Playing Handyman

[stoutfellow]

Well, I spent the first week of break pretty much vegging out, but I decided I should start putting the time to use, so I went out to Sears Hardware today. I picked up some caulk, a toilet repair kit, and a set of Craftsman pliers.

A few years back, the toilet in the master bathroom started malfunctioning - the valve wouldn't seat properly, so it "sang" more or less continuously. I shut off the water and used the main bathroom after that. (Look, I said I'm a procrastinator, OK? I live alone; a single functioning toilet is sufficient.) Shortly afterwards, the other toilet went the way of the first. I shut off the water and bought a toilet repair kit, to fix the one in the master bath. This I succeeded in doing, and matters have stood thus since. But it's always nagged at me, so, as of about ten minutes ago, I once again have two working bathrooms.

The caulk is for the basement window, which leaked rather badly during the last rainstorm. I'll get to that later.

As for the pliers - I really only wanted a pair of needlenose pliers, but what the heck, you never know what'll come in handy someday. I wanted the pliers so I could have another go at the busted bulb in the living room chandelier. (Two bulbs give enough illumination; I don't need the third, but it looks unbalanced.) I've tried everything to get that bulb out - even the potato trick - with no success. At this point, there is nothing left in the interior to get a grip on; the needlenose pliers couldn't do the job. I may have to disassemble the chandelier itself to get the bulb out. Rats; I really don't look forward to that.

I'm nobody's handyman, but in the past I've been able to fix what needed fixing (although only when it became absolutely necessary). That blasted bulb is irritating.

But the toilet's fixed!

Comments

[trolleypup.livejournal.com]

a flat piece of steel with sharp corners that will just fit inside the remains of the lightbulb base int he socket, should be able to wedge it into the brass base and get enough grip to turn it enough to use pliers to pull it out.

Or, get a knife type tool between the base and the socket and bend the brass inwards so you can grab it with pliers.

Oh, don't forget to kill the power at the circuit breaker, not just turn the switch off, unless you are absolutely sure the wiring is correct.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

Thanks; I should have known you'd have some ideas. I'll give those a try.

[bibliotrope.livejournal.com]

I had a busted bulb in my bathroom light fixture a couple of years ago. I used needlenose pliers, but opened them, wedging the points of them against the inside of the bulb base, and exerted pressure on them as I twisted them (and the bulb) loose. Just for extra safety, I'd put very thick (leather?) gloves on, and of course make sure the electricity is off, when trying this.

Did something similar to a broken turn-signal light in my first car, too, but that was about 20 years ago and I'm a bit vague on the details now.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I tried that and got a little play, but not enough.

[trolleypup.livejournal.com]

This'll work, as long as the tool has nice sharp corners to dig into the brass base.