How to Fix a Bent Lamp Shade Frame

Lamps are an important part of any home décor and a lamp shade frame can be made from a wide variety of materials. The most usual material that a lamp frame is made from is wire that is easily bent out of shape. This usually happens during moving or when it is squashed between other furniture. Luckily this is very easy to repair. 

Step 1 – Remove the Frame

Turn off the power and unplug the lamp from the wall. Remove the frame from the base. Usually it will just lift or screw off, but sometimes you may need to unscrew the bulb socket before you can remove it. 

Step 2 – Take off the Covering

First you must remove the lamp shade covering. This could be fabric, paper, or some other material. Be careful removing it if you are planning to reuse the covering. If the shade material is sewn on, try to cut the stitching and then carefully remove it from the frame. 

Step 3 – Bend the Wires Back into Shape

Use the pliers to bend the wires back into shape one at a time, making sure each one is even. If this is difficult, try to find a suitable and solid kitchen bowl that you can place the frame over. Take a hammer or mallet and gently tap the wires until they are even and in shape. 

Step 4 – Refit the Shade Material

If you ware able to get the shade material off in one piece, place it back on the frame and affix it as it was before. You many need to sew fabric back on but this is an easy job with a needle and thread. Place the frame back onto the lamp and replace the bulb. Turn the power back on.

If you are making your own lampshade from paper, make sure you use a florescent bulb that will not heat up and set fire to it. 

Step 5 – If the Rest of a Frame Is Bent

If your lamp has a long metal or tubular frame that has become bent. You can bend it back into shape by taking of the lamp shade and bulb. Bend the lamp back into shape carefully because if you bend it back too far, you can crack it. 

If any of the wires are broken you can place a new wire in the shade. You can use a wire coat hanger for this. Straighten out the coat hanger and bend over the end of one end with the pliers. Place this over the top ring of the frame and cut it around one inch longer than the wire it is replacing. Use the pliers to bend over the other end around the bottom of the frame. You can even make a whole new frame out of coat hangers if you have to.