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How to install, replace, and adjust lamp harps

Lamp harps are the metal wire lamp part that typically mounts below the lamp socket and supports your lamp shade (see Fig. 1). If you wish to remove the harp, for adjustment or replacement, first unscrew or otherwise remove the lamp finial above the lampshade, remove the shade, and gently squeeze the harp inward just above the harp base.

The harp locks into the lamp via notched “legs” that slide into the short slotted arms of the harp base. The squeezing “action” on the notched harp legs causes them to slip out of the slotted arms of the harp base so the harp may be removed easily without the use of any tools.

If you require a different size harp than the one you have on your lamp, check under the finial base (see Fig. 1) and you will see a number that will indicate the height-size of the harp. With this number in hand you will have a reference point for acquiring a new harp that will best suit your needs.

Sometimes, if only a slightly positive height adjustment is needed to make your lampshade “ride’ at an aesthetically pleasing elevation, you may opt to use a “riser” instead of replacing the entire harp.

Risers are available in many sizes from 1/2” to 1 1/2” or more and are threaded to fit the 1/4-27 size male threading of the finial base at the top of the harp. Conveniently, risers also are threaded on top to accept the 1/4-27 female threading of most lamp finials.

Frequently asked questions:

- Should I use a Regular Weight or Heavy Duty weight harp on my lamp?

Most table lamps, which accept fabric shades are set up with industry standard Regular Weight harps and Regular Weight harp bases. We recommend that you order Regular Weight harps for your lamps. If your lamp already has a harp base (metal piece mounted below the socket that looks like rabbit ears) and you want to change the length of your harp, then you can use a Regular Weight harp. A Regular Weight harp will fit either a Regular Weight harp base or a Heavy Duty harp base. When mounted on a Heavy Duty base, a Regular Weight harp may seem a little loose. You can use wire pliers to carefully crimp the U-shape ears of the harp base so that the harp fits more snuggly.

- What size (length) harp do you recommend for my fabric shade?

Our fabric shade descriptions will describe the OVERALL HEIGHT and the FITTER RECESS of each shade. The basic formula for finding the correct harp size is as follows;

Overall Ht. - Fitter Recess = harp size (length)
(Harps come is size increments of ½”. If your math comes to a fraction less than ½”, then you should round down to nearest ½”)

For example; #05845 8” (overall ht.) - .25 (fitter recess)= 7.75 (harp size)
Rounded down to 7.50 or 7 ½” harp is correct for this shade.

- I have a glass shade on my table lamp. Can I change from a glass shade to a fabric shade?

If you have a lamp with a #1 or a #2 or a #3 size brass collar, you can convert your lamp from fitting a glass shade to fitting a fabric shade using our adaptors. First remove your lamp’s burner by gently screwing the burner counterclockwise until it comes off the collar. Next measure the inside diameter of the collar. If it measures 7/8” inside diameter, you should have a #1 size collar. If it measures 1 3/ 16” inside diameter, you should have a #2 size collar. If it measures 1 ¾” inside diameter you should have a #3 size collar. All lamps with other size collar diameters cannot be converted to holding fabric shades by using adaptors. If you have a #1 size collar (7/8” inside diameter) see adapters #30343, 30344, and 30345. If you have a #2 size collar (1 3/16” inside diameter) or a #3 size collar (1 ¾” inside diameter) see adaptors #30346, 30347, and 30348. Our electrified adaptors come with a 9” length harp mounted for a fabric shade. They will screw into your lamp’s collar and allow you to mount a washer fitter fabric shade onto the top of the harp. (Please see information provided in “Frequently asked questions” for selecting a harp size (length) for your shade if you need a size other than 9” long.) For a #3 collar you will need to also order a #20001 - #3 to #2 reducer to screw into your lamp’s #3 collar and the adaptor’s #2 male collar.