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The Junk Parlor

I have noticed in the shop, that customers are very hesitant to buy a light that is not lit.  Many times I get lights in that need to be hardwired and therefore sit unlit.  Because these lights are more suited to being hardwired, run directly into the ceiling, I don’t want to put a permanent plug on them.  So, what I’ve ended up doing is adding a temporary plug onto the light so that customers can see that it works, while I can easily remove the plug at the time of purchase.

First you need to purchase some supplies or use items you have at home.  I have found that it is cheaper to buy an extension cord and cut it off, than it is to buy a short plug in and cord that is meant for this project.  So, I use an extension cord.  I purchased mine at our local True Value, but you can buy one HERE.

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You are also going to use twisty things.  You can tell the guys that help me frequently at True Value versus the ones that don’t.  The ones that don’t look at me like, “What is she talking about?” when I say twisty things.  You might also wonder why I don’t know where these things are, but there are a couple of reasons I needed help this time.  First, I was out of them and figured I’d buy my own like a big girl (I’m turning 40 this month) versus “borrowing” them from my dad.  Secondly, our True Value moved to a new location and I can find my way around the paint section, although they keep moving things, but the rest of the store is still like a maze to me.  You can order your wire connectors, twisty things, HERE.

It is also nice to have wire cutters although I have just used scissors before.  You need to remove the plastic around the electrical wire in order to put the twisty things on and actually make the light work.  You can get a pair HERE.

The nice thing about using an extension cord is that you can cut the wire to any length.  This is handy if you don’t have anything nearby to plug in to.  Just use scissors for this step.  And of course you do not have anything plugged in while you are doing this!  Do this at your own risk!  I am not a professional!

I think it’s easier to strip one wire at a time, so I use the scissors to make a slit between the wires and then I pull them apart, just like you would rip fabric.

Now you need the wire cutters.  You need to expose about the same amount of wire that is the length of your twisty’s.  You will do this to your extension cord and to the light, although the light is probably already like this if it had been previously hardwired.

Now you take the two exposed wires, one from the light, and one from the extension cord and twist them together.  Righty Tighty.  After the wires are twisted together, you will twist on the twisty’s.  The caps need to be twisted tight, basically, they won’t twist anymore.

And, you are done.  I strongly recommend plugging the light in while you are on the ground.  That way you aren’t climbing up and down a ladder only for it not to work.  Not that I’m familiar with that or anything.  I also want to say again that I do this for my antique shop to show that lights do work.  I’m not an electrician and this is not recommended for your home.  Be safe.

2 thoughts on “Lighting up The Junk Parlor, a DIY”

  1. Pingback: Show and Tell and Good Tips - The Junk Parlor I Brooke Johnson

  2. Pingback: Fixing up a Chandelier - The Junk Parlor I Brooke Johnson

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