Pliers are often too big for the job, not fitting between the base of the broken bulb and the socket. I've often had to remove broken bulb bases. I use scissors. Of course, that's not trying to CUT the base, but using them sideways as thin pliers.
Sometimes there IS an advantage to wearing glasses.
Hey dude, don't knock it until you try it! I've done over a hundred like that and have never had one break in my hand. If you're that safety conscious, keep an old exterior flood light for the job.
Turn the power off, break the bulb, and then jam one leg of a pair of needle nosed pliers between the remains of the bulb and the socket.
Now twist the pliers like you are opening up an old fashioned can of tuna. The remnants of the bulb should tear and start to wind up on the nose of the pliers.
mm wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
lol. Good one.
Mark Lloyd wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
Lotsa kinds of pliers out there!
snipped-for-privacy@mucks.net wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
Brings back memories of opening up a can of "chum" down by the river feeeeshin' :-)
Silicone (grease or spray) and/or dielectric grease is a bad idea - they are insulators!
Use a PVC-coated glove. It will grip the glass far better, so you don't have to squeeze as hard, greatly increasing your chances of not breaking the bulb.
How about putting a touch of anti-seize compound on the threads of the new bulb before installing? Can anyone confirm/refute that? Or, how about spraying the threads with Molybdenum Disulfide?
Dielectric grease is a insulator, but it does not cause a problem with the electrical connection. It also does not contain any materials that may corrode common electrical contacts. It forms a barrier to O² H²O and other possible sources of corrosion while providing a lubricant as well. It is recommended for light bulbs among other things.
We had a similar problem. Using some basic science, since metal contracts when cold, we applied a cold pack to the neck of the light arm on the fan light unit until it got cold. Bulb came right out.
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