Fiberglass Shades Go On Trial - Part II

I warned you there would be more to come...

You remember my matched pair of fiberglass shades, right? They were yellowed from years of dirt, the metal hoops had turned brown and their lacing had disintergrated into fragments... These two were not in a happy place!

It was time to act and to coordinate a rescue effort. I removed the pieces of old lacing and the metal hoops, then smoothed off the corrosion and other yuckiness from the hoops with fine steel wool, and washed off any greasy residue. Now the hoops got several light coats of fresh gold (or brass) metallic paint to replicate the original finish. You could have the metal parts professionally plated, but ummm, I don't have any relatives in that line of business ;)

Next it was time for the fiberglass shades to get some attention. They weren't stained, just that overall they could use a thorough cleaning. I read somewhere about a fiberglass boat cleaner which might be used to reverse yellowing, but I was not willing to experiment on two irreplacable shades. I went with something less drastic, I filled the bathtub with mildly warm water, enough to immerse the whole shade and gently scrubbed any bug spots with a small bristle brush. The shades really soak up the warm water and it seemed to help smooth out some minor dimples too. I didn't use any detergent, otherwise I'd start with a dishwashing soap like Dove.

I had done some research if chlorine bleach might help brighten the yellowing, but after a little Googling I found that any products containing chlorine bleach could actually set stains in fiberglass, so I dropped that idea. And of course abrasive cleaners aren't recommended for fiberglass either.

After their bath I padded the two shades down with a bath towel so they weren't dripping wet and to help avoid any risk of water staining while they air dried. The results: though there's discoloring from age, they were noticably brighter after being cleaned.

Next up: there was the lace situation to be tackled!


Now that they were cleaned, the two shades could have the hoops reattached with new lacing. I went to Hobby Lobby to see what might be available. In the leather crafts they had a reel of goatskin lace in dark brown in two widths. I brought along a piece of my old lacing to compare and went with the smaller width. They also carried reels available in black, and a wider variety in shorter lengths on cards, including metallic colors (much like my original lamp lace still showed traces of) but the carded laces would have been too wide for my particular shades.

Restitching was the easiest part, with a bit of patience. I started at the seam and gradually tightening the lace as the hoop is secured (but not too tight). I double checked that I ran the lacing in the same direction both top and bottom, otherwise the effect may not have been a good one! Finally the two loose ends of the lace were tied in a sailors knot, in the same fashion as the original lace was knotted.

The Verdict: I solemnly swear that overall I am pleased with how my shades turned out, Your Honor. And I can testify that today I have a happy matching pair of nightstand lamps again!

= = =

A Friendly Disclaimer: This example illustrates what I did to repair my shades. I am NOT a professional fiberglass lamp restoration expert. Individual results will likely vary. You may choose to follow my methods, but I cannot be held responsible for any unforeseen results, including further staining, accidental dismemberment and worse. Please use your own common sense and judgement before proceeding!


Cleaning tips from:

• Deadly Nightshades
• All Green Things

Dealers and Suppliers:

• Moonshine Shades

Fiberglass Shades Go On Trial

Yes kids, it's time for the Commander to fire-up the old projector and give another one of his infamous slide shows. You may as well sit down and relax, because all the doors have been locked (hehehe)...

Okay, lets have the first slide - dubbed "Exhibit A"...

Look at 'em. They are quite a mess aren't they? When I picked up this pair of matching bedside lamps back in the 80's they looked pretty spiffy and bright with that spring motif from the lamp body repeated on the shade itself.

And now, after spending the past decade in storage the fiberglass has yellowed and the fiber lacing has disintegrated. What a neglectful owner I've been - Boo hoo!

I've heard rumors of a cleanser that can lighten yellowed fiberglass such as this. Would simple vinyl lacing found at the craft store fill in for new lacing?... we'll see to those later. But first we have even more eyesores to behold . . .


Next slide please... "Exhibit B"

This fiberglass lampshade found in my Grandma's attic has a different set of troubles. There's a couple of noticeable dents that just refuse to pop out and play nice.



And the final slide... "Exhibit C"

Yes, I would gasp too to see such an unsightly blemish as this. These are dirt stains from a leaky roof that have soaked underneath the fiber. Gently patting (never rub downward on fiberglass) with a damp cloth doesn't even touch this. Perhaps a soak in a warm dishwater detergent solution will help? But this shade has a paper binding, not lacing. Oh, what to do?!

I'll be offering some possible solutions (hopefully) and my own results (good or not so good) in upcoming weeks... or maybe longer if the Judge decides to throw the book at me =O

But first I'd like to know what YOU have tried and found works best for your own fiberglass shade woes. Please feel free to leave your comments right here and share your lampshade restoration knowledge for Everyone to learn from!



=== repost of comments ===

1950's_atomic_ranch_house said...

Wedgewood Tulsa mentioned I might try ironing the dents out of my crushed lampshade. Use a towel over the fiberglass and between the iron, of course. But I'm not sure if that will work on fiberglass still mounted on the frame in the conical shape?

The metal frame looks bent on mine as well. Ugh.

Let me know if you found lacing that isn't that shiny bright plastic. Maybe go to Tandy Leather (are they still in biz?) or let me know what you use, because I need some of that, too. =O

Hope you get some answers, or can find the fixes to share with us!

Space Commander said...

I'm sure there's plenty of people who'd like some help, including me! I heard the ironing/blow dryer method works for plastic, I think I'll try it on my one shade if nothing else works.. Thanks :) Wish I was close by you, I can prolly fix the frame.

Tandy Leather still exists, but no longer locally around here. They offer a mail order catalog. Here's the lacing: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/home/department/Lacing/Lacing.aspx
Hard to tell the finish from those photos...

This manufacturer sells replacement lace (looks like vinyl to me): http://www.moonshineshades.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=1

Maybe a person could take off some of the shine with fine sandpaper, or skip vinyl and go with the leather??

Parade of Atomic Homes is Here!

Hi there, and Welcome to our Parade of Atomic Homes! My name is Babette and I will be your tour guide.


Now I'd like to invite each and every one of ya'll to our first home on today's tour - it's a single story ranch style called "the Delores" built in 1958. Doesn't that just sound dreamy?! Let's have a look inside, okay? Now watch your step. There's a lot of stairs to climb, isn't there? There you go! Oh, isn't this landscaping just adorable? I hear that most all of the flowers and greenery are original to the property's beginnings.

Allrighty then! As we step inside can anyone tell me what Mid-Century Modern is? Does anyone know? That's right ma'am! Mid-Century Modern is the style of decor highly popularized during the 1950's, and that's the style that we see today inside of this very home.


The Living Area
Has everyone made their way inside? Could one of your gentlemen please help Mrs. Roberts up with her walker? There we go! You just go right ahead and please make yourself feel right at home.

Oh, by the way, the owner requested that if everyone would please watch their step? And please walk around his genuine imitation Himalayan Nanny Goat Hair Rug... He is kind of overly-sensitive about that. *wink*

Thank you so much!


If everyone would line up behind me, I'll escort you to the next room on the tour. Yes, there's plenty more yet to see!

Oh, Mrs. Roberts, now there's no need for pushing and shoving like that! You'll all get your turn soon enough...

= = =

Be sure to return next time, as we continue the Tour!

Busy Busy Busy...

So.... I don't think I like breathing toxic fumes and scrapping off old paint as much as I do shopping. But I've been tackling a bit of both head on.

It's turning into another week of busyness and plenty's getting done. Finally my front door is cleaned of blue paint and ready for a good sanding (confidentially the 9-year old Junior thinks leaving it as a wood finish instead of painting it a new color is "Bo-ring!" But since I'm bigger than he is, what I say still goes!)

It's been slim pickings at the thrifts lately, which is probably a good thing for my wallet but isn't as much fun either.

Close... but Nuh Uh. Kinda reminds me of almost a womb chair wannabe. Why a womb chair? Because the Womb chair is on my Top Five List of Fave Chairs, that's why! Other highly esteemed members of this elite group include:

• the Eames Lounge (Naturally)
• the Jacobsen Egg (Futuristic!)
• the Butterfly (Most comfy chair on earth!)
• a Zanuso (ANY Zanuso!)

Tempted!

Now this is what I like. Really. A Lot. There's just the minor problem of where to find another corner to park another extra chair in the limited kitchen space? But still... look at those chrome arms!

Junior's been a busy little man too. Today he brought home from school the poster he made about his subject in famous people of American history:

Good job - Way to go, Big Guy! (Dang... that kid is looking too grown to be my little Junior anymore)

About Those Paint Colors, Again...

Painting a home is not on the top of my list of fun-filled things to do on your day off. But hopefully the results are worth it. Maybe you can find ways to make it seem fun (or maybe I should say "more bearable") like putting on the atomic era music while you work to make the time pass quicker.

While I'm scraping and sanding and busting my knuckles by prying loose paint from the woodwork, I like to see what colors were used before on the family home, kind of how an arborist/climatologist/historian may use tree rings to date with, maybe. You get the idea.

A week ago I replaced the outside sheathing on the back storeroom door, and was wondering about the choice of color appropriate to the time when the house was still new. Here's what I found under the thick peels of shredded paint:

Among the oldest paint layers on the door was a rich dark red, which I vaguely remember when I was a real youngin' (you can see that in the second photo, to the left).

The door sill also had traces of the red layer, and under that a very rockin' aqua color (top and bottom photos) . Just like the salmon pink I found when restoring the bathroom, the old ranch home originally wore some bright colors, ones I wouldn't have imagined from the beige exterior seen in old photos. I like this. In fact I'll be painting the doors back to this color, thanks to my bit of detective work.

Cruiser Restoration Begins...

So what do I do when I get burned out jumping from one never-ending home renovation project to the next? I restore a bicycle of course.

I know, it doesn't make sense to me either ;P


My Robin Hood bike, my poor neglected British roadster. She was in sorry shape when I first saw her at the Salvation Army, when I was a kid. She was covered in flat black spray paint and rusty chrome. But I bought her, I walked a five miles on foot down the long gone MoPac RR track so that I could ride her back home from the store. I was going to fix her back up.

And that's when I ran into a bit of a problem. A vital part of the speed changer had come loose and gone missing. It was an import, out-of-date, and I couldn't find any replacement part anywhere. The restoration was sunk before it really got going. Being unridable she was sadly stored away, to rust and rot even more.




And here we are today. I've taken her completely apart, steel wooled and wire bristled each piece clean of corrosion, primed and painted the body and fork, and started reassembly. With new resources that weren't available before, I should be able to locate some of the many parts she needs too.

Lots accomplished. Lots left to do. I'll post an update as more progress can be made.

= = =

British Roadsters consist of bikes from the 50's, 60's and 70's that were made in Great Britain. These bikes are well known for their great ride, dependability, and sleek styling. The tire size is 26 x 1/38.

But, of course you already knew that ;)

Some Resources:
John's Vintage Bikes

Dear Mr. Knowitall... Help!

Today I woke to the morning sunshine, filled with vim and vigor, aka ambition. With it being my day off, I was determined to get things done around the old homestead. I decided I had enough with mild attempts... Yes, I decided to go on the offensive with the living room floor in our humble little home. No more Mister Nice Guy!

First every stick of furniture in the living room had to be squeezed into two bedrooms, and some went out the door to set in the backyard. Yes, I was going to get things done.

Next, since I was already expecting to scrub the wood floor within a inch of its life, I may as well mop the bathroom and kitchen as well. Why pass up killing two birds with one stone, right? So some of the kitchenette set went out the back door to join the others as well. It was starting to look like I really meant business now.

My brother, a.k.a. Brother Dear had suggested that a floor sander would take care of my floor situation. But for a while I've been doing a little bit of atomic research of my own for ways to remove stubborn water stains from wood floors... ever since the icky old carpeting was torn out last year. One idea is to use household vinegar, another is to use bleach, and if all else fails, try oxalic acid. Though I had my doubts, I chose to go with vinegar first, just to see what would happen.

After three applications, I discovered that the only result was that my house now smelled like a Subway sandwich restaurant.

"What did you do next" you ask? Not to worry, I shall tell all in due time.

I passed on the use of household bleach. Too risky, I thought. With my luck the floor would turn pale white. Not a very appealing image. So I trucked on down to the local Q.P. Hardware after having a Kids Meal lunch with my Junior at school, and picked up a small tub of oxalic acid crystals - a bleaching agent safe for treating stains without bleaching the natural color of the wood. Mind you, this stuff is poisonous so please treat it with utmost respect (eye protection, adequate ventilation, rubber gloves, etc...)!

The day was already half over. I dumped the crystals in a warm gallon of water and used the hard-working mop for application so I wouldn't have to handle the acid. And so I began mopping the wood. And mopped. And mopped. Scrubbing it repeatedly into those nasty stains. After four applications (waiting at least ten minutes between each) the floor was then gone over with a wash of plain water, applied three separate times to remove the acid.

The verdict: My wood floor did indeed lighten up, almost to the natural wood color. And a few discolored spots lightened right up. But (and there's always a "but") those mean old dark water stain rings lightened up only slightly. Definitely not enough that I'd dare think of refinishing anything yet.

Anyways, to cut a long story short... a thunderstorm moved in as the final wash was still drying. All our valuable goodies outside had to be rushed back inside as the rain drops started to fall. Now the furniture is almost all back in place. I haven't felt good all night (*gasp* oxalic acid poisoning??? Or maybe it was that second fast food cheeseburger for the day topped off by a treat at D.Q?) ...And Brother Dear still thinks I should have rented a floor sander.

Oh well...

Some days it just doesn't pay to be ambitious ;)

20th Century Colors Released

Thanks to Pam at Retro Renovation for getting the scoop on this one!
  
California Paints announces their new 20th Century Colors of America paints. According to the manufacturer "Color experts from Historic New England, working in partnership with California Paints, have analyzed every color in the collection to accurately record each color’s point of origin. This research allows us to offer authentic color documentation for each color in the collection."

This is big news for us homeowners struggling to match period correct colors through the painful process of researching old print ads... which may not be 100% accurate to start with.

The article continues, "Every color of the 20th Century Colors of America palette features its own biography. These color stories are unique and distinctive. Each story begins with the year of that color’s emergence in our collective color history. Using that as a guide, our color experts document how each color was used, in what settings, and list specific design elements that were often implemented with each color."

Here's some of what California Paints has to offer:

1940-1960 Mid-Century Modern colors

The post-World War II housing boom and the popularization of modern architecture brought bold colors in deep tones into popularity once again. Earth tones dominated exteriors, while interiors featured sophisticated, modulated neutral shades like bone, gray-beige, pearl gray, and taupe alongside saturated accents in fuchsia, teal, evergreen, charcoal, and chocolate with strong contrasts in chartreuse, tangerine, gold, and sulfur yellow.

From looking through the selection I immediately recognized the color Weatgrass as being used on the exterior of our home, with Modern White accents when I was a kid.

I'm excited! Finally a selection of paint colors that takes out the guesswork.

Spiral Cone Legs by Lance Stephenson

Spiral Cone Legs - Indoor or Outdoor use - Original design handmade direct from artisan.

These legs are made of 1/4" steel round bar, formed and welded into a spiral cone ending at a 1-1/2" diameter solid steel ball.
They are very sturdy and can support a heavy table, with you dancing atop all the while.

The angled and straight legs of the same height, can be utilized within the same table, as in my Concrete computer table, pictured, which has two angled and one straight leg. The legs are sand blasted and powder coated for a long lasting durable finish.

Ringa-linga-ling!

Rotary Dial Phone Sources

These two sites must be shared.

Antique Telephone Repair Help Page Tons of info for the do-it-yourselfer. These guides helped me troubleshoot the hookup for my Automatic Electric to a modern outlet (specifically the ringer) so that my new/old phone was a happy phone - Proper Hookup of Ringers. If your trouble goes deeper, the author can also repair/restore your phone - Rotary Dial Telephone Repairs.

Vintage Rotary Phones A true fan site with discussion, sales and lots of photos.

There's plenty more to Google out there, but you'll have to excuse me... the phone is ringing.