[sdiy] outlet as variac? calling all EEs...

[Alex Dickey]

okay, here's a weird question.  i've got an old apartment that has kinda
weird wiring.  there's an outlet in the living room that's on the light
switch, but said light switch has a dimmer on it.  this has always been
annoying for me because to use anything on that outlet, you have to turn the
lights on full bore, regardless of available light.

this outlet came to mind after i realized that i need some kind of variac to
bring up my newly re-capped tube amp.  if i plug the amp into the outlet,
and turn the dimmer up slowly, is this the same idea as a variac?  

what's wrong with the logic on this one?  it can't be that easy...

alex