Hacker help: Can we fix the Samtid socket?

Materials: Samtid floor lamp

Description: The socket of our Samtid floor lamp broke after just six months of use - the switch no longer functions. We only used it with a 20 watt bulb (also bought at Ikea) so I know we didn't burn it out that way.

I have a request in to Ikea, but we bought the lamp while moving to a new state and I no longer have the receipt or the box, so I am not sure how much they will be willing to help.

If Ikea cannot or will not replace the socket or the lamp, we would love to know of we can fix it ourselves. I have tried pulling the socket out, but it won't budge too much, and I don't want to break it.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated!

~ Amanda, Ohio, USA

Custom Lampshade

Materials: L�BBO shade & SAMTID lamp

Description: I loved the simple diffused light the SAMTID lamp & shade shed. But I'm a designer and I wanted it to have more personality.

1. Using InDesign, planned out the shapes I wanted on the shade.

2. Printed out the design and using double stick tape adhered it to the shade. Since there is a protective film on the shade it's not harmed.

3. I cut the diamond shapes almost all the way from point to point, leaving about 1/16th top and bottom. Changing out the blade for a fresh sharp one made it a lot easier.

4. Once the all the cuts were made I peeled off my printed template and the protective film.

5. Assembled the shade and the lamp and had one original shade, made/altered by hand.

Plus: I thought about cutting the diamond completely out and put a nice thin fabric or paper inside but started here. So many options to play with.

~ Debbie, Philadelphia

How to fit a Samtid floor lamp in a corner

Materials: Samtid floor lamp

Description: Not much to describe actually, since there's not much of a hack, but still - you can see everything on the photos - in order to put the lamp in the corner get rid of the footing, drill several holes, and attach the stand to the wall with perforated interconnect tape.

~ Denis, Moscow, Russia

Foiled by the Samtid!

Materials: Samtid floor lamp, drum shade, wire cutters,pliers,clip on lamp shade

Description: Picked up the Samtid floor lamp from Ikea Canada. I love what to me is a great mix of contemporary yet classic design. The price was great at $49.99 CDN. It would fit in great with my decor and give me the overall look I wanted. Sad to say the wife hated the shade. She felt the plastic shade cheapened the lamp. Looking online I figured out we would need a Uno Fitter Lamp Shade, but at pretty much every retail store I went to they were not to be found. Even calling specialty lighting stores I had 0 luck.

Looking a little deeper it seems that with low budget imports most every lampshade available requires the use of a harp. I took the lamp apart but found it very difficult to disassemble socket. Specifically the wiring to socket. At the risk of damaging the lamp I decided I would need to either (a) cut the wiring to remove the socket and hope I could feed the wire back through the tubing OR (b) give up the modification. I had picked up a great shade the would have to go back. In the end I found a solution to my problem.

I took the lamp and removed the existing plastic shade. However I left the three support rods intact. I purchased a drum shade that would match my existing room decor. I managed to find a children's lamp that had a clip on style shade. The wiring simply went over your standard light bulb. Using my pliers I removed the wiring from the shade. I then took the new lamp shade and using a thin wire attached the clip-on wiring to the new shade. It worked like a charm ! Now I have a great lamp that fits the look of the room. All in all the project cost me about $70.00.

The lamp itself was $50, the new shade was $20, and the clip-on shade was something my parents had lying around the house.

~ Mike Boss, Toronto, Ontario Canada