The bulb inside the socket of bulb-holder is stuck. how can I get the bulb out?

Question

When I rotate the bulb to get it out of the socket, the socket also rotates with it. There is no way to hold the socket while rotating the bulb. Is thre any way to get the bulb out of the socket?

Answer 1

The answer from chriseg24 above will remove a broken off light bulb.

Are you sure the socket is turning? Some times the bulb comes unglued from its base and can turn somewhat. If that is the case, be sure power is off, keep twisting bulb until the wires break off of the base, then use needle-nosed pliers to either grip the rim of the base and turns it, or push down into the base with the jaws opened and then twist. If the socket is turning, a major repair is needed and you might as well just take out the fixture.

Answer 2

If "silver thing" means the threaded base of the bulb which contacts the socket: Before starting, double check that the lamp is unplugged, or the circuit breaker for a wired in socket is off. If the glass bulb is gone: 1. Get a medium sized flat blade screwdriver or medium sized needle nose pliers 2. Use the tool to deform the edge of the bulb's base to make it smaller. If you have pliers, grab the edge as deeply as you can slide it in and twist it, preferably pushing away from the outside so as to not damage the socket. With a screwdriver, slide it between the socket and bulb base and gently twist with preference for the force to be away from the socket. 3. Grab ahold of the base and try unscrewing it. If it won't budge, repeat step 2. If the glass bulb is still attached: 1. Get a medium weight towel and wrap it around the bulb. 2. Gently twist alternately in each direction. With slightly increasing force each time. 3. If the force needed is great, the bulb will either detach from the base or break. That's why you are using a towel, so you won't be injured when it breaks. Finish breaking out any remaining glass with a screwdriver or pliers. 4. (follow the instructions for no bulb)

Answer 3

Shut off the light or unplug the lamp.

Wrap a cloth over the bulb and smash it so the glass fragments stay in the cloth. Now you can see what you are doing.

Take a tweezers and grab the brass of the socket. Take a carrot and jam it into the bulb base and twist it counter clockwise while holding the socket. That should get the two separated.

If not use a little screwdriver to squish the remains of the bulb base toward the center so that you can get a better grip on the socket.

Answer 4

If the socket also rotates, then the potato trick won't work. You could try using two needle nose pliers and some WD-40. If you have the thin straw attachment for the oil, it's better for directing the spray in between the remnents of the bulb and the socket. Then use the pliers to grip the side of the socket and the side of the aluminum inside the socket. Try turning it counter-clockwise. Unless it's really in tight, this should work. I've done this myself.
Good luck

Answer 5

Unplug it or turn off the breaker first, no need to get shocked! You may have to rotate the entire socket counter-clockwise to enable you to get a hold of it, then use a potato to unscrew the broken bulb. (shove the end onto the broken bulb) then re-assemble the socket to the fixture, replace the bulb, turn the power back on and you should be back in business. Good luck! (do NOT eat the potato afterwards).

Answer 6

First uplug or turn off electric to socket. Take needle nose pliers and hold the socket, then turn the bulb, put a sock over the bulb in case it breaks.

Answer 7

you need to turn off the power from the breaker, cut the potatoe in half and stick it on the bulb and take it out

Answer 8

Make sure the power is off then use pliers

Answer 9

turn power off, shove a potato on it and turn, the potato will grab the sleave...

Answer 10

Potatoe... just make sure power is off.