Use chain pliers to open and close fixture chain links.
Many chandeliers have chains that either hold them in place or are part of the main fixture body. The chains consist of links that can be threaded closed or have their ends bent together. Some chain links are a solid piece or welded together. There may be many reasons that would necessitate you opening and closing the links on a chandelier’s chain.
Use Chain Pliers to Open and Close Fixture Chain Links
Step 1
Inspect the chain link to determine if it has a fastener that threads the two ends of the link together. If there is one, hold the link tightly with a pair of pliers and use another pair of pliers to turn the fastener counterclockwise to loosen it. Once the fastener is loose enough, completely unscrew it by hand. To close the link again, tighten the fastener to bring the two ends together.
Step 2
Locate where the two ends of the link connect if it doesn’t have a fastener and is not a solid piece. Use two pairs of pliers to hold the link on either side of the split, and gently pull the link apart. Use a single pair of pliers to squeeze the link together again.
Step 3
Cut the link apart on one of its straight sides using a hacksaw if it is a solid piece. Make the hacksaw cut at a 90-degree angle, and cut completely through the link. Pull the link apart gently using a pair of pliers on each side of the split. Close the link together again using a single pair of pliers to squeeze the two ends together.
How To Shorten The Chain On A Chandelier
It may seem like your destiny: Every chandelier or light fixture you’ve ever purchased must be shortened so that someone doesn’t bang into it head-first. Chandeliers typically come packaged with more chain and wire than you need — because it’s more convenient to shorten a chain rather than to lengthen it.
Step 1
Ensure that you have turned the power off at your home’s electrical panel before starting work on the chandelier. Measure, from the ceiling down, where you wish the chandelier to hang. Then measure the fixture cord and chain on the chandelier and calculate how many links in the chain you should remove.
Step 2
Locate the split or joint on the chain link that you will remove; the joint is typically in the middle along one side of the link. Grip half of the link with a pair of pliers and use a second pair of pliers or an adjustable wrench to twist the other half, separating the link at the joint. Remove the unwanted portion of chain.
Step 3
Cut the chandelier cord about 12 to 24 inches longer than the shortened chain to ensure that you have enough to weave through the links in the chain. Many people prefer to weave the wire through every second link in the chain, but this is a matter of preference.
Step 4
Complete the wiring connections to the fixture and the circuit cable in the electrical box, following the manufacturer’s directions. At this point, too, you will appreciate the benefit of having a little extra wire.
Step 5
Secure the chandelier canopy to the electrical box in the ceiling and connect the chandelier chain to the hanging loop on the canopy. From now on you won’t risk hitting your head.
TIP
Install a fan brace to support your chandelier. This brace, which fits over the hole in the ceiling and spans across the ceiling, usually can suspend fixtures that weigh as much as 150 pounds.