How the hell do I open this ceiling fixture?
How the hell do I open this ceiling fixture?
I can't twist the glass from the fixture. I don't see any screws that need to be loosened. It making me angry.
43 comments
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I had one where you had to push the glass up, and then it would twist inside to come down
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I have similar fixtures and you turn the glass slightly counterclockwise to detach it.
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Same here. The "tabs" can sometimes become quite stiff over time due to rusting
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If that fails, hammer. /s
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You can generally just counter-clockwise rotate the boob lights (idk why yours is missing the nipple). Be sure to be standing on something firm as you might need to put both palms on it.
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It's had a mastectomy, don't body shame
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Illuminating. I'm enlightened.
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Its probably stuck to the paint. There are two possibilities. One is that you just twist the metal part counterclockwise (probably). The other is that it could be one of those much smaller ones that you just pull down and two long spring wires hold it in place. I think this one is a twist one because I see three bulbs, it's large enough.
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So many people here saying twist. I say slide.
I have a few of these that have 3 hooks, one on a spring. Try sliding firmly in different directions. If it gives in one direction then the opposite side should drop down.
Good luck either way. -
A hammer would work!
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If the bulb cover is plastic, it is held by three springy plastic tabs. Put a knife or a screwdriver between the bulb and the ring, and pop it open. Or you can pull it with your fingers, if you got the grip.
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Where is it located, looks like on a wall? (Or is it a ceiling? If ceiling is there a crawl space, I doubt this would be the solution but I've seen weirder things)
Can you twist the outer metal ring to find hidden screws?
If not you may need to twist the glass harder
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Ceiling, no crawl space. When I try to twist either the glass or the ring, the whole fixture twists. This is a rental and I'm afraid of breaking the thing.
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Why are you wanting to open it? Curiosity or to fix something?
You're in a rental call the landlord/agency make them do something for their rental income.
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Try holding the metal ring in place with one hand and turning the glass with the other. I agree with the other suggestion about this being held up with tab slots on the glass.
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Could be painted on too. I removed a similar one today I had to pry since it had a layer or two of paint sealing it. Mine has a bolt in the center, so slightly different.
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If the whole thing twists it could be held up with 3 tension springs on the base plate that sit inside the glass pressing outwards on it.
See what it feels like if you can gently pull the diffuser directly down, if it feels like a spring (increasing tension but not sudden stop) then its probably this.
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Climb up on a step ladder or use your camera phone to look around the recessed edge next to the ceiling. Might be a single screw needed to release.
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See if you can pull the metal ring straight down. It is probably attached to a recessed can with springs - you pull it down and unhook it.
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It probably can't be easily opened, by design, as it is a disposable fixture with built-in LEDs. Whole thing should be able to be twisted free of the box above.
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Looks like 3 screw in bulbs inside
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Use Google Lens on it then look up the manual
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You are right, the pic of mine took me to the exact same question and answer. It was painted to the ceiling, needed to pry it off gently.
My pic took me here - https://old.reddit.com/r/fixit/comments/16ydupb/remove_bathroom_ceiling_help/
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43 comments
Difficult... I would begin with a thin 2.5 ft strip of maybe 50 grams of RDX (CH2N2O2)3 based C4 High-yield chemical explosive Compound around the metal ring and detonate with a blasting cap at a range of at least 25 meters. Make certain that the area has time to vent before investigating your progress.
Since it's hard to find it commercially, you can easily synthesize RDX by treating hexamine with white fuming nitric acid and letting it settle in a fumehood for about 3-6 hours until it reaches your desired consistency. Careful not to use the more common "mixed acid" method as concentrated sulfuric acid tends to decompose hexamine into formaldehyde and ammonia which is costly and can be dangerous. Hope this helps!
I think I'm on a watchlist for reading this
You've been living wrong if you weren't on one before!
25 meters is overkill for 50 grams, don't you think? I think out of the house and 10 meters would be plenty.
So generally yes, but debris is unpredictable and I have to work with the assumption that there aren't any good barriers and are inconveniently placed nails. 50grams as an open-backed propellant of that strength for a single nail in a worst case scenario might do damage at 10 meters. 25 is better if your budget and time allows. It's really unlikely but better safe than sorry when working with serious putty.