Light bulb snow globes

Step 2 Preparing light bulb

Warning: taking apart a light bulb can be messy, dangerous, and can even explode, please take care while doing this, use safety glasses and gloves. Light bulb glass breaks quite easily so be careful when dismantling the bulb and when assembling the snow globes.

The following instructable gives great instructions on how to hollow out a light bulb if you find mine confusing: How to hollow out a lightbulb
*Also the idea of using a sock to protect your hands are from: http://www.instructables.com/id/Light-Bulb-Lamp-Another-Option/
Thanks

• Using pliers, remove the shiny bit (contact point) on the end of the light bulb.
• With a knife or screwdriver break up the brown/black glass.
• Cover the bulb with a sock*, hold it in one hand (don't hold from the bottom), with pliers or a screw driver put pressure on the filament inside the bulb to break it up.
• Remove broken filament bits still attached to the bulb with pliers.
• Work a knife under the edge of the metal base and it should come off fairly easily.
• Wash out the inner frosted coating of the light bulb with water, if it doesn't wash out easily try adding some sand or salt and swirl it around.
• With steel wool or a kitchen scrubby remove the label on top of the bulb.

Comments

[Don Cattaree]

Is it necessary to take off the metal base?

[ChrysN]

You could try just removing the black glass and contact point and breaking the filament leaving the base on.  But the opening will be smaller for fitting stuff inside.

[Don Cattaree]

Thanks

[montdor1]

In from the weakest point -- always a good strategy. Anyway, remember everyone: a light bulb electrical socket (standard, 120 volt) is AC and will only accept AC devices, of course. One may change the AC to DC to do a particular job, like a 120v run LED you can find in any variety store. There are electronics in the devices for proper volt, amp, and resistance conversion.

[tesseliot]

Hey! I tried to do that last year and it exploded the second time because I was too impatient. I was using a Dremel Diamond bit on a flame bulb to use it with small LED light, but I got impatient and held the bulb too tight, plus put too much pressure on the blade. What worked was going really slow without putting pressure on the bulb; it came apart easily (I only needed the part above the metal). This is a fun idea.

[korbinmiller]

When i did it exploded

[botronics]

A little air space allows for expansion. Remember, a liquid is not compressible. The light bulb is weak enough without expanding liquid trying to break it.

[ChrysN]

How awful! I didn't realize light bulbs do that. I'll add that to the warning.