Harringay online

Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Ok- my son, in a fit of pique, broke a floor standing lamp in our front room a week or two back, and it seems the piece(s) below are critical to it all working. However I cannot work out how to fix this.

The long threaded bar bit in the first picture is critical, and has snapped. It is threaded along its length. This comes up through the the lamp's floor counterweight (and is has a bolt attached to it to hold everything together on the floor side of the counterweight).

The second shows the bottom of the stem of the light. This has a thread on the inside (which you cannot see because the end of the long threaded bar is snapped off on the inside. Basically this double threaded piece screws onto the threaded bar to provide the upstanding stem of the light something to be secured to the base.

If that is as clear as mud, sorry. I have 2/3 questions though.

1. How do I get the broken bit of the bar out from the smaller double threaded bolt?

2. Assuming I can get the bar out, where can I get a replacement?

3. If I cannot get it out, any ideas where to go for a replacement for both parts.

Any thoughts most gratefully received as otherwise I need to buy a new lamp.

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Are they not an electrical supplier, not sure they do nuts and bolts stuff like this???

Is the main problem that the male part of this is tightly screwed in? In my untutored ignorance, I'd be trying a mix or WD40 and extreme heat (such as they provided by a blow-torch or heat gun - careful with the fingers after heating!) or extreme cold (as provided by a freezer). The aim if the temperature change is just to get the pieces moving a little. I'd insert into the hollow of the 'stuck' male part something like some sharp-nosed pliers, opening them up once inserted, in order to get some purchase.

Or, how about setting up a stand on Green Lanes on a Saturday offering a prize for the person ingenious enough to get it out? (and making your son stand there for the duration ) :o)

Hahaha! I think the second option would be more successful. 

Yes, the main issue is as you have surmised Hugh, with the male bit firmly screwed into the inside female bit. I have tried various route to unscrewing it (homering in a large screw driver to bite into the inside of the make bit and turn etc) but to no avail. I think heat will not work as both bits will expand/shrink at roughly the same rate I think, so no leverage to be gained there.

Temperature might not work, but there again it might just free things up. It helped me once when disassembling a tap. 

I might give it a go in combination with the slot idea Andrew mentioned below. It might help. What you need are two very different metals (bi-metal) for this to work well, we will see if they are different enough to expand at different rates...

Options for getting the thread out depend on how technical you are.
One option is to attach another piece of metal to it so that you can get a grip, either welding or epoxy or something. Or drill a small hole and wedge in an allen key with a load of epoxy.
The easier option is probably to cut a slot in it (use a dremel or a series of small drilled holes next to each other so that you can use a screwdriver to undo it (hold the piece in mole grips or similar).
Or you can get bolt extractors such as these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Extractor-Remover-Reverse-Thread-3-25mm/dp...

The threaded bar is easy enough to get. Search for threaded rod and buy the correct size.

Or take the whole thing to somewhere like Clerkenwell Screws and see if they have replacements.

Thanks Andrew. I thought about the screw remover things, but did not want to have to buy a set simply for a single job like this. I also thought about cutting a slot. Might try this first, but the Clerkenwell screws is a good tip- thanks!

Some good options there, appreciate it. Will report back.

I just hate having to throw things out because they cannot be repaired...

Ok, will try the drilling thing first, had not heard of that. Thanks!

What am I trying to do here, I assume not grind out the inner male rod? Am I looking to see if I can get the drill bit to gain enough purchase to unscrew it?

Bring it to metal craft Tottenham.   The boys will sort it out for ya for a drink. 

You see, that's local knowledge.  Thanks. I may actually try that first, especially if it saves me cutting my hands to pieces with bits of metal... 

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