Adhesive Failure, A Safety Hazard - John Dunn, Consultant, Ambertec, P.E., P.C.

The light bulb in the picture below blew out the other day. It has served for quite a long time in a hanging chandelier , I would guess for several years. Quite impressive in my view. 

 

Those logs in the yard, by the way, are the waiting-to-be-hauled-away remains of a large tree that was felled by Hurricane Sandy.

A problem arose when I started to unscrew the lamp from its socket. The bulb's glass envelope came apart from the bulb's base which remained in the socket. The adhesive between the glass and the base had completely failed.

After making sure that nobody would try to throw the light switch on the wall, I removed the base from the socket using a long nose pliers. You can see the base's dented metal. It was an awkward process but not too difficult.

Never the less, this experience is presented here as a cautionary tale.

Comments

[John Dunn]

Just to mention, that was an INSULATED long nose pliers! I plan to live long enough to someday see my grandchildren.

[Howard Edelman]

Sometimes lamp fixtures do not allow for the propper dissipation of the heat produced by their bulbs. The result is higher than expected design temperatures and faster deterioration of the materials. Some lamps specify the largest bulbs recommended for this reason.

[Douglas Butler]

This is a common enough occurrence that places that sell janitorial supplies carry metal wedge shaped pieces that fit to a broom handle for unscrewing broken bulbs and stuck bases.
www.mcmaster.com item# 1701K18

[Tim Masson]

Here in the UK most lamp bulbs have bayonet connections, but failure of the cement that glues the cap to the base is still an occasional problem. Turn power off at the consumer unit/fuze box /incoming feed as well as the wall switch.
Find a small potato and cut it in half, push this into the damaged base and turn. Discard potato and base. Check lampholder for samage and replace it - if it is mishapen, cracked or burnt. Intall the new lamp and restore power!

This also works where the bulb has broken!

I hope somebody can do something with the logs! The bark looks like it was a pine tree - not the best for burning!