Anyone know how to change a stocking on a lamp?

[corellian77]

I'm in the midst of decorating for Christmas, which means it's time once again to display my major award.

"You should see what it looks like from out here!"

However, I noticed a pull in the fishnet stocking last year, so I figured I'd replace it. I thought it would be a simple matter of removing a couple of screws on the underside of the shoe and slipping the leg out.

"Easy peasy lemon squeezy... right?"

However, after removing those two, the leg wouldn't budge. So, figuring there must still be a couple more screws holding it in place, I removed the felt bottom to uncover this:

"Aha!"

I went ahead and removed the two black screws here as well, but still no go. I got as far as this nut and washer and now I'm stumped.

When I turn the nut, it just spins in place. There is an identical nut and washer on the inside of the leg, and when I turn the nut on the outside, the one on the inside spins as well (both nuts spin independent of the washers). Has anyone ever encountered a washer like this before? Is there a particular way of loosening it? And, if it's a matter of holding one of the two nuts in place, any suggestions on how I could reach down inside the leg to hold the one inside (the lamp is 50 inches long, which is complicating matters).

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Shipbrook]

There's something called a "crowfoot wrench" that's handy in this sort of situation. It's pretty much just the head of a crescent wrench, which attaches sideways onto a long handle so you can reach it down into things (like lamps) for hex bolts or nuts in hard-to-reach places.

 

[McGraph]

Is this one of the ones that are sold or did you make your own?