You bought a beautiful antique lamp but upon closer inspection, you notice there is damage to the sheathing, the plastic cover that protects the wires. (Over time, normal wear and tear causes a ...

1. Disassemble the lamp by unscrewing or pulling the headpiece off and removing the plastic base. Buy a quick plug and a new length of electrical wire, and splice and strip a half-inch at one end.

Somehow, everything I fix ends up far uglier than it was when I started. But, I thought, what if I start with ugly? I tested the theory by rewiring an old lamp. I first sought counsel from experts.