Guide to Buying Silicone/Flicker Bulbs

There are many silicone bulbs for sale on the market.  You will find hand-dipped and commercially dipped bulbs, regular silicone and silicone flicker, all different base sizes, colors and wattages.   It is up to you to decide which type of bulb works best for your purpose.  Hopefully this guide will help you in your search.

WHAT IS A SILICONE BULB? 

It is a regular glass bulb dipped in a silicone mixture.  It is rubbery to the touch and kind of spongy feeling.  

WHAT WILL THE LAMP BULB BE USED FOR? 

Are you trying to light a whole room or just need accent lighting?  Do you want a bulb that stays constant or one that flickers?   Do you want a colored bulb?  Keep in mind the requirements of  your particular lamp or night light by looking at the base size (the metal part where you screw the bulb in), bulb wattage (brightness of light) and actual size of bulb.  Everything else would depend on the "look" you want. 

ACTUAL SIZE (PHYSICAL MEASUREMENT) OF BULB: 

How large do you want the bulb to be?  Generally there is a "curly cue" on the top, which is silicone, and helps make the character of the bulb so unique.  It is kind of like a Dairy Queen ice cream cone curly cue.  It is flexible to the touch and silicone rubbery feeling.  When inquiring about the bulb measurement, ask if it includes the "curly cue" at the top.   

SIZE OF BULB IN TERMS OF METAL BASE: 

The base is the metal part on the bulb that you screw into the socket of your lamp.  Common terms are:  Night Light, Candelabra and Standard size.  Night Light and Candelabra are generally the same size.  They fit smaller lamps or night lights.  The metal part measures approximately 3/8" in diameter and 5/8" high.  Standard bulbs refer to the most common size of bulb most people use for everyday lighting.

SHAPE OF BULB: 

The shape of the bulbs are expanding.  The most common silicone bulb is like a "teardrop".  They also come in star shapes.  I'm sure there are more shapes coming to market in the future.

BULB WATTAGE: 

This refers to the brightness of the bulb.  Most silicone bulbs range from 3 watt to 7 watt to even 15 watt.  A 7 watt bulb will be brighter than a 3 watt bulb.  Look at the requirements of your lamp and don't use a bulb larger than the recommended wattage.

BULB COLOR: 

You will see all sorts of colors on the market.  You will find orange and yellow for Halloween or green and red for Christmas.  I have also seen them in pastels for baby rooms and spring.  There is no end to the colors and more are coming.  You will also find scented bulbs.  When purchasing scented bulbs, be sure to ask the seller how long the scent lasts and how strong the scent it. 

AMBIENCE: 

Regular silicone bulbs give off a constant glow.  Most flicker bulbs are generally an amber/orangish color and are very popular at Christmastime in windowsill lamps.  Flicker bulbs are used a lot for Halloween decorations because of the amber glow.  It looks like a little fire inside the bulb.

COMMERCIALLY MADE OR HAND-DIPPED BULBS: 

You will find two kinds of bulbs; they will be either commercially-dipped or hand-dipped.  Each have a very different look to them.  The commercially made bulbs have a uniform look to them.  Hand-dipped bulb each have their own unique shape.  It is not uncommon to see a scented hand-dipped bulb.

BULB SIZE IN PROPORTION TO LAMP: 

Make sure the bulb size is in proportion to the lamp you are using.  If the bulb is too small in physical size compared to your lamp, it may look out of proportion.   

Feel free to let me know if I have forgotten anything!  Thanks

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