Introduction: How to Hollow Out a Lightbulb and Make a Stand for It
for other uses like plasma globes and aquariums
Step 1: Materials
for this you will need;
lightbulb (preferably burnt out)
scrap wood block
wire hanger
salt
tools;
wire cutters
duct tape (or stapler or staple gun)
drill
Step 2: Remove Brass Contact, Black Glass, and Stuff
use pliers to pull off the brass contact
then use pliers to chip away the black glass
drill the inside of the glass to remove the filament thing and remove sharp glass
Step 3: Clean Out the Bulb
empty out the shards
put a spoonfull of salt in the bulb, cover the opening with your thumb, and shake
empty out the salt, fill halfway with water, cover the opening with your thumb, and shake
Step 4: Now for the Stand
cut a long piece of wire from the hanger
wrap the end of it it around the screw on the bulb
about two inches from the bulb bend the wire down 90 degrees
five or six inches from that bend bend it to be horizontal then two inches from that bend it right 90 degrees
staple or duct tape it to the board
Step 5: Finished
the stand is strong enough to hold the bulb when it's filled with water
you can put a guppie or feeder fish in it (picture soon, i have to find it)
this site gave me the idea for the bulb (and has better pictures)
http://www.teamdroid.com/diy-hollow-out-a-light-bulb/
87 Comments
6 years ago
An alternative to duct tape or staple gun love:
Drill a hole in the end of the base, fill with liquid nails, jam a length of the wire in.
6 years ago
Hi, I've added your project to the "Unusual Uses for Light-Bulbs" Collection
This is the link If you are interested:
https://www.instructables.com/id/Unusual-Uses-for-L...
10 years ago on Introduction
considering this type of bulb is illegal to manufacture in the US now some one should consider making and selling pre hollowed out ones for doing crafts like this cause the new spiral kind wouldn't be the same
Reply 6 years ago
I believe only 100W ones are illegal...
10 years ago on Introduction
When you mount the wire to your block of wood, simply drill a hole slightly smaller than the diameter of the wire and use a grommet for a finished look. Nail polish will hold it permanently. I used them for money plants, the roots look cool.
13 years ago on Introduction
i want to say thanks for this instructable. the whole hollowing out a lightbulb was a pain for me until i found it. i emptied my bulbs for the hourglass i made. it was prettyy fun.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Very, very cool!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
that is freakin sweet
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
how long does the hourglass go? as in time
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
about twenty five minutes. and 37 seven seconds. depending on humidity lol
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
That is really cool - creative and it looks good. Great job!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
That's cool!
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
You should post an instructable on how to make it!
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
cool idea
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Awesome! Thank you for sharing.
10 years ago on Introduction
How about a sea monkey aquarium?
11 years ago on Step 5
What's the salt for??
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
salt removes the "Soft White" coating from the inside of the bulb. Basically the salt acts like a media abraisive. Meth addicts around the world use this technique to very inexpensively create a "Pipe" so if you've got teen age kids, this may well be a good way to catch them in time to get them treated.
11 years ago on Introduction
instead of drilling into to the end of the bulb, use a hammer to break the black glass cool instructable!
12 years ago on Step 5
This is very cool! I'm going to try to combine it with this idea as a novelty gift: http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamdroid/487588642/