The detailed ornate base and the glass flute of a hurricane lamp adds a touch of the past to any room. Traditional hurricane lamps use an oil-based fuel instead of electricity. It is possible to modify an oil-burning hurricane lamp and turn it into an electric light. The process takes less than 15 minutes when using a special hurricane lamp wiring kit with mounting collar, or you can us an electrical cord and a socket. A wiring kit provides the option of changing the hurricane lamp back to its original form by simply removing the light kit and adding the wick-burning mechanism.
Things You’ll Need:
Plastic container with lid
Liquid dish soap
Hot water
Bath towel
Masking tape
Electric Drill
1/4-inch diamond drill bit
Electrical cord
Light socket
Lint-free towel
Flat-head screwdriver
Hurricane lamp wiring kit with mounting collar
Light bulb
Electrical Light Socket and Cord Installation:
Step 1 -Remove the globe from the hurricane lamp and place it in a safe location.
Step 2 – Remove the wick-burning mechanism by unscrewing or popping it from the top of the lamp base. Place the mechanism in a safe location for storage.
Step 3 – Pour the contents of the hurricane lamp base in a plastic container. Seal the container and store.
Step 4 – Clean the inside chamber of the hurricane lamp with hot water and liquid dish washing soap. Fill the chamber, cover the opening completely with your hand and shake. Pour the contents from the chamber. Repeat the process three times.
Step 5 – Dry the container with a lint-free towel. Turn the container upside down and drain. Allow the inside chamber to dry completely before continuing. The drying process will take between 15 to 30 minutes depending on the temperature and humidity of the room.
Step 6 – Turn the hurricane lamp base on its side. Place the base on a folded bath towel.
Step 7 – Tear two pieces of masking tape that are two inches long. Create an X shape on the lamp base at the desired location for the electrical cord opening.
Step 8 – Slowly drill through the center of the X shape with a 1/4-inch diamond drill bit. Remove the tape when drilling is complete.
Step 9 – Remove glass shards from the inside of the lamp base. Fill the chamber, cover the opening completely with your hand and shake. Pour the contents from the chamber.
Step 10 – Dry the container with a lint-free towel. Turn the container upside down and drain. Allow the inside chamber to dry completely before continuing. The drying process will take between 15 to 30 minutes depending on the temperature and humidity of the room.
Step 11 – Remove the wick from the wick chamber. Drill a hole through the center of the wick chamber with the 1/4-inch diamond drill bit.
Step 12 – Place the end of the electrical cord with the exposed wires through the hole and into the chamber of the hurricane lamp base and through the hole on the wick chamber. Make sure to place the cord through the wick chamber beginning on the bottom of the chamber. The exposed wires will point through the top of the chamber.
Step 13 – Unscrew the screws on each side of the light socket just far enough to loop the ends of the wire from the cord over the screws. Hook one wire over each screw. Tighten the screws securely. Step
14 – Pull the light socket so it is snug with the wick chamber. Pry the metal opening for the wick open slightly if the socket is wobbly. Press the base of the light socket between the opening.
Step 15 – Secure the wick chamber to the hurricane lamp. Screw a light bulb into the light socket.
Step 16 – Place the hurricane globe in the mounting collar.
Light Kit Installation:
Step 1 – Remove the globe from the hurricane lamp and place it in a safe location. Remove the wick burning mechanism by unscrewing or popping it from the top of the lamp base. Place the mechanism in a safe location for storage.
Step 2 – Pour the contents of the hurricane lamp base in a plastic container. Seal the container and store.
Step 3 – Clean the inside chamber of the hurricane lamp with hot water and liquid dish washing soap. Fill the chamber, cover the opening completely with your hand and shake. Pour the contents from the chamber. Repeat the process a total of three times.
Step 4 – Place the hurricane lamp base on a flat work surface so the opening is on top.
Step 5 – Open the hurricane lamp wiring kit with mounting collar. The wiring kit includes the light socket, electrical cord and collar specifically made to fit the opening in a hurricane lamp.
Step 6 – Twist the collar in the opening. Screw a light bulb into the light socket. Place the hurricane globe in the mounting collar.
Tips: When installing a hurricane lamp light kit, it is possible to fill the bottom chamber of the hurricane lamp with colored water, sand, decorative glass or other colored items.
