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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Joanne Dorin | Posted under Interior Decorating
Choosing Replacement Glass Lamp Shades
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Fitter The very first thing you will need to consider when replacing your glass lamp shade is to know the proper fitter size of the shade holder on your fixture or lamp. This is the part, which is usually metal, that holds the shade on the fixture or lamp. The fitter is the part of the shade holder that the lamp shade passes and physically contacts with the lamp. There are different fitter sizes and thus there are different lamp shade sizes. Match the fitter and the shade and you'll have a perfect fit. Holder Now you also need to find out what type of holder you have. There are two types on the market straight and fixture. The fixture type is used on pan lights and hanging fixtures. It uses tiny screws to hold the lamp shade in place. The screws are tightened against the shade to hold it in place. The shade's fitter is the part of the shade that contacts the shade holder. The shape of the lip fitter helps the screws lock the shade into place. This type of shade holder is commonly seen on gas shades, ball shades, and a variety of fixtures where the shade hands upside down. The other shade holder is the straight holder which has no screws and simply sits in the upright position. This style is common to lamps which may attach to the bulb or sit on a contact edge such as seen with Gone With The Wind lamps. Fitter Size Now you need to figure out the size of your fitter. This is the diameter of the opening of the holder which the glass fitter passes. In North America the sizes are pretty standardized so it should be too difficult. Electric fixture shades are usually 2 ", gasolier shades 2 ", fixture and pendant 3 ", gas shades 4", pendant shades 5", and large pendant shades are 6". You have to back the set screws out before you take your measurement. Some of the older lamps might have an odd size but it's not too common. Common sizes for the straight holders are 1 5/8" for the hurricane shades, 4" for the ball and gas shades, 6 " for astral shades, 7", 10", and 12" for student shades, and 14" for dome shades. Torchiere shades are 2 ". Once you have this information all that's left to do is find the perfect replacement shade for your lamp. If you aren't sure ask one of the many online experts for advice and if you have one of the older lamps with an odd ball shade size check with some of the antique sites. Glass lamp shades are going to need to be replaced at some point. Accidents happen, shades get broken or worn over time. Joanne is an author of Decorz.com. If you're looking for more lighting decor ideas for your home visit http://www.decorz.com. About The Author: |
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