Post #232987 by ookoo lady on Fri, May 19, 2006 10:26 PM

This hanging lamp was a flea market find, and it looked like it was hanging outside for a long time. The grass mat was moldy and rotting, the chain was rusted, the wiring was fried, and the tapa cloth was scorched and peeling.

I took it into Oceanic Arts, and the friendly people there advised me to put a light coat of polyurethane on the shells. It really brought out the shine and color of the previously dull seashells. They also sold me some replacement matting for the shade, and a piece of tapa for the bottom. I will get a new lamp kit (replacement wiring, light socket, and chain) from the hardware store.

I'm having trouble removing the old tapa cloth. It's glued to a piece of plastic or fiberglass. The area in the middle came off easily, but around the edge it's really stuck!

Krustiki just told me to try a heat gun or acetone. I'll give that a try.

[ Edited by: ookoo lady 2006-05-19 22:41 ]