank you so much for this video! You made rewiring my antique lamps a breeze! You are a treasure!

Thanks to you, I rewired 2 vintage lamps and had the confidence to try replacing a ceiling light. And I did it! Thank you for sharing your expertise.

You saved the day for me today! Thank you so much for your detailed guidance in this tutorial of yours. I actually had a lamp ready to go to a donation center when I was faced with unexpected home appliance leak & a complete HVAC needing replacement. I fortunately found your tutorial & decided to give it a try. I bought the necessary parts & after a stupid mistakes on my part, my lamp is working & life is brighter today. Thank you so much. Wish I could send you the bright results, but it doesn’t look like that’s a possibility. Keep up the great work. You’re the best!!!

My daughter bought an antique Italian lamp that is really pretty, but the wiring was frayed and looked unsafe. This video helped me rewire it instead of getting an electrician when money is tight. Jane is fantastic and easy to follow. Thank you!

Thank you SO MUCH! I was actually going to send two lamps out to be rewired! They belonged to my parents. Off to Lowes to get the wiring! I have all the rest of what is needed. Thank you for making this easy for someone who is a little afraid of electricity. I used to help my daddy do stuff like this. BTW you have beautiful nails!!!

Superb! What a great teacher. Used this to replace wiring on a challenging floor lamp. Easy as pie, thanks to this totally clear step by step video. Sidebar on creating the underwriter's knot was very helpful, as was the instruction on differentiating between neutral and hot wires. As a total neophyte, this was exactly what I needed.

I’ve watched several videos on how to do this and none of them explained it as thorough as you did. Excellent video and your voice is amazing. Thank you. I’m a fan now!

Leah, your calm demeanor and soft-spoken instructions are excellent! You are a great teacher!

I bought a cheap (but VERY cute) owl lamp off of Amazon, and the switch on it started acting really finicky. I couldn't figure out how to replace just the switch, so I replaced the lamp socket using this video and now it works like a charm! Thank you, Jane!! It's nice to have a gal showing me how to do home improvement stuff!

Leah! I did it! And it works! OMG!!!! I ended up having to use the original socket cap because it screwed into the neck of the base and that tension was necessary to hold everything together. I’m impressed with my problem solving! Very interesting to find that the original cord had no underwriter’s knot. I made sure it was there this time around. Thank you so much! I’m very proud of myself!

Leah is such a good teacher. She can do it all!

This is the best step-by-step EVER! The lamp kit I bought online came with ZERO instructions. The lamp I wanted to re-wire was nearly identical to the one in the video, which was a bonus. I love the clear and specific instructions; exudes the confidence of an experienced maker which gave ME confidence that I could do this even as a beginner. Thank you SO MUCH!

Thank you, Leah! I watched this video many years ago, the last time I required a lamp. Today I did another one with your help. I forgot about tying and then having to undo the knot! Lol

Your post us old but you just saved me over $150 on new lamps! Just happened to see you. Very concise, informative,well done. Thanks

Thank you for this easy-to-follow and useful video. I now have a working lamp again!

I cannot tell you how much your clear explanations mean to me!

I really like your videos. I was scrolling through because I need to install a new socket and I never have done it. I knew when I saw your face to click on your video. You are always so thorough.

Thank you! I followed you step by step & the lamp is good as new! My sister will be thrilled w/her 'new' vintage lamp! My how crystal shines w/it is clean & has light! I appreciate the speed & care you take w/your directions. Thank you!!

Hello Leah, I happened upon your channel. I am going to be a new subscriber. My husband passed away some time ago and now I am faced to tackle repairs around the house. I very much appreciate the way you show the step by step with explanation of what you are doing is so understandable. Keep up the good work. Thank you again........a new fan.

My husband promised to rewire a lamp for me two years ago. Well, that never happened. Thanks to you I did myself! Bless you!

Excellent tutorial, Ms. Jane. I followed your instructions to rewire a lamp for the first time and everything went well. Thank you so much!

Great video - love all your close ups. Makes it easy to follow. Looking forward to rewording my 3 vintage lamps!

I have watched several videos for guidance in how to rewire a lamp, and yours is, hands down, the best. You patiently walk us through the steps, and your careful explanation of the underwriter's knot is just perfect! Thank you!

Leah thank you for your instruction on how to wire a lamp I enjoy watching your videos and learning how to do things your videos are in very good English and easy to follow along with you as you show us I give you 10 thumbs up for a job well done and I look forward to watching more of your do it yourself videos. Thanks again for all your help I really appreciate all that you do for us. Sincerely, Michael

Leah is a GREAT teacher! Following her instructions I was able to rewire a lamp at least 60 years old. Thanks so much. I am subscribing too.

You were the first video that came up when I googled. I noticed it was 10 years old, so almost passed it by to find newer ones. So glad I didn't!! You have a simple, calm way of explaining thi gs and now aim sure I can do this myself. And now I'm going to look to see if you have other videos! Love your enthusiasm too😊 thanks for the video

Thank you for the clear and concise way you explain each step of replacing the new rewire-a-lamp kit. My wire didn't have colored wires, it was helpful to know how to determine which one was the hot one, also the brass colored screw and the silver screw..,.. I always enjoy your videos thank you again.

You are so awesome! My daughter's an electrician about 400 mi away from me and I told her I was going to wait for her to come visit so she could do this for me and then I thought about checking out some RU-vids. Not only are your videos direct into the point there so easy to understand and I just appreciate you so much! ❤️ She's going to be damn proud of me! Thank you 😊

THANKYOU!! AGAIN. I"m new to the you-tube. You just saved me a bunch! You helped me with my screens, now my lamps. Your instructions are so CLEAR and EASY to follow. Ur the BEST.!!!

I'm an older woman who thinks she should be able to do anything. Leah did an excellent job of demonstrating how to rewire an old lamp. I look forward to any additional videos.

You got it going on, Girl! Well explained, simple to understand instructions with perfect visual aids to enable anyone to perform this task! The PERFECT DIY video! Kudos! Keep making them, and I'll keep watching them to prove l can be as good or better a handyman as any 'man'!

Thank you! This was unbelievably easy, and I love the new knot I learned!

Thank for your video on repairing a light socket. Mom picked up a little yard sale lamp and I noticed the plastic socket was cracked. I looked up this video (because I find your instruction is straight forward, easy to follow and always safety first. In this lamp's case, the cord looked to be in excellent shape, so I loosened the socket so I could cut the cord to save the most cord. I especially appreciate the instructions on how to identify hot from neutral wires and the underwires knot. Very cool! Thanks again for generosity and expertise!!!

Thank you so much. This was very helpful. Especially with telling the difference between the wires. It's not easy coming across videos that are so helpful with this kinda stuff.

I wanted to learn to rewire a lamp by MYSELF. I found this video and it was a Godsend! Leah is the BEST! She’s methodical, explains in English how to, and has a lovely voice as well. Since first finding Leah, I’ve rewired 3 mid century mod lamps. Thanks so much Leah! You are my inspiration! BiNgO!!🥰♥️

After shocking myself and blowing out a circuit, I thought it would be wise to look on RU-vid. Thanks so much for your thorough explanation. Lamp works!!

Omg I just found you bc I'm embarking on the electrical trade and thought I'd start teaching myself basic home projects&you have the EXACT same type of lamp I'm wanting to rewire! I love how simple and slowly you go, makes it easy for the newbies! Love you thank you❤

This was the best video for rewiring a lamp, clear and showed you all the tools and supplies you need in advance. Leah is always clear and encouraging!

Thank you for going slow and explaining each step so clearly! I'm going to do this!

Thank you so much!!! Awesome, easy to follow, step by step, and answered the question of which are the hot and cold wires!

Thanks for the tutorial! This is my first time re-wiring a lamp and this was a great overview!

Thanks, Leah! Really appreciate this tutorial. Very clear and to the point.