Paint Chipping on Incads

[docchop]

I didn't do anything special to them. Just used the box to shield half and sprayed the other half in a haphazard manner. The only consideration I made was to spray them with the pointy ends facing up to hopefully prevent any drips from migrating into the sockets. After that I put them on a post to dry and the next day strung them out and plugged them in to an outdoor timer. I really just kept it as simple as possible.
lights1.jpglights2.jpglights3.jpg

[michaelc]

I used this. It works okay. I just touch up every year.
http://www.tcpglobal.com/spraypaintd...ass-color.aspx

[dslynx]

Can't wait to hear the outcome! Here is the response I received from Kryon:

Dear James,

Thank you for taking the time to contact Krylon. We appreciate your interest in our products.

Unfortunately we would not recommend our clear product for Christmas mini lights. The biggest issue here would be adhesion. Due to the slick nature of the lights, they would need to be sanded so our clear can adhere properly. After 7 days the product is fully cured and if the lights were to get too hot, the worst thing that would happen is the clear would melt off.

I am sorry we couldn't be more helpful. Please respond back if you require additional assistance.

Regards,

Kevin
Krylon Product Support

So, on the good side, no risk of fire. On the bad side, to get a proper adhesion (and it's listed on their site for painting glass), you'd need to sand them.

But, with all that aside, if you can hose your lights down once a year to keep the color looking good, who cares about the adhesion.

Can you physically see the difference in the lights? Meaning, if the clear melted off, would you be able to tell?

[docchop]

I don't know if the lights will get hot enough to melt off the coating but it will be easy to tell if it's been affected.

The biggest issue here would be adhesion. Due to the slick nature of the lights, they would need to be sanded so our clear can adhere properly.

The lights are somewhat slick but not as slick as bare glass because they already have a coat of a colorful translucent something on them. Maybe it will give the clear something to grip. Time will tell. I can't wait.

[docchop]

Looks like these blue bulbs get the hottest. The end of the thermocouple was in direct contact with the glass right above the filiment and this is as high as it would go. Ambient temperature was about 72. The blue beat the green by 7 degrees and the red and yellow by 9. The bread bag tie that held the sensor in place was the eventual loser. Too much twisting and un twisting.


lighttemp.jpg

[LabRat]

One advantage to having fresh snow, is that I can see "flecks" of blue that has literally fallen off of the blue-mini icicles. I spotted a bit out by the garage, so kept my eyes open, and sure enough there's a light sprinkling all along the line of the house. The default blue is peeling right off the bulbs. LEDs for me next year.

[dslynx]

Any status update on this?

[docchop]

Nothing to update so far. The lights are still hanging outside in full sun and the cold and the rain and the ice but so far they don't look any different. They are hanging in such a way that the wind moves them around on the fence a little and in that way they get some abrasion. Whenever I go out to look at them I rough them up a little also but so far no change. I really would have thought that some kind of result would have been apparent by now but they still look just like when I put them out there. Dunno. Must be some good lights.

[docchop]

The unsprayed sockets and wire are beginning to fade now and the sprayed sockets and wire look like new. The bulbs still look the same lit and unlit.

[dslynx]

Good news.. Thanks for the update!