How to Repair a Vintage Rain Lamp
Vintage "rain" lamps have one working part, the pump, making this a simple lamp to repair or maintain. To make the "rain," oil is pumped into the top canopy and drips down the strands of fishing line. The light shining on the oil creates the effect of rain.
The old fishing line in these lamps can become brittle and break and must be replaced. The pump is quite durable but can be damaged by unacceptable oil or additives and may need repair or replacing. The most common repair is replacing a burned-out light bulb. It takes little effort to restore a vintage rain lamp to working order.
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic sheeting
- Newspaper
- Paper towels
- Screw driver
- Light bulb
- Empty milk jug or plastic bottle
- Needle
- Scissors
- Fishing line (30 or 40 pound test weight)
- 1 to 3 pints of rain lamp fluid or mineral oil
Instructions
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Unplug the lamp to disassemble it for extensive repair or cleaning. Place plastic sheeting under your work area, cover with newspaper, and keep paper towels handy. Reach through the strands and remove the light bulb, statue and any foliage. Slide any decorative bands out of position to expose the screws.
Unscrew the top canopy and remove it. Unscrew the cage section from the bottom canopy and remove it. Drain the oil from the bottom basin into a plastic milk jug or bottle if necessary.
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Unplug the lamp to change the light bulb. Use a paper towel to wipe down each strand of oily fishing line in the path to accessing the light bulb. Reach through the strands and unscrew the burned out light bulb using care not to drop it when removing. Pass the fresh light bulb through the fishing line strands and screw it into the light socket.
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Unplug the lamp to check the pump. Remove the panel found in the area where the oil flows into the pump. Check to see if the pump blade wheel will move when you nudge it. If it moves, the pump is still good and just needs cleaning.
If the blade wheel is frozen in place, the pump needs replacing. Check the outside of the pump for a manufacturer's name and model number. Search online for the brand and model of your pump, pump repairs for a new one.
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To replace the fishing line, remove the old line from the cage with scissors. Wipe off excess oil, clean thread holes by inserting a needle and removing oil build up. Tie a knot in the end of the fishing line large enough to secure it and thread the line through the first hole and continuing the pattern until the lamp is restrung. Tie the other end in a knot to secure the strands and keep them taut.
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Replace the foliage, statue, light bulb and screw the cage back into the bottom canopy. Screw on the top canopy and replace the decorative bands.
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Replace emptied oil. Oil is added to fill holes in the bottom collection pan below the foliage. With the lamp on, slowly add the first pint of oil and wait 5 minutes and listen for a change in the sound of the pump. Add another half pint of oil and wait a few minutes. Expect to pour at least one pint of oil but no more than three pints. Stop adding oil when the raining effect looks normal. Do not use too much oil because it can overwhelm the pump.
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Tips & Warnings
Soak the foliage in hot soapy water to remove oil residue, rinse in cool water, and dry thoroughly. Sponge the statue with hot soapy water, rinse, and dry thoroughly before putting it back in the lamp.
Do not use essential oils or vegetable oil in your vintage rain lamp to avoid damaging the pump. Your rain lamp will use 1 to 3 pints of rain lamp fluid or mineral oil depending on lamp size.
