How To Lengthen a Dollhouse Miniature Chandelier Chain

My first foray into adding working lights into a miniature project was in a series of peaked roof roomboxes.  The standard ceiling hung lights all came with one chain length...and it was nowhere long enough for my application.  I searched the internet for a tutorial or video...nothing I found specifically covered making the decorative chain longer.  So, I cobbled together a couple tutorials that had some information and some trial-n-error and put together this little instructable.  

For this project I ventured into the overwhelming jewelry aisle at the craft store.  So many tiny pieces and parts for different purposes...it makes my head swim looking at the slatwall display covered in hundreds of hanging baggies.  I found a couple styles of chain to match the different finishes of the lights in each room, cupped beads for back plates and split rings to connect the chain.  I also picked up some jewelry tools like cutters that don't send pieces flying when cut.

Ready for longer chains...

The living room box had the tallest ceiling peak so these chandeliers needed the most chain added. The original chain on these fixtures I ended cutting off because I hadn't figured out how to remove the mounting plate (which turned out to be simple).

Remove the plug off the fixture.  Simply pull the two brass prongs out of the plastic plug using pliers. 

The wire will now slip out of the holes and you can remove the plastic plug end leaving you with wire end you can thread thru most anything.  

DON'T LOSE THE BRASS PRONGS!

Put them in a safe place or stick them to scotch tape.  I've accidentally swept them onto the floor and had to dig through a pile of dust and fine debris looking for them.

It took me awhile but I found out the back plate is simply threaded onto the wire.  They feel like they are attached because the double sided adhesive for mounting the light to the ceiling also sticks the wire to the plate..just pull it off.

The chain I decided to use for these was bracelets.  I cut off the clasps and then cut the chain to the length needed for my project.  I just held the fixture in the room at the height it should hang and used the length of the wire to find new chain length.  I put split rings on either end.

One slip ring attaches to the light fixture.

I tried tried threading the wire through the chain however it did not look right with the thickness of the links.  When hung the wire sits right behind the chain and looked pretty good.  On the other fixtures in this project threading the wire through the chain worked out well.  After deciding whether threaded or non-threaded looks best for your light slip the mounting plate back on the wire.  (At this point if your wire is colored you can use a marker on the new wire that is exposed.)  

Connect the mounting plate with a slip ring.

Replace the double sided mounting tape to the backplate.  I had some picture hanging stuff on hand that I used.  It was too thick and not sticky enough.  I will be looking for the stuff they used on the fixture in the first place.

 Time to replace the plug.  Thread the wire through the center hole on the tapered end.  Split the wire and bare each end and slide into each hole.  Be sure there are no stray wire threads outside of the hole.  Press the brass prongs back into the holes with each wire.

And here they are...ready to hang!