OT - need help with light bulb

I've been in the same situation and here's what worked for me. I used pliers as well, but put them on the inside of the metal piece, applied outward pressure and twisted them. The tension on the inside of the metal part was enough to get it twisting and out it came. Be careful of any loose glass shards though. Hope this works!

Alice "Do what you like, like what you do"

I'll try that in a while. I'll also try a different pair of pliers. I need to relax a few moments here at the computer.

Amazingly, the bulb didn't break. It just slipped right out of its twisty shroud. I've never seen a "naked" light bulb before!

Try needle-nosed pliers. That's what I used. I figured if they had "needle" in the name, they must be good quilters tools!

Alice "Do what you like, like what you do"

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That's what I was using the first time. They poked a hole in something. Brown crusty stuff came out.

if t'were me, Kay, first thing i'd do is shut off the power at the main switchboard before doing anything else. then you can fiddle to your hearts content without the worry of getting electrocuted. get a good solid tall enough ladder/stepstool so you dont get tired arms in the process. we dont want the power off too long now do we. then try what alice said re the pliers inside the casing putting pressure outwards to help it twist. we had that happen once but it did come out when enough pressure was applied. cant for the life of me think what the brown crusty stuff is tho. i'd be sure to hang on to that and ask some electrician, take it to their shop. tis possible there are other things amiss inside the light fitting itself. beats heck outta me what it might be tho. : / good luck, j.

"Kay Ahr" wrote... That's what I was using the first time. They poked a hole in something. Brown crusty stuff came out.

You might find it easier, now or after a little while, when the whole thing has had a chance to cool down. When that happens the metal will shrink a little and perhaps be easier to take out. Turning off the lighting fuse is a good idea (thanks J.). So, you'll have to wait for daylight >g< . In message , Kay Ahr writes

This is going to sound crazy but use a potato. Make sure the circuit breaker is off (not just the switch). Cut a potato in half. Using gloves so you don't cut yourself, push the cut side of the potato up snugly into the exposed wires. Turn it and the screw part of the bulb should turn with it.

Sounds like the fitting is frazzled and a potentially lethal fire hazard. Throw it away and get a new one.

==== j a c k at c a m p i n . m e . u k === ==== Jack Campin, 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland == mob 07800 739 557 CD-ROMs and free stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, and Mac logic fonts

Sounds like the fitting is frazzled and a potentially lethal fire hazard. Throw it away and get a new one.

I'm thinking the same thing as Jack -- brown crusty stuff doesn't sound good.

The potato used to be standard advice for when this happens. I don't think it's all that uncommon for light bulbs to come apart and have had it happen more than a few times in the past. I've had better luck, though, using needle nose pliers. Be sure to turn off the light switch at the wall but I don't think you really need to turn off the circuit breaker. You're not taking the fixture apart so you should be safe. I wouldn't even worry about brown crusty stuff, that sounds like the glue that should have been holding your light bulb together.

Judie

WHOA STOP! Don't take any chances of glass shards in your face. Cut a potato in half.wipe it dry (where you sliced it) use a pot holder to hold the tater ((it'll catch teh glass shards teh tater may miss)) and put the tater in it cut side up. PUSH it gently into where the light bulb was....very gently turn the rest of the light base out.

Righty tightee Lefty loosee

Butterfly (only way my Dad would ever let us change one if it busted...under his supervision )

Replied before I read everyone else. Guess the tater wins :)

Butterfly

Linda PATCHogue, NY

Thank you so much, Jeanne. I'm struggling with a quilt to be sent to Soldier's Angels. I'm in the center and it's slow and heavy going - just can't watch the group all the time. I'm so glad you were alert and suggested turning off the electricity. Recently DH was changing out a lightswitch in the guest room. He had the breaker off for that room. I came by and asked him if he noticed that the wee little nightlight in the guest room was still burning (with the power to that room off). Waaaaaaaaah. Not good to assume that the electrician that wired a home did anything logical. Best to just simply shut the whole thing down. Maybe the entire block. If it's possible for an electrician to do some strange wiring, they'll do it. If that doesn't work, they carry their screwdrivers in their backpockets so they can gouge holes in walls and doors. Those guys are scary. Polly

"jeanne-nzlstar*" if t'were me, Kay,

Surprisingly, there's no glass. The entire glass part slipped out of the base of the light bulb. I have the entire glass piece sitting on the table. The bottom sure looks funny. It's got a giant pimple on the end!

I'll have to go buy a potato. Who'd uh thunk it!!

First of all - please do turn the power off at the MAINS!!! So easy to forget that electricity is lethal when you are engrossed in finding a solution.

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

Kay Ahr wrote:

My carpenter dad says they used to tease that plumbers know 2 things. Sh*t don't go up hill and pay day is on Friday. I will have to ask what was said about electricians. I can imagine there was a funny about carpenters too. I wouldn't mind a plumber in the family. We about disowned sis when she broke up with a swell fellow that is a plumber. I still miss him. Taria

Polly Esther wrote: