Incandescent lamps are getting harder and harder to find in mainstream stores and in local thrift stores. I have a huge stash of “general use” incandescent and halogen lamps and a separate “permanent collection” of discontinued bulbs I will save forever.

I’m finding myself using modern LED lamps in my house and office. Most of the new modern LEDs are awesome and have great color rendering. However, I feel a twinge of guilt using one of my incandescents in fixtures I use on a daily basis. I remember when I bought most of my bulbs and I know most of them come from now shut down factories. It’s something that’s been bothering me a little bit lately.

I love the lighting hobby and feel really sentimental about old stock incandescent bulbs that I saw growing up in my parents’ and grandparents’ houses. It’s a sad thought to consider throwing away one of these bulbs when they burn out. Anyone else feel this way?

They were designed as consumables. Their purpose is to emit light. you can keep one or two or three of the general use bulbs as "collectables" for when you burn through your stash. but I would not hoard up a whole stash of the same thing and then never use it. That would just transfer the guilt from "I regret using this for its intended purpose" to "I regret having so many things"


If you would like to increase their life span, put them on soft start controllers and Dimmers and only run them at the brightness you actually need. The soft starters will help with the ones that are in places that need instsnt brightness but avoids stressing the filament.

I honestly feel the same way as you. I have a ton of incandescent bulbs, but most of the time, when one in service fails, I'll replace it with an LED bulb under the excuse that I'll put an incandescent bulb in when the next one burns out. Then I still won't, because I don't want to use up my stock too quickly.

They were designed as consumables. Their purpose is to emit light. you can keep one or two or three of the general use bulbs as "collectables" for when you burn through your stash. but I would not hoard up a whole stash of the same thing and then never use it. That would just transfer the guilt from "I regret using this for its intended purpose" to "I regret having so many things"


If you would like to increase their life span, put them on soft start controllers and Dimmers and only run them at the brightness you actually need. The soft starters will help with the ones that are in places that need instsnt brightness but avoids stressing the filament.

That’s a great idea, Owen. I have some tabletop Leviton dimmers that I have a few table lamps on. I rarely run my incandescent bulbs at 100% brightness in my bedroom and while watching TV. I find dimmable fixtures are better candidates for incandescent lamps, with much less stress on the filament at partial brightness.