When you come across antique glass oil lamps, you may want to hold onto them. Restoring them isn’t very difficult, and is a great way to not only save money, but also enjoy a piece of history inside of your home. Follow the steps below and make sure that you take your time to begin enjoying it again.
Step #1) Clean The Hand Painted Portions – If your antique lamp has hand painted portions you are going to want to take delicate care to ensure that you do not damage or chip the paint. Using a soft, wet cloth, go over the sections until you feel that they are sufficiently cleaned. Avoid using solvents that could potentially remove the paint during this step.
Step #2) Solder The Metal Splits – Next you will want to figure out if there are any splits in the metal. If the metal has begun cracking, you will need to grab a soldering iron and go over the cracks to ensure the base is sturdy enough to avoid falling over, and potentially causing a fire.
Step #3) Soak The Lamps Chimney – With the lamp taken apart, you will need to soak the chimney, or glass shroud on top of the lamp. Soaking it in a solution of water and baking soda will help break down the grime that has accrued on the lamp over the years, and allow you to restore it to a lustrous condition.
Step #4) Replace Faulty Burner Parts – If the burner is rusty, or looks like it could use some work you are going to want to replace the faulty parts. You can order the burner parts over the internet, and replace them in a few minutes.
Step #5) Repair Cracks In Glass Shade – If there are cracks in the glass shroud, you are going to want to make sure that you repair them before you begin using the lamp. With a non-flammable glass adhesive, go over the cracks and ensure that the bond is secure.
