light-fixture
I have a couple of lighting fixtures in my apartment that look like this:
![1]](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WnS1H.jpg)
The metal base goes directly to the ceiling and the posts holding the glass dome, while threaded, do not turn or slide in any direction. I have tried rotating the whole fixture, but it seems to be moving the electrical box in the ceiling without loosening. How might this unit open?
![2]](https://i.stack.imgur.com/gjEp7.jpg)
![3]](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Mc2ks.jpg)
I had a very similar light, and the key was this:
Any upward pressure exerted from grabbing the glass created friction that made it not turn.
You want to touch as lightly as you can, near the edges, and try to apply rotational energy only, with no pushing up.
Unfortunately, that is roughly impossible to do if you're reaching so high that you need to press up on the glass to maintain balance. So, you still need to solve the problem of getting higher (and you should NOT climb on anything placed on a bed unless it's highly stable). But if you can get a bit closer, try less pressure, rather than more.
It feels very counter intuitive, but it helped me in a similar circumstance.
One other thing that may help, suggested by none other than @Joel Spolsky, was to try using rubber or latex gloves to allow you to produce more friction without more pressure.
Looking at the geometry, it can only be paint holding it up. I would stay away from any solvents.
I would add a second putty knife, with a stiff blade. Use a slightly larger (wider to distribute the force of the lifting blade) putty knife against the ceiling (and under the lip of the fixture). Put the stiffer, skinny blade between the wide blade and the fixture. Pry up slightly, all around the circumference of the fixture. You will break it loose.
The prybar is overkill (in the photo), but illustrates how to protect the underlying drywall. (Guess what happens if you use the prybar alone. Ask me why I know :-O)
Good plan by Christos regarding leaving the new fixture, though I believe you will succeed removing the original.
Best Answer
I would think that the white screws that you show in the foreground of 3rd picture can be undone by hand while holding the glass. This would allow the glass to be removed, and the bulbs and mounting screws to be accessed.