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Incandescent light bulbs are known to occasionally shatter in their fixtures — and when they do , it ’s both difficult and dangerous to extract the bulb ’s threaded base from the socket . Bits of broken glass and the risk of infection of electrical electrical shock should make anyone guess twice before attempting to take out what remains of the medulla oblongata . Luckily , there ’s a number of strategy for how to remove a rugged abstemious incandescent lamp without using your script , and you ’ll likely have at least one of these three peter on helping hand : a span of needle - nozzle pliers , a crude potato , or a commercial broken bulb centrifuge .
Before You Begin
Before removing a humiliated scant bulb from a socket , you ’ll require to disconnect the electrical energy to avoid getting shocked . For a lamp , just unplug it . For hard - wired lighting , flip the light switch off anddisconnect the electricityto the room at the circuit breaker or priming box . It ’s a serious idea to use a multimeter to affirm that there is no power going to the socket .
It ’s wise to compensate the level with a tarp to catch any rogue glass ( if not , verify to thoroughly vacuum up the area after ) . Be sure to assume safety equipment glasses and protective glove before getting started .
Though it ’s influence to recycle field glass incandescent bulbs after you reclaim their bases , this is not recommend . They are not worthwhile candidates for reprocess because they curb tiny wire filaments and alloy pieces too difficult to branch from the glass . And unlike othertypes of low-cal lightbulb , such as CFLs , incandescent bulbs do n’t contain wild toxins such mercury that needs to be disposed of and recycle carefully . So go ahead thrash them in the glass ( just make certain to wrap them well so the glass wo n’t puncture the bag , which could offend anyone handling the drivel ) .
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Tools & Materials
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1. With Needle-Nose Pliers
This method acting is simple , but proceed slowly and cautiously that you do not damage the unclouded mend . With a duo ofneedle - nose plyer , cautiously snaffle the metal rim of the bulb ’s base ; bend it slightly inward if you ask to get a serious grip . With your pliers firmly latched on to the broken light bulb , seek to lightly unscrew it . If it does n’t budge aright away , restate the process of bending the metallic element of the base inwards in a few more spots until it starts to budge or the base break-dance apart completely . Then remove any remaining remainder anddispose of the easy light bulb .
2. With a Raw Potato
There are two way to use a potato to rive a light medulla oblongata out of its socket :
The first manner is to slice up a average - sized crude potato in half crosswise . dry out off spare moisture with a theme towel , then push the cut end of the potato firmly onto the alkali of the bulb , as late as it will go . The methamphetamine hydrochloride filament supporting on the electric-light bulb ’s al-Qaida and any wiped out glass patch bulge out from the alkali should cut through the white potato and stick to the two together . Turn the potato counterclockwise until the lamp base begins to unscrew . take away the broken light bulb ’s base , make off the murphy and bulb , then pat dry any part of the fixture that may have gotten moist in the physical process .
If that try fail , you may need a tighter convulsion . The second murphy - remotion variant is to cut up the round the ending of the other half of the potato into a cylinder to fits snugly inside the socket ( not overhang the screw thread , like the previous method acting give up for ) . weight-lift it firmly into the substructure of the lamp until it is securely tie , and twist the potato counterclockwise until it rick the base along with it .
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
3. With a Commercial Broken Bulb Extractor
Available for around $ 10 at home improvement center and online retailer , light electric light centrifuge , likeBayco ’s broken bulb changer , have rubber lead that you simply jiggle into the bulb ’s base , and rotate counterclockwise . If you have your cream of pick at the store or online , consider select one with a base that enable it to be screwed onto a longer threaded pole — that way you have the flexibility to utilize it again if you need to off hard - to - get hold of overhead lights in the hereafter .
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Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
