How to Make a Hole in a Lightbulb without Breaking It

Have you ever wondered how to make a hole in a lightbulb without breaking or shattering the glass?

Sounds difficult, right? Not at all. In fact, making a hole in a lightbulb is safer and easier than you might think. You don’t need any complicated tools, and it only takes a few minutes.

But maybe you’re wondering, what if I accidentally break the bulb? And how do you make a hole in a lightbulb without cracking it?

I want a nice, neat hole. I don’t want the glass to shatter or crack. And how do I take apart a lightbulb? Don’t worry, it’s really easy.

In this article we will run you through the step by step process for drilling holes in lightbulbs, and how to take a lightbulb apart.

Step by Step Guide to make a Hole in Lightbulb:

There are a couple of ways that you can go about doing this. You can use a diamond drill, this is a slightly more complicated process. It takes a little longer, and you are going to need a few more things before you can get started.

You can also use a blowtorch to pop a hole out of a bulb. This is probably the easiest and quickest way. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on tools.

You probably have most of the stuff you need in a tool box in the shed. So let’s first look at how to use a blowtorch to make a hole in a lightbulb. Here’s what you’ll need:  

100 watt bulb (best to use because it won’t overheat as easily as a 40 or 60 watt bulb).

Safety glasses.

Heat proof gloves. 

A butane blowtorch.

A sturdy surface (a metal tray turned upside down works fine). 

You are also going to need a safe space in which to work. It is best to do this in a work shed, or in the backyard. Make sure to stay clear of any flammable objects.

It is a good idea to keep small children and pets away while doing this. Children can help make decorations once you have made the hole in the lightbulb.

Step 1: Ensure your Safety

Make sure that you have your safety glasses and gloves on. These should be good quality. You can pick these up from a hardware store, or online. The lightbulb is going to be very hot after you apply the blow torch. You want to be cautious and handle it with care. The safety glasses are important in the event that any shards of glass fly up into your face.

Step 2: Put the lightbulb on tray

Clear a table or workbench, somewhere with no clutter and lots of space. Place the metal tray on the bench, and put the lightbulb on the tray.

Step 3:

Take out the butane torch and hold the flame just above the bulb. The middle of the bulb, where it bulges out, is the perfect place to put a hole. Make sure to hold the torch steady. You want the flame concentrated over one spot on the bulb. You should see a glow in the spot directly under the flame. This is the heat from the torch acting upon the globe. It will be very hot. After a few seconds, you should hear a popping sound. A neat hole will appear in the bulb. Turn the bulb over and repeat for the other side. Make sure that the second hole is as closely lined up to the first hole as possible. You can now run a piece of string through the bulb, which you can then hang from a Christmas tree.

For something extra cool, try using coloured bulbs. Red and green bulbs are perfect for Christmas. You can stick glitter on the bulbs to make them sparkle. It is entirely up to you.

Another thing you can make is a carb, or a vaporizer. You can use this to smoke out of the lightbulb, or to make a cheap and easy vaping device. It must be stressed that this is definitely not an activity for children. Only do this if you are over 18. I won’t get into the specifics of making a carb here. There are videos and blogs that you can find online which will show you step by step.

But let’s say you don’t have a blow torch, or you don’t feel comfortable using one. Are there any other ways to make a hole in a lightbulb? The answer is yes. You can drill a hole using a diamond drill. This will take a little longer to do. It is a little more complex as well. You are going to need a few things. It is still super easy though.

How to Put a Hole in a Lightbulb without a Torch

Now that you’ve got the hang of using a blowtorch, let’s have a look at how to drill a hole in a lightbulb without breaking it. First, make sure you have all the right equipment and tools. You are going to need:

A diamond drill with a drill bit (a 9/16 inch, or 14mm diamond drill bit is the perfect size).

A bucket of water.

Something to hold the bulb in place.

For the last item, a pair of metal tongs should be fine. You can also make a small wooden holder that you can sit the bulb in.

Step 1:

Place the bulb in the water. Make sure the bulb is steady and in place. You don’t want it to be moving around. This can be dangerous, and you won’t get a good neat hole. You also don’t want to drill a hole in your hand. 

Step 2:

Place the drill just above the bulb. Keep the bulb below the water. The inside of a lightbulb is a vacuum. Keeping the bulb in the water acts as a counter vacuum. This will help to keep the bulb from breaking by reducing the amount of air that enters.

Step 3:

The drill should be running at 100 rpm. This is a light enough pressure, but will ensure you get a neat hole. Slowly and carefully drill a hole in the glass.

Step 4:

Turn the glass over and repeat the process for the other side. If the glass breaks, try again until you get it right.

But what if you don’t want to drill a hole? What if you want to take apart a light bulb to put things inside. How do you remove the metal bottom without breaking the glass? Is there a safe way to do this? Here’s how to open a light bulb without breaking it.

How to Open a Light Bulb without Breaking It.

This is an easy thing to do once you get the hang of it. As long as you follow all the steps, and use the right tools, it should be a piece of cake. You are going to need:

A lightbulb (obviously).

A pair of small pliers. They need to be small enough to remove the small metal cap from the bottom of the bulb.

Safety glasses.

Gloves.

A clean work surface.

Step 1:

Hold the bulb gently in your non-dominant hand. You want to hold it from the end. Don’t hold the bulb itself because you might accidentally squeeze it. 

Step 2:

Holding the pliers in your other hand (your dominant one) gently try to lift, or peel off the metal cap. It might take a while. You will need to concentrate and be patient. Make sure there is nothing to distract you while you do this.

Step 3:

Once the cap is peeled off, give it a little twist. The cap is connected to the filament in the bulb. Give the cap a twist and a pull to remove the filament from the bulb.

Step 4:

The next step is tricky. It can be dangerous. This is where you should be wearing glasses and gloves if you aren’t already. You need to remove the black bottom of the bulb. This is technically glass, so it can break and cause injury. You want to use the pliers to pop it out of the bulb. If it does break, make sure to remove all glass from the inside of the bulb. Make sure you clean up any glass that has fallen on the floor. Tiny bits of glass will end up on your work surface. It is very fine, like sand, so you need to make sure to clean up well. Clean all the glass from the bulb. And there you have it. The easy way to take a light bulb apart without breaking it.

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Conclusion

Hopefully by now you can see just how easy it is to make a hole in your old lightbulbs, and how simple taking apart a lightbulb really is. If you pay attention to safety, and follow the correct steps, you will soon be a lightbulb drilling master.

Making sure you have the right safety gear is the most important part. Glass is extremely dangerous. You don’t want little shards getting in your eyes. Be careful using the blowtorch as well. You want a good pair of gloves when handling the bulb. Make sure to have a good, clean work space. And make sure to keep children and pets away while you work. Now that you know how to make a hole in a lightbulb, and how to safely take one apart, go and get an old bulb, and try it for yourself.