Tips on spraypainting a shop light for aquarium use?

emilyekk

emilyekk

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Apr 28, 2009
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I bought a white shop light to use as a lighting fixture for my 55g. I want the light to match my stand however so I bought black heat resistant spray paint (up to 500 degrees) from an auto store.

I am not very handy, so I just wanted to know if theres anything special I need to know before I start doing this? (i.e.) do I need to cover, tape or do anything to say the inside part of the light? Or should it be okay as is?

I was planning on just laying out an old plastic shower curtain and laying the fixture (bulb side down, without the bulbs of course) on top and spray painting away. Is this okay to do? I've never used spray paint so is there a trick to it or is it pretty easy?
 
emilyekk said:
I bought a white shop light to use as a lighting fixture for my 55g. I want the light to match my stand however so I bought black heat resistant spray paint (up to 500 degrees) from an auto store.

I am not very handy, so I just wanted to know if theres anything special I need to know before I start doing this? (i.e.) do I need to cover, tape or do anything to say the inside part of the light? Or should it be okay as is?

I was planning on just laying out an old plastic shower curtain and laying the fixture (bulb side down, without the bulbs of course) on top and spray painting away. Is this okay to do? I've never used spray paint so is there a trick to it or is it pretty easy?
Click to expand...

paint the outside only...you really want to stay away
from the underside of the fixture. obviously, because of the
actuall electical goodness. but also because the finish on the
bottom side is designed to reflect light downward.

as far as painting goes, mke sure your coats are even,
unless you dont mind drippage. and if it's some sort of metal,
it would help a whole lot to do some coarse-grain sanding work
so that the paint actually holds to your fixture.

-andrew.
 
Do you have any tips on keeping the bottom paint free? It shouldn't get paint on it so long as I keep the fixture right side up correct (bulb part facing down)?

Also - course grain sanding? Is that like sandpaper? lol, sorry I have no idea!
 
emilyekk said:
Do you have any tips on keeping the bottom paint free? It shouldn't get paint on it so long as I keep the fixture right side up correct (bulb part facing down)?

Also - course grain sanding? Is that like sandpaper? lol, sorry I have no idea!
Click to expand...

yeah, bulb part facing down, forsure.
and sandpaper is your best bet if it has
a metalic finish/is metal.

just a quick once over with some coarse-grain
sandpaper should do the trick.
let me know how it goes.

-andrew.
 
PoorChipotle said:
yeah, bulb part facing down, forsure.
and sandpaper is your best bet if it has
a metalic finish/is metal.

just a quick once over with some coarse-grain
sandpaper should do the trick.
let me know how it goes.

-andrew.
Click to expand...

great! thank you for the advice. I think I can handle some light sanding, lol. anything more than that and I'd be worried!
 
emilyekk said:
great! thank you for the advice. I think I can handle some light sanding, lol. anything more than that and I'd be worried!
Click to expand...

hahaha, yeah forsure.
good luck, you shouldnt encounter any troubles.
let me suggest testing your spray painting technique
on a surface that isnt what you need recoated.

sounds easy, but there's definitely a special hand for it.
just remember, its all back and fourth.
i'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

-andrew.
 
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