# Advice on fixing a lamp **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 28, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425 "2017-01-28T19:42:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425/1 "2017-01-28T19:42:16Z")
I have a lamp with a wooden base. The metal assembly which includes the bulb socket and the armature that holds the lampshade screws in the base. The threads have stripped the wood though, and so the whole thing wobbles. I want to secure it to the base firmly. I was thinking Gorilla Glue, but now I’m starting to feel that’s not the best idea. Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425/2 "2017-01-28T20:00:09Z")
Any chance of putting a screw in the bottom that goes through the base and into the bulb assembly? Making sure to stay clear of any wiring, of course. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425/3 "2017-01-28T20:19:33Z")
This worked once for me but I don’t guarantee success: Take several wooden toothpicks and cut several pieces to length (the depth of the screw hole). Stand the lengths in the screw hole, lining the hole. Screw the lamp works into the hole and the toothpick lengths _should_ act as wood filler and hold the works in place. If it doesn’t hold as long as you like or doesn’t work at all, you’re only out the cost of some toothpicks. IIRC, round ones worked better than flat. Alternately, can you use a fatter screw in place of the one currently acting up? And, as always, any pix? ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425/4 "2017-01-28T22:21:09Z")
pix: [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://imgur.com/QbzMuRh) [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://imgur.com/radWfN0) The threaded “screw” that goes into the base is also a hollow tube through which the cord runs. I might be able to take it off the whole assembly, but I think my chances of finding a similar piece with slightly bigger OD are pretty slim. The toothpick idea is a good one, but the amount of play is pretty small. Maybe if I wrapped the threads in alter or two of paper, that would sort of “shim” it tight? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425/5 "2017-01-28T22:22:06Z")
Here are a variety of methods for that situation in a hinge, but many are appropriate here: > **[Easy Ways to Repair a Loose Wood Screw Hole for a Hinge - wikiHow](https://www.wikihow.com/Repair-a-Loose-Wood-Screw-Hole-for-a-Hinge)** > > If you have a loose hinge and you can't tighten it because the screws just spin in place, the screw holes are probably stripped. If the loose holes are in a solid piece of wood like a door frame, drill them out and fill them with wooden... ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425/6 "2017-01-28T22:33:14Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > The toothpick idea is a good one, but the amount of play is pretty small. Maybe if I wrapped the threads in alter or two of paper, that would sort of “shim” it tight? If there’s not a whole lot of play, I’d try multiple layers of plumber’s tape rather than paper. Plumber’s tape will more readily take the shape of the threads. But then, I have four or five spools of plumber’s tape around the house, because I seem to forget where I put them, and buy a new one with each project. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425/7 "2017-01-28T22:53:07Z")
I do have plumber’s tape somewhere and if not, a trip to the hardware store is always a pleasure. The hinge ideas are good and some might work for me, but they’d require more of a project. I’ll probably start with the plumber’s tape. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425/8 "2017-01-28T22:57:01Z")
You could fill the screw hole with something like [this](http://www.jbweld.com/products/wood-restore-repair-putty) and put the screw back in. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425/9 "2017-01-29T01:30:27Z")
First, thanks for the pix; nice job. You might be able to use [this kit](http://www.homedepot.com/p/Westinghouse-12-in-All-Thread-Lamp-Pipe-Kit-7027200/204836035?MERCH=REC-_-NavPLPHorizontal1_rr-_-NA-_-204836035-_-N), but it might be more of a project (i.e., possibly having to dig out a recess in the bottom of the base for the nut) than you want to tackle. The threaded shaft could possibly screw into the works, then you feed the wire up through the shaft, re-connect it to the works and fasten the nut on the bottom. But the plumber’s tape is a good idea; start there. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425/10 "2017-01-29T07:02:03Z")
Thanks, **Darren Garrison** , I have something like that and considered it as well, but the fit was in that weird area between too loose to use and not loose enough to fill. I tried plumber’s tape and too little didn’t fill the gap, too much resulted in the tape getting wedged up above the hole as I tried to screw it in. In a fit of lazy home repairman pique I slobbered on some Krazy Glue and held the goddam thing together for 60 seconds and it seems that…at least temporarily…the problem is solved. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425/11 "2017-01-29T20:51:46Z")
The brass piece is just a threaded insert that the lamp socket screws into. IMHO it was a poor design to use such a short insert. There’s not nearly enough length there to resist being stripped out the way it did. Get a [longer insert](http://www.groov-pin.com/kbase/Technical-Information/Technical-Data-Threaded-Inserts.html) to replace that one with and you should be good to go for years. Caveat. You’ll have to disconnect the wiring inside the socket but that’s just a couple of screws. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-fixing-a-lamp/778425/12 "2017-01-31T15:58:26Z")
I’m not sure I’d use Gorilla Glue because it expands as it dries in my experience. If I’m looking at the picture correctly, the hollow metal insert is screwed directly into the wood? I have to say you fixed it the right way… glue the shit out of it and stick it back in there. If the krazy glue ever breaks, there are other products out there that might work better: [This to That (Glue Advice)](http://www.thistothat.com/cgi-bin/glue.cgi?this=Metal&that=Wood)