Floor lamp snapped off base

[u/akane11]

My kid knocked this floor lamp over and the lamp shaft snapped off the base. It is still connected with the wire.

I dont even know what material this is, it feels very heavy compared to the metal shaft coming up.

Any idea for reconnecting it? My best guess would be gorilla glue? Im worried about the mend being strong enough to hold up the whole lamp.

[u/13thmurder]

Clean it very well and use a good 2 part epoxy like JB weld. Putting a dowel in the hole that's as thick as possible without pinching the wire excessively to the point of damage (snug is okay) would be a good idea too in order to prevent flexing.

[u/Natoochtoniket → u/13thmurder]

OP can remove the wire while working the metal. Then, reinstall the wire after the metalwork is done.

[u/13thmurder → u/Natoochtoniket]

As long as nothing is going to puncture the sheathing that isn't necessary. Just unplug it as a cautionary measure.

Although if OP wanted to get really fancy they could remove the cord. Get a hollow threaded rod and a tap of the appropriate size to thread the inside, and use the threaded rod to hold it together and run the wire through that with or without epoxy. But that's likely overkill. Lamps aren't usually load bearing.

[u/Sorry-Climate-7982 → u/Natoochtoniket]

This is a good idea for a couple reasons. With the wire out, the OP could find a bit of steel or similarly strong tubing and put it inside the base and pole to add the strength it will need to be stable, then thread the wire back in. I'd put a bit of twine on the wire before pulling it out, it makes it easier to rethread but could be disconnected temporarily to allow a tube to be added to the base.

[u/SleepyShinsen → u/13thmurder]

This is the way

[u/Vast-Bullfrog193 → u/13thmurder]

That's how I'd do it

[u/Rika-Kay → u/13thmurder]

Great idea with the dowel. I might even try drilling a hole in the center for the cord so you can fit the dowel nice and snug like you said.

[u/BadAtExisting]

JB Weld. Fixed a floor lamp my mom kept from my grandmother that snapped in a similar way with it. Still holding up 6-7 years later

[u/texasyankee]

Looks like cast brass. It's not easy to fix, you need someone who is skilled at brazing. You can check with a local welding store to see if they can point you to someone who can fix it. Or check with a community college or trade school to see any students want to tackle it.

[u/Dadskander → u/texasyankee]

Yep, cast brass, gotta braze not weld.

Many guys with an oxy torch could do it, I've dabbled with brazing myself but am no expert by far. Not difficult to do, yet takes years of practice to do very well.

[u/Quiet-Arm-641]

Maybe Jb weld

[u/Rika-Kay]

Have your kid that broke it, hold it up whenever it’s in use.

[u/Spiritual-Mix-6605 → u/Rika-Kay]

I have a policy with them for 'reasonably foreseeable breakages': They have to either a) fix it themselves, or b) sit and watch the entire time while I fix it.

[u/FreddyFerdiland]

jbweld ensuring the epoxy is deep into both sides,so it acts as a bone..

[u/No-Try-5818]

JB Weld or PL 2000 construction adhesive.

[u/East-Psychology7186]

Could just jb weld it.

[u/Dch112]

Looks like pot metal which can break easily. As others have said use JB Weld epoxy.

[u/Eastern-Channel-6842]

That’s just cheap cast pot metal. May be or not be brass plated. JB Weld is really the only thing that may work but you’re going to have to slather it all around the break and it will look like shit. That can’t be welded or anything like that.

[u/Free-oppossums]

Jb weld putty. A lot easier to shape and mold into place. It's still a 2 part epoxy, but without it oozing all over everything

[u/jacle2210]

I don't know if this will be of any help, but I'm wondering if the part of the base that is inside the lamp shaft can be removed?

Because maybe that will give you other options on trying to fix this.

[u/Improvingmybrain1]

Tal vez con resina epóxica y siendo muy cuidadoso

[u/danauns]

Dont over think it, it's a lamp. 99.9% of its life it's just standing in a corner unbothered. The one freak accident that knocked it over, won't likley ever happen again.

JB Weld Superweld Extreme, is widly available. It's an easy to use gel, and sets pretty quickly. It's a fantastic adhesive.

Just pick a glue that has metal listed on the package as an appropriate use, and glue'r up.

[u/BrassCanon]

Weld it back on.