How to Color Flood Lamps
Color flood lamps to create a festive mood or for aesthetic purposes in three ways: use colored bulbs, use color filters made specifically for the purpose or apply a special type of high temperature paint to color the flood lamps.
The first method is as simple as changing a light bulb.
The second is moderately easy if you're handy with tools. Modify a flood lamp housing or reflector to accept a filter holder for either stage light gels or colored glass filters. Theatrical gels are inexpensive clear colored plastic-like sheets that can be cut with scissors to fit holders of various shapes and sizes. Glass filters are more expensive but still reasonable and safer. Both are available in a wide range of colors.
The third method is as easy as dying Easter eggs. Use a specially formulated paint for high temperatures made with transparent dyes to color the lamp. Ordinary paints are not suitable and are both fire and health hazards, but with the right paint this method is easy and safe.
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Things You'll Need
- Method 1: Colored Flood Lamp
- Flood lamp fixture
- Colored flood lamp
- Method 2: Colored Filter
- Filter holder
- 4 steel or aluminum 2-inch long L-brackets
- Drill with 3/32-inch and 3/16-inch drill bits
- Vise
- Sheet of theatrical gel or colored glass filter
- Flood lamp reflector or housing fixture
- Phillips head screwdriver
- 8 1/8-inch self-tapping steel sheet metal screws
- Method 3: Paint
- Flood lamp
- High temperature light bulb paint
Instructions
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Colored Flood Lamp
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1
Turn off or unplug the flood lamp fixture. Remove the standard flood lamp.
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2
Replace the standard flood lamp with a colored bulb. They can be found in many larger hardware stores, lighting outlets or ordered through online suppliers like ServiceLighting.com or BuyLighting.com.
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3
Screw in the new bulb. Turn on or plug back in the flood lamp fixture.
Filters
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4
If your lamp housing already has a filter holder, go directly to Step 8. Otherwise, measure the outside diameter or dimensions of your flood lamp unit at its face, the opening through which the light is emitted.
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5
Review the various filter holder options at lighting and theatrical equipment suppliers. Acquire a filter holder for either gels or glass filters slightly larger than the outside dimensions of the lamp housing.
It doesn't matter whether your lamp housing is round or rectangular. Either can be adapted to accept a suitable filter holder which are available in various shapes and sizes.
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6
At a point 1/2 inch behind the front edge of the housing, mark four points equidistant from each other at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions, as on a clock face.
Drill 3/32-inch holes to accommodate 1/8-inch diameter self-tapping sheet metal screws into the flood lamp housing at each of the four marks. The holes should be smaller than the screws' diameter for a tight and snug fit. -
7
Drill 3/16-inch holes in each of the four sheet metal L-brackets approximately 1/2 inch from each end. Each bracket will then have two screw holes, one near each end. These eight holes should be slightly larger than the screws' diameter for easy assembly.
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8
Drill 3/32-inch holes in the filter holder at corresponding points on the lamp housing to accommodate the same size and type screws.
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9
Attach the four short steel L brackets to the filter holder using four self-tapping sheet metal screws.
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10
Screw the filter holder to the lamp housing using the other four sheet metal screws aligning the drilled holes in the L-brackets with the holes in the lamp housing.
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11
If using theatrical gels, cut the colored gel to the size of the filter holder's slot using scissors or a utility knife.
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12
Insert the filter (either glass or gel) into the holder.
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13
Turn on lamp.
Painting
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14
Use denatured alcohol and a soft lint-free cloth to clean a standard flood lamp's bulb of any oils or grime that may have accumulated. Allow it to dry for a few minutes until all the alcohol has evaporated.
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15
Shake the can of lamp "paint" briefly to disperse any dye that may have settled to the bottom. Open the can and pour the contents into a small tray or bowl slightly larger in diameter than the lamp. Fill the bowl to a depth of 1 inch.
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16
Dip the lamp's face into the dye, remove and let dry thoroughly following the recommendations on the can. Several coats may be necessary as the dye's color is transparent.
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17
Install the lamp into the fixture.
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1
Tips & Warnings
When using theatrical gels, ensure that the gel itself does not touch the surface of the hot bulb when inserted into the filter holder. For most household or exterior use, position the filter frame no nearer than 1 1/2 inches to the front surface of the bulb to prevent the gel from overheating.
To achieve a richer color, multiple layers of gels can be used. The color of the light emitted can be changed by adding additional layers of gels of differing colors. For example, a blue gel over a red one will result in light with a magenta or purplish cast.
There is known, at the time of this writing, only one readily available product that can be used to tint flood lamps safely. Rosco Colorine is a paint specially formulated for the express purpose of coloring light bulbs and is made by the same company that makes high temperature theatrical gels and glass filters for the theater and film industry. The paint is designed for bulbs of 40 watts or less. Using a higher wattage bulb is not advised. The product is available in eight colors and can be mixed to make other hues.
Warnings regarding painting flood lights with any paint product not specifically manufactured for that purpose:
According to the National AG Safety Database developed by Ohio State University, "Heat sources combined with paint can be very dangerous because heat can increase the likelihood of fumes and vapors."
Many paint colors contain chemical components that can be unhealthy to breathe and the high temperatures of the bulbs can release those toxic compounds into the environment.
Paint may also crack, smoke and in some cases catch fire. Improper type paint can cause the bulb to crack or explode.
Warning regarding use of theatrical gel filters:
With theatrical gels, too much heat can cause them to smoke or melt. This is usually only a problem if the gel is not fit properly in the filter holder or the filter is mounted too close to the bulb.
They will not burst into flame but may smoke, which is unhealthy to breathe.
If a gel touches the bulb it can melt. Melting gel can spark a fire if it falls or drips on something flammable.
As with all heat producing lighting units care should be taken to insure they are isolated and installed away from flammable materials.
