Outdoor PAR Flood Light Cans

Don't you hate it when your outdoor color flood lights loose their color coatings. Once the coatings get hot and start to flake off, they are pretty much useless.  Depending on where you buy them, they cost around $6 each to replace. Typically, I usually only get two holiday "uses", Halloween and Christmas, before the coatings start flaking off.

For just a few dollars more up front, these outdoor lighting cans can save you a bunch of cash in the long run.

Step 1: What You Will Need

I found all the materials at my local home improvement store. I purchased the gels online (http://www.ebay.com).  I buy them in bulk, it's cheaper per gel.

BILL OF MATERIALS:
5" x 4" Heating / Ventilation Taper Reducer
Lighting Gels (color as desired & high heat rated)
5" Screw Drive Hose Clamp
High Heat, Flat Green (or Flat Black) Spray Paint, RUST-OLEUM brand
100 watt Clear Flood Light Bulb
Outdoor Flood Light Base Assembly

TOOLS:
Tin Snips
Standard Screwdriver
Safety Razor Blade (not shown)

Comments

[sr1sws]

Mikeymo - Your project inspired my similar one:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Poor-Mans-Landscape-PAR-Can/ 

Thanks for the inspiration!

Steve

[Mikeymo]

Very cool. What a simple trick to get a clean look for a little money.

[sr1sws]

Awesome, very helpful! Suggestions on where to obtain the gels? I checked Sam Ash online (we have one locally), and they have assortments, but I want only blue and green (and I'm cheap ;-).

Thanks!
Steve

[Mikeymo]

In the past, I've seen some sellers on eBay offer single color gel sets. Good luck.

[softballch1k99]

cool. i have made a lot of can speakers but flood lights? thats just BEAST

[Mikeymo]

These work very well. I make a few more each year to expand my "collectin". If you do make one, I think you will be very satisfied with the results. Thanks for leaving a comment.

[oscarthompson]

I have make some (before I saw ths instructable)
I am using them For DJ lighting.

I used a 60w 240v bulb. My housing is made from golden syrup tins (becuase they are reflective and insuferable to heat)
This is covererd by a cardboard tube which I am going to paint

Picture below

[Mikeymo]

Cool idea.  A 240v bulb huh, now that will require some upgraded wiring.  They should only be used indoors it looks like with the cardboard sleeve. Thanks for the feedback and comment.

[nagrom72]

So I have to say they were pretty easyto make.....
We did a little something at our house and it came out really good

[l8nite]

 neat project, nice "ible"  Couldn't you bend the tabs around the socket after the bulb is in place reducing almost all possible contact with the bulb base? 
 For those who really want the labels removed, WD40 works wonders, just spray it on, let sit a couple of minutes and off it comes

[Mikeymo]

As with anything, there is usually more than one way to skin a (insert your favorite skinned animal here, I don't want to offend any cat lovers).  I know I made it sound dangerous, and it would be, if it ever were to happen.  The tabs I've made have never came close. I wanted to get folks attention, just to be sure they understand.

Thanks!, for the WD40 tip. I'll use it next time.   Anyone who uses WD40, do clean all traces of it off your reducers and clamps so the paint will stick. Thanks for the feed-back.