Gallery of Lights
The Site => General discussion => Topic started by: gailgrove on July 11, 2010, 11:08:25 AM
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Hey guys, I have decided to restore my Crousehinds OV-15 as it is is very corroded and really needs the work, so I decided to ask you guys for any tips on how I should preform the restoration and what paint I should use,
Thanks :)
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Hammered Silver is the color to use!
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Thanks Jace, got any other tips?
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Hey Niall, I also used Hammered Silver when I painted my light too, it's a little hard imho to apply because if too much is used then the texture of the paint will come out a little odd looking.
As for how I restored my light:
I first disassembled the fixture the fixture completely (some of the screws might be tight and make a diagram of how the ballast was wired before taking it apart) and took out the latch before sanding and painting the fixture, I also recommend you the take off any labels if they come off easily or tape them over with masking tape.
I then used a combination of a sanding pad and a electric palm sander to sand mine with around 80-150 grit paper but a random orbit sander might be better. After sanding, I gave all the parts a wash with a hose to wash off the sanded off dust and left it to dry before painting. You could also sandblast the parts and body if you have access to a sanblaster.
For the paint, I used a layer of spray paint metal primer first which was followed by two if possible, coats of Krylon Hammered Silver as I mentioned as the paint. I just painted the parts on the ground covered with old newspapers but I think using a workbench and a drop cloth might be better. I recommend that you paint you fixtures on a sunny day and outside so the paint drys quickly.
When I painted my light it stunk for the first week or so I would leave it in the garage until the smell dissipates. Sometimes turning on the light and making it heat up will also release the smell even after a week.
Now finally after everything was dry and the paint cured, I put everything back together and unasked or stuck the labels back on and had fun turning on my repainted light.
You should be able to buy the paint at either Canadian Tire or Lowe's.
Good luck and have fun with your restoration ;)
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Thanks ;) So far I have taken it apart although I can't get the flat-bladed screw holding the terminal block out (yes I tried WD-40) While I can't work on it for the next week (away from home) I'll start sanding it down next week and then I'll see what I have time for, but again thanks for the tips!
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I often don't restore streetlights....I keep them original lookin! I just clean them......
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Well this is going to rot into bits if I don't restore it :'( Otherwise I don't restore them either .
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well Aluminimum Doesn't Rust.......so prehaps if you dont Restore it Fully..clean it and Polish it.
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But it does corrode ;)
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PB Blaster (from auto supply or Wally World) and repeated heating with a butane or MAPP gas torch, hot but not distort the aluminum hot, in cycles - applying the PB Blaster as it cools will often get frozen screws moving again. Best results after a few cycles, work on the screws with a new proper sized screwdriver while the aluminum is still really hot.
Good luck.
":O) Willis
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I personally don't repaint cobraheads that were unpainted. I got my R37 unpainted, so I'm going to leave it as is. If I get a GE though, I will consider giving it a good repaint.
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Oh, I always restore all of my light. I want them to look like new again. ;D Restoring my lights puts some fun into it for me. When I first got my OV25 RB, it was in a very sad state. But now, it's painted (only the outside), it will be getting a new photocell receptacle from Darren, and it lights 175w MV and 175w MH lamps beautifully. It can also run 150w lamps, but I don't have a 150w MH lamp to run on it.