Materials Needed:
Tools: Pocket knife, small or medium screwdriver, and pliers (electrician type is best).
New Lamp Cord: For each lamp to be rewired, you'll need 6 feet of cord plus the length of wire within the lamp stand. Lamp cord wire comes in two sizes, No. 18 and No. 16 AWG (American Wire Gauge). No. 18 is smaller than No. 16, but is adequate for most lamps. Cords are made with surface coverings of several different materials: braided cotton, rayon or silk, and molded rubber or plastic. Braided cord is decorative, but rubber or plastic is easier to work with and is usually more desirable.
Switch: If the switch is bad, get a new one. Socket switches are made with push-through, turn-knob, or pull-chain controls. The pull-chain type is seldom used on modern table or floor lamps. Your lamp may have a separate push-switch in the base. In this case, get the same kind for replacement. Some switches are "3-circuit" switches for use with high, medium, and low-light bulbs.
Plug: Plugs are made of various materials, mostly hard rubber or molded plastic. Some have a shank or handle for better grasping. This type is more desirable. The plug on the old cord may be good, and if so, may be used on the new cord.
How To Do It:
1. If the plug on the old cord is good and you plan to use it, remove it from the old cord.
2. Measure and cut a new lamp cord equal to the length of the cord within the lamp, plus 6 feet.
3. Pass one end of the new cord through the center of the plug. Strip 2 inches of the fabric insulation off cord, or in case of a rubber cord, split cord back two inches. Be sure no bare wire shows in long split section (Figure 1).
4. Use knife to strip insulation off wire for 3/4" on end of each cord. Be careful. Don't cut yourself. Don't cut wires. Use a light touch, slope the knifeblade and slice with knife edge away from you (Figure 1).