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Julie2Oregon
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# Posted: 1 Feb 2016 04:54pm
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Gah, can anyone offer some advice or tips/tricks? I tried the "potato" one and had no luck.
My living room ceiling fan has four lights and I don't usually mess with them until the last bulb has burned out, so it takes awhile. The last one finally did and I got up on my stepladder to change out the bulbs. Every last freaking one of them separated from their metal band, so those are still in the fixture sockets.
I turned off the power at the fuse box and tried the potato thing -- inserted a potato into the space to try to turn the bands and get them out. No dice.
What can I do?
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Stein
Member
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# Posted: 1 Feb 2016 05:07pm
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You can find a thin piece of wood, maybe 1/8" thick, like a paint can stir stick. Whittle it down width-wise until you can press it into the ferrule and unscrew it.
I've also just grabbed the edge of the ferrule with a pair of needle nose pliers and just twisted it out. Sometimes it will tear, just keep turning and it can peel it back like a sardine can and all of a sudden get loose.
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skootamattaschmidty
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# Posted: 1 Feb 2016 05:32pm
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I do the needle nose pliers trick. You can get a hold of it and turn it out. You may have to bend and tear a bit but it should work for you. Works great on Christmas lights too.
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LoonWhisperer
Member
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# Posted: 1 Feb 2016 05:40pm
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Needle nose here as well. Good luck.
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pizzadude
Member
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# Posted: 1 Feb 2016 06:43pm
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Yep needle nose are the way to go
https://youtu.be/06MCHN6Q6zU
Can also get one of those light bulb base extracting tools
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Julie2Oregon
Member
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# Posted: 2 Feb 2016 12:04am
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Thanks, guys! My son left my needle-nosed pliers out in the rain and they rusted permanently closed so I'll pick up some new ones. First, I'll try the wood thing. 
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Smawgunner
Member
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# Posted: 2 Feb 2016 11:44am
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Use two needle nose pliers at the same time otherwise it may bind up on you.
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bobrok
Member
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# Posted: 2 Feb 2016 07:22pm
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I grease the threads with Vaseline before I install ceiling fan bulbs. Helps a little when removing.
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Julie2Oregon
Member
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# Posted: 3 Feb 2016 06:01pm
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bobrok
Good tip! Thanks!
I'm still working on this. I may have to get that removal tool. Admittedly, I'm really a big scaredy cat when it comes to electrical things and metal, even if the breakers are turned off. 
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bobrok
Member
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# Posted: 3 Feb 2016 06:58pm
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Quoting: Julie2Oregon I'm really a big scaredy cat when it comes to electrical things and metal, even if the breakers are turned off.
Let me quote from someone with whom you may be familiar:
[i]The only thing we have to fear is...
...fear itself[/i]
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 5 Feb 2016 10:56am
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The big orange box store has 3 led chandelier bulbs for 10 bucks. Never need to replace them again (well, for 10-25 years anyway)
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Julie2Oregon
Member
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# Posted: 5 Feb 2016 03:40pm
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That's a good price! None of my fixtures use chandelier bulbs, though. These are standard size. I saw a commercial for I believe Ace Hardware and they have a similar deal on LED 60-watt equivalent standard size bulbs.
BUT, the Dollar Tree is still selling incandescents and I'm going to be moving in a few months so cheap bulbs it is, lol. Let the new owners spring for LEDs.
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old243
Member
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# Posted: 5 Feb 2016 04:49pm
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I have removed hundreds of them while doing street light relamping. If the power is off get a wood chisel about the right width , shove it up unto the lamp base . most times it will back right out. A paint stick might also work. Just be careful to not get too rough and damage the socket, or you will end up replacing it as well. If the power is off you are perfectly safe. Replacing the bulbs with led is the way to go, bulb separation is most likely caused , by the socket , overheating inside a fixture globe.old243
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Julie2Oregon
Member
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# Posted: 7 Feb 2016 06:04pm
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Thanks for all of the good tips and info, guys! Just thought I should update that the task is done. It was actually really easy.
Nothing was burned, crumbling, or anything. When I actually got proper light on the subject (thanks to my new little LED solar lantern!), I saw that a bit of the metal bands protruded from the sockets, so I simply grabbed the metal with a tool and unscrewed each one. Easy-peasy.
I don't know why all of the bulbs (except one) separated but nothing appeared to be amiss and the lights are working fine. Maybe a combination of age and cheap dollar store bulbs? Anyhoo, all's well that ends well.
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