Jieldé LOFT: How to Assemble and Adjust the Arms

How to Assemble and Adjust the Arms of a Jieldé LOFT Lamp: Complete Guide

Jieldé LOFT lamps are instantly recognisable thanks to their iconic articulated arms, designed to offer great freedom of movement while preserving the distinctive industrial aesthetic of the brand.

Their construction has one particularly important feature: the electrical current passes through the joints via wavy contacts. When assembling the different arms, it is therefore essential to make sure these contacts are correctly positioned.

How do you assemble the arms of a Jieldé LOFT lamp? How should the contacts be positioned? Which tools should you use? And what should you do if an arm feels too loose or too tight?

In this guide, Lumitop explains step by step how to correctly assemble and adjust the joints of your Jieldé LOFT lamp.

Before You Start: Unplug the Lamp and Lay It Flat

Before carrying out any work, make sure the lamp is completely disconnected from the power supply. For a fixed installation, switch off the electrical supply before handling the lamp.

We then recommend laying your Jieldé LOFT lamp flat on a stable, protected surface.

This position makes assembling the different arms much easier. It helps keep all components correctly aligned, provides better access to the inside of the joint and, most importantly, reduces the risk of the wavy contacts moving during assembly.

Place a blanket, thick cloth or other suitable protection underneath the lamp to avoid damaging its painted finish.

How Does a Jieldé LOFT Joint Work?

The articulated joint is one of the defining features of the Jieldé LOFT lamp.

It allows the different arms to rotate while maintaining the electrical continuity required for the lamp to operate.

Each joint includes:

an articulation screw;
a female head;
wavy contacts;
a male head;
a brake disc;
a locknut.

The distinctive feature of this system is the way electricity is transmitted: the electrical current flows through the wavy contacts positioned inside each joint of the lamp.

The absence of electrical wires within the joints also contributes to the exceptional freedom of movement characteristic of the LOFT collection.

Which Tool Should You Use to Assemble a Jieldé LOFT Lamp?

For the Jieldé LOFT collection, use:

A No. 10 box spanner

The No. 10 box spanner is used both to assemble and tighten the arms together during installation and to adjust a joint that has become too loose or too tight.

For correct adjustment, we recommend having two No. 10 box spanners available.

One is used to hold one side of the joint in place while the other is used on the opposite side.

Do not use pliers or unsuitable tools. They may slip and damage the paint or finish of your Jieldé lamp.

How to Assemble the Arms of a Jieldé LOFT Lamp

Once the lamp has been unplugged and laid flat, you can begin assembling the different arms.

Particular care is required around each joint.

Step 1: Position the Two Arms

Position the arms to be assembled so that the male and female sections of the joint are correctly aligned.

Working with the lamp lying flat makes this much easier and prevents you from having to support the weight of the arms while assembling them.

Do not force the two sections together.

Step 2: Carefully Check the Wavy Contacts

This is the most important part of the assembly process.

Inside the joint are wavy metal contacts that allow the electrical current to pass from one section of the lamp to another.

It is essential to make sure that the wavy contacts are correctly positioned in their respective grooves.

They must remain properly seated while the two sections of the joint are brought together.

A displaced, pinched or incorrectly positioned contact can cause a poor electrical connection and prevent the lamp from operating correctly.

The photographs show the copper-coloured contacts inside the joint and illustrate how they should be positioned before the two sections are assembled.

Lumitop tip: Take a few seconds to check each contact carefully before closing the joint. This simple check can save you from having to disassemble the arm again afterwards.

Step 3: Bring the Two Sections of the Joint Together

Once the wavy contacts are correctly positioned in their grooves, carefully bring the male and female heads together.

Proceed slowly to avoid moving the contacts.

The two parts should fit together correctly without excessive force.

If you feel unusual resistance or the components do not align correctly, do not force the joint closed.

Separate the two sections again and check:

the position of the wavy contacts;
the alignment of the two arms;
the position of the different joint components.

You can then try assembling the joint again.

Step 4: Insert the Articulation Screw

Once the two sections are correctly positioned, insert the articulation screw.

Keep the lamp lying flat during this operation.

This helps the different components remain naturally aligned and reduces the risk of the contacts moving while the screw is being inserted.

If you are replacing an articulation screw, we also recommend carrying out the procedure with the lamp lying flat.

Step 5: Tighten the Arms with the No. 10 Box Spanners

You can now tighten the joint.

Use the No. 10 box spanners to securely hold both sides of the articulation.

Tighten gradually.

The aim is not to lock the joint completely. The arm should still be able to move while providing enough resistance to remain in the position you choose.

Once the first arm has been assembled, repeat the same procedure for the other joints of your LOFT lamp.

My Jieldé LOFT Arm Is Too Loose or Too Tight: Is It a Fault?

Not necessarily.

Jieldé lamps are manufactured using artisanal production methods, and each piece may present slight variations due to manufacturing tolerances.

One joint may therefore feel slightly firmer or looser than another.

An arm that appears too loose or too tight can usually be corrected by simply adjusting the tension of the joint.

How to Adjust a Jieldé LOFT Arm That Is Too Loose or Too Tight

For this adjustment, you will need two No. 10 box spanners.

Before carrying out any work, unplug the lamp and lay it flat on a protected surface.

1. Position the Two Box Spanners

Place one spanner on each side of the joint.

One spanner holds the screw in position while the other is used to adjust the locknut.

2. Slightly Loosen the Locknut

Hold the screw with the first No. 10 box spanner.

With the second, slightly loosen the locknut, without removing it completely.

For a simple tension adjustment, there is no need to completely disassemble the joint.

3. Gradually Adjust the Tightness

Next, hold the locknut with one spanner and gradually adjust the screw with the other.

Make small, progressive adjustments until you achieve the desired resistance.

Test the movement of the arm between adjustments.

The arm should remain easy to reposition while naturally holding its chosen position.

Why Shouldn't You Overtighten the Joint?

Tightening the joint as much as possible does not necessarily provide better support.

The objective is to find the correct balance between movement and stability.

If the joint becomes too tight, do not force the arm to move. Instead, slightly readjust the tension using the No. 10 box spanners.

This helps preserve both the mechanism and the ease of use of your Jieldé lamp.

What Should You Check Before Reconnecting the Lamp?

Once all the arms have been assembled and correctly adjusted, take a moment to inspect the entire lamp before reconnecting it to the power supply.

Check that all joints are correctly assembled and that the arms move normally.

Also make sure that no component appears pinched or incorrectly positioned.

If a joint has been opened during assembly, pay particular attention to the wavy contacts and make sure they are correctly positioned in their grooves before the joint is fully closed.

Only once the entire assembly has been checked should you reconnect the lamp and test its operation.

The Lamp Does Not Work After Assembly: What Should You Check?

If your Jieldé LOFT does not operate correctly after the arms have been assembled, the position of the wavy contacts should be one of the first things you check.

Incorrect positioning may result in a poor electrical connection.

In this case:

Unplug the lamp immediately.
Lay it flat on a protected surface.
Open the affected joint.
Check the position of the wavy contacts.
Carefully reposition them in their respective grooves.
Reassemble the joint.
Check the tightening before reconnecting the lamp.

Never attempt to reposition the contacts while the lamp is connected to the power supply.

What Makes the Jieldé Joint System So Special?

The articulated joints are an essential part of the identity of Jieldé lamps.

The system provides both the mechanical movement of the arms and the electrical connection through the wavy contacts located inside the joints.

Because there are no electrical wires running through the articulations, the arms benefit from exceptional freedom of movement.

This ingenious construction allows the LOFT arms to be repositioned while preserving the unmistakable industrial silhouette that has made Jieldé lamps so distinctive.

How to Protect Your Jieldé LOFT During Assembly

A few simple precautions will help protect both the mechanism and the appearance of your lamp.

Always work with the lamp unplugged and lying flat on a stable, protected surface.

Use appropriate tools, especially the No. 10 box spanners, and avoid pliers that could damage the painted finish.

Tighten the joints progressively rather than applying excessive force.

Finally, whenever a joint is opened, carefully check the position of the wavy contacts before closing it again.

Jieldé LOFT Assembly: The Essential Steps

To correctly assemble the arms of your Jieldé LOFT lamp:

1. Unplug the lamp.

2. Lay it flat on a stable, protected surface.

3. Prepare two No. 10 box spanners.

4. Position the arms to be assembled.

5. Make sure the wavy contacts are correctly positioned in their respective grooves.

6. Carefully bring the male and female heads of the joint together.

7. Insert the articulation screw.

8. Gradually tighten the joint using the No. 10 box spanners.

9. Check that each arm moves freely while remaining in the chosen position.

10. Inspect the entire assembly before reconnecting the lamp to the power supply.

Conclusion: Careful Assembly for the Best Performance from Your Jieldé LOFT

Assembling the arms of a Jieldé LOFT lamp is relatively straightforward as long as a few essential precautions are followed.

The most important rule is to lay the lamp flat and carefully check the position of the wavy contacts before closing each joint. These contacts allow the electrical current to flow through the articulation, so incorrect positioning may cause a poor electrical connection.

The No. 10 box spanners can then be used both to assemble the different arms and to adjust their tension over time.

By working carefully and making gradual adjustments, you can preserve the mechanism, the finish and, above all, the exceptional freedom of movement that is such an integral part of the iconic Jieldé LOFT design.

Discover the Jieldé LOFT collection at Lumitop, along with our advice on assembling, adjusting and caring for your Jieldé lighting.