Spray painting a large floor lamp

strandroad

I have one of them huge industrial style floor lamps, it's 6ft tall and quite complicated, it's even bigger than that one:
https://www.lights.ie/media/wysiwyg/ie/specials/landing-pages/interior%20design%20festival/industrial/concrete-floor-lamps.jpg

I like my lamp but not its colour. Do I have a chance to spray paint it myself and for it to look like quality work? Do I need to take it apart? Would any body shop do it for me perhaps, faster and better?

CJhaughey

I'd say it would be very expensive to get a body shop to prep and spray one like that.
Most of the work is in the prep like most painting, get some spraycans in the colour you like and practice spraying some scrap pieces similar to the lamp to get a feel for spraying.
Heat the spraycans in hot water before use to get better drying and faster recoating.
Depending on the type of material you may need to get a primer to suit but it will be dependant on the topcoat you choose.

Vikings

What sort of finish does it currently have?

I was pleasantly surprised by the Rustoleum Painters Touch range (woodies stock a large selection) that I used to spray a number of light fittings.

As with any sort of paint job the quality of finish will more than likely be more relative to the quality of prep them the quality of paint itself.

If you're willing to give it a go yourself the basic steps would be:

strip/mask off any surfaces you don't want painted. If you strip them you'll have an easier job painting.

Clean/degrease the entire lamp and let dry completely.

Don't spray in extreme cold or warm places (and adequate ventilation!)

Consider using a primer. Depending on colours involved, 1/2 coats allowed dry between.

Then the colour paint you want. 2/3 coats again allowing time to dry between. Don't cut short the instructions, if primer says allow 24 hours before painting over then allow 24 hours.

Consider a clear coat on top depending again on your needs. Clear coat can be gloss or matt. It'll protect the finish if it's going to be handled a lot.

Some light sanding between coats is optional depending on how well the paint is being applied. Sanding will help with runs in the paint or spots where the paint may build up thicker and give you.a better finish. Though if you take your time and paint evenly you should have no issues skipping this step.

You'll have a sense of satisfaction every time you look at the lamp if you do it yourself too

strandroad

Thank you, excellent advice.

dok_golf

Go to a specialist paint shop or even an auto shop. Get a can of spray primer made up in the colour you want. Do the same with 2 cans of topcoat. You need non cold paint ( leave near radiator overnight) and warm surface unless you are spraying a large surface area. Spray light coats rather than trying to cover immediately. You'll fly through it no bother.

strandroad

Thank you all! Would you recommend to take it apart and lay out the pieces for painting? It could be easier to get into all the crevices at joints, but I would need to keep turning the pieces over to dry to coat them again.
Or is it actually easier if it remains assembled?

CJhaughey

strandroad wrote: »

Thank you all! Would you recommend to take it apart and lay out the pieces for painting? It could be easier to get into all the crevices at joints, but I would need to keep turning the pieces over to dry to coat them again.
Or is it actually easier if it remains assembled?

I would disassemble and hang from a roof with coat hangers, its much easier to spray awkwardly shaped parts if they can be turned. Let them dry while hanging.
Make sure you heat the paint cans in some hot water for 10 mins or so before you start spraying, the paint is thinner and covers and dries much better if its warmed.