It all starts with an idea…
Dream it
Much like other antiques, the best places to find unique pulleys are antiques shops and flea markets. My antique barn pulleys vary from plain to decorative and from large water-well pulleys to small mechanical pulleys.
Clean it
Electrolysis cleans away rust like magic! I learned this rust removal technique several years ago. It is fun and the entire process reminds me of a science fair project, and like the proverbial science experiment cleanup is crazy messy. (Sorry I cannot share advice, except to say it can be dangerous if not done properly.)
Paint it
As with most paint jobs, a successful finish is commensurate to the time you take prepping the metal for paint. I carefully apply several coats of paint after the metal primer.
Wire it
The insulators and pulley may be a hundred years old, but I only use new components sourced from the oldest supplier of lamp making supplies in the United States. After gathering the customer specific materials for the lamp, I create the wiring harness and mount the antique insulators.
