New Products for Painting Bases Black

[Wanda Woman]

Hi all.
I've searched posts on the topic of best paint products to replicate a midnight black finish. What I found was fairly old. So, I was wondering if anybody has found a product that is worthy. I thought of taking the bases to a body shop friend of mine because I'm a perfection freak. I have (3) 2003 Grandes still in original boxes. I just don't care for the silver bases. These Grandes are fairly old by now and are as new. Is painting them "taboo"? If it is I will makes peace with the silver... Lol. Same goes for my silver Wizards. I'll feel less guilty after hearing from the pros on this site.

[Claude J]

I had my colossus painted Porsche white by a body shop

(It had dents that needed repair as well)

LOOKS AWESOME~!

Spray cans are spray cans,..

Especially if your a perfectionist

You can be close to a pro job if you primer first, then find a expensive 2 part mix spray can (Paint and hardener found at Eastwood), and have a completely clean area to spray

Rattle cans will never be the same (and as durable) as professionally painted with automotive  paint

[Brad]

i've sprayed a few bases black before, and while the results are good, they aren't nearly as good as a professional job.  i used krylon matte black on the one below.  i can't imagine spraying 3 bases would cost very much, especially since you have a friend.  then they would probably be darn near perfect.

here's the one i sprayed a few years ago:

[Brad]

here is a grande i sprayed semi-gloss black.  you can't see the whole base in detail though.  it looks nice, but i definitely prefer matte to semi-gloss.

[Claude J]

Excellent results can be more easily achieved with matt/flat colors.

you don't have to worry about over-spray fog like you do with gloss

Fantastic Job!

[Wanda Woman]

Brad, Your bases look great. I know that gloss and semi-gloss paints hide no flaws but if I had been asked which of the three lamps had the original finish I would have guessed the Grande. Excellent work I agree. I think I will get a price from the body shop and ask if he could match the original exactly. A pro should be able to give me clean edges as well. I've been offered a Chinese cheapie for free. That could be my guinea pig to try my hand.
Thanks so much for your help!

[Brad]

thank you, and no problem.  one thing to be sure of is to cover the opening of the base while painting.  this is probably a 'duh' type of thing, but i got some black paint on the inside of one of my bases one time and it darkened the color of the globe and also caused it to overheat.  however, you want to make sure to paint the top rim of the base.  i'm sure your friend at the shop can make this happen easily.

not sure if you're interested in this, but before having the lamps painted, why not add built-in dimmers to 'dial in' the flow?

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/built-in-grande-giant-dimmer...

[Claude J]

Great idea on the dimmer for a grande

They really need them and should come from the factory with them installed

I have 5 Grande's and 3 of them run all the time,

For some reason, none of the 3 flow the same at identical ambient room temps

I'm planning on adding dimmers to all of them

[Wanda Woman]

You read my mind. Adding dimmers is on my Grande to do list. I appreciate the link. My Heritage Grande introduced me to dimmers and now I realize how much they need them.