The Lightbulb Diorama Part 2 -
How to Hollow Out a Lightbulb
This is part 2 of the make a diorama inside a lightbulb. If you need to go to the beginning of this tutorial it is located here: Make a castle diorama inside a bulb
I also have a video that shows how to do this complete process.
Here are a few different bulbs. You can see I have the clear ones and a frosted one. The clear ones are vanity bulb style and larger than the normal light bulb which is great for our project. It gives us a little bit more room for the diorama. The frosted bulb is no problem because the frosting comes out easily. You just wipe the inside with a paper towel.
Here are some simple tools you need to hollow out a lightbulb. A coat hanger, a small file, pliers, side cutters, safety glasses and safety gloves. The glasses and gloves are very important. Do not attempt to hollow out a bulb without them. Flying debris can get in your eyes. And holding the bulb can cause you to squeeze it and break it right in your hand.
Using a pair of side cutters attempt to gently lift up the edge of the contact button. This is a soft metal and you may be able to lift it easily. If so then you can pull on it until it comes off the bulb.
If you have trouble removing the contact you can simply file it with a small file. It will file very easily because it is a soft metal. Once you have filed a few deep furrows in it you should be able to lift it right off with your side cutters.
This picture shows the contact being lifted off the bulb.
Now insert a file into the hole and lever it so the insulating ring cracks. you will then be able to cut the ring with your side cutters into pieces and remove the pieces right out. This insulating material is hard and it will shatter and pieces will fly around so wear your safety glasses.
If you look inside the bulb you will see the stem that holds the filament. There are actually two stems, one inside the other.
Insert a strong metal object like a file into the hole, push all the way down then lever it sideways until the stem breaks. You may get two stems that break individually. First the internal stem breaks, Then the external stem breaks.
Now you should be able to tip the bulb over and get all the junk out. You may need needle nose pliers to help work all the pieces out.
Now file the brass and the ring of broken glass just inside the neck of the bulb. Remove any sharp areas. this is for safety.
Wrap a paper towel around the end of a coat hanger and use it to clean out the inside of the bulb and you are done. You are now ready to make the diorama!!
- Index
- What is a diorama?
- A short history of Dioramas
- Diorama Books
- Painting Miniatures
- Diorama Ideas
- Diorama Examples
- Diorama Making for the artist
- Diorama Making supplies & Tools
- Dioramas by Web Visitors
- Printable diorama box
Types of Dioramas to Make
- Diorama inside a lightbulb
- Mississippi River with Indians
- Really creative shoebox diorama
- Dinosaur Diorama
- Make a secret diorama
- Firefly Diorama with real blinking lights
- Rainforest Diorama
- Ocean Diorama
- Shadowbox diorama
- Make a shoebox diorama
- Massive Castle Diorama
- Diorama Examples
- Polymer Clay
- The Battle of Thermopylae Spartan Warrior Diorama - A tutorial
- HALO Diorama
- Wizards Tower Foam Diorama
- Cemetary Diorama
- Trench Warfare
- Simple Nature Diorama
- Water Woman Diorama
STORES
- Diorama Making Books
- Sideshow Collectible Lord of the Rings Dioramas
- Plastic Scale Dinosaur Diorama Kits
- Harry Potter Dioramas
- Diorama Foam
Check out the Diorama and Miniature store
Short Diorama Tutorials
- How to Make realistic tufts of grass
- How to make trenches
- Creative terrain shell making
- How to make Miniature Trees
- How to Make rubber rock and wall molds
- Motorize a drawbridge on your diorama
- Using foam to make a diorama
- How to make good looking rubble using cork
- Creative Shoebox Diorama Ideas for School
- A foam based diorama with water from start to finish
OTHER PROJECTS
Make a cardboard Samurai Sword
Make a Cardboard Medieval Shield
How to make a fantasy shadowbox
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Kalif Publishing and StormtheCastle.com
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