# I need help replacing a light bulb **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177 "2004-07-15T00:39:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/1 "2004-07-15T00:39:42Z")
So I’ve got this light fixture in my bathroom. The bulbs inside burned out some months ago, and I’ve grown tired of shitting in the dark. So I got some new bulbs and ascended the step ladder to dismantle the fixture. It’s one of those circular glass “globe” things, where you unscrew the brass nut at the bottom to remove the glass and reveal the bulb sockets. But the damn thing is stuck. No matter how hard I twist that little brass fitting, it just won’t turn. Also, it’s round, so there’s no way to get any leverage on it, even with a wrench (I tried.) So, how should I get this thing off? A little WD-40, perhaps? Liquid nitrogen? Sledge hammer? Thanks for all suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/2 "2004-07-15T00:46:25Z")
First you’ll need three men. Two to hold the ladder and… ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/3 "2004-07-15T00:46:43Z")
The screws have probably rusted. WD-40 might help - squirt some on and let it alone for a day. And cross your fingers. I’ve replaced more than one bathroom light fixture because the screws had rusted and sheared off when I (or someone else) tried to remove them. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/4 "2004-07-15T00:51:56Z")
Tap on the screws to see if you can break the rust-lock. Liquid nitrogen is a good idea, but in case you can’t get any there is a product called freeze spray that service techs use to identify thermal intermittents on circuit boards. If you can’t locate any of _that_, go buy some canned air and turn the can upside down and spray. The propellant that comes out will be damn cold. If the wrench can’t grab it, try a Vise-grips. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/5 "2004-07-15T01:03:52Z")
Instead of WD-40, which is essentially a lubricant, try some Liquid Wrench, which is designed to penetrate rust. Give it some time to soak in. Failing that, light a candle. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/6 "2004-07-15T03:20:54Z")
It is not about lubricant. I had the same problem with an apartment that I rented. The key was to pull straight down on different parts. There were some hidden holders that suddenly released. It took me two weeks to figure that out. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/7 "2004-07-16T13:43:50Z")
Welp, I tried pulling on anything and everything, but that doesn’t seem to help. I’m reasonably certain it’s a screw-type thing, as all the other fixtures in the apartment are. I tried WD-40 and gave it a few hours to soak in, but that didn’t help. I don’t think there’s really any space for the lubricant to get through and soak into the bolt. I’ll try and find some of that Liquid Wrench stuff, but other suggestions are appreciate in the meantime. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/8 "2004-07-16T13:54:59Z")
Take a screw driver & a tackhammer. Place the screwdriver tip against the little brass head. Tap it sharply 2 or 3 times. This should free the corrosion. BTW–if you tap too hard, you will break the fixture. This would be your own fault, & I am not legally responsible for replacing the fixture. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/9 "2004-07-16T13:55:30Z")
A replacement glass globe might be cheaper than a can of liquid wrench. Hold a laundry basket lined with an old sheet or drop cloth under the fixture and tap it lightly with a hammer till it breaks (wear eye protection) and falls into the basket. Get those old crappy screws out and put up a new globe. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/10 "2004-07-17T02:47:23Z")
Are you in an apartment?, if so call the manager, it’s the owners problem. Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/11 "2004-07-17T03:10:59Z")
It only has one screw? Most I’ve seen has three. Loosen the other two and it will come out. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/12 "2004-07-17T03:22:07Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > It only has one screw? Most I’ve seen has three. Loosen the other two and it will come out. My impression is that this is the sort with a single vertical threaded rod, over which the globe, via a hole in the bottom center, fits and is held in place by a decorative metal screw-on fastener. It’s not really screw, as such. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/13 "2004-07-17T04:06:40Z")
Is it a [boobie light](http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0429368315.1090037086@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdfadclmmjmedhcgelceffdfgidgmj.0&CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=Super%20Categories/Home%20D%E9cor%20%26%20Organizing&MID=9876&pos=p04) like this? ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/14 "2004-07-17T04:09:42Z")
Argh, or [this one?](http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=208213-82850-38036) ---
**Author:** ![chuckster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9bd4f/32.png) [@chuckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chuckster)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/15 "2004-07-17T07:02:11Z")
I had a similar problem once. I simply replaced the entire light fixture, a new one was only about $10. What’s your time worth? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/16 "2004-07-17T07:28:02Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > My impression is that this is the sort with a single vertical threaded rod, over which the globe, via a hole in the bottom center, fits and is held in place by a decorative metal screw-on fastener. It’s not really screw, as such. Yep. That’s what kind it is. > [@chuckster](#): > > I had a similar problem once. I simply replaced the entire light fixture, a new one was only about $10. What’s your time worth? I’d be happy to replace it, but in its current state that would necessitate breaking the thing, which would be kinda messy. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-replacing-a-light-bulb/255177/17 "2004-07-17T07:51:18Z")
Take off and nuke the site from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.