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How to Collect Lag Bolt Insulators

Collecting vintage and antique electrical insulators has a following around the world. Lag bolt insulators are made of porcelain or glass and include a bolt or screw that is used to affix the insulator to the wood on the post to run a wire through. Some people collect them for their history and charm while other use them for decorating elements and as embellishments in multimedia craft projects. Either way, collecting them can be fun.

Instructions

- 1
  Decide what brand of insulators that you want to collect. Some are easy to find at tag sales and online auctions, while others are more rare and difficult to find. If you are just starting out collecting you will want to start with the more attainable insulators to get your collection started. When using insulators as decorating elements or embellishments, the brands are not going to matter. Just be sure that you have not found a rare insulator at a tag sale that could be sold for a profit to a real collector in lieu of putting it on a bird house.
- 2
  Purchase the insulators that you have chosen. Cleaning them of dirt or debris if needed. Making the purchases of your collection can happen quickly if you able and willing to purchase many insulators at once or can happen over time as you come across them at sales and while browsing the Internet.
- 3
  Display your collection. Since the insulators that you have collected are the lag bolt type you may want to display them on a piece of wood, new or vintage. If you are using the insulators for décor and embellishing, keeping like colors and sizes together would be ideal.
- 4
  Share your collection with other enthusiasts at trade and antique shows and online photos. You can also buy, sell and trade insulators online.

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