Thread: Blacklights

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How are the 48" blacklights from the Halloween stores (Spirit, Halloween City, etc). If you purchased one, can you give me your quick opinion?

Thanks!

I got a 48" last year 50% off at a closeout at Spirit Halloween after the holiday. I only fired it up to check and make sure it worked (suggest you do that in the store, these Halloween shops are gone with the wind a few days after Halloween) then again at home to test it in dark conditions, and it looked very good. Threw off as much light as you would expect. This year will be the first time I'll run it all night.

You might want to check Amazon.com for prices before you head out to a store to buy, just to give you an idea what a reasonable price is.

I just bought a good black light from home depot, 48" for 15 bucks I think. I got the biggest one they had and then bought the shop light for it for 10 bucks I think. Only problem is the shoplight is white.
BTW, anyone know if I can just paint the shoplight with black spray paint. I know I can do it, but would it be a problem? Good luck Kim. I bought mine at home depot because I didnt want to wait for a halloween shop to open.

Cover the connections with tape, use some sandpaper to scratch up the white finish for the paint to adhere to beter and I think Krylon should give you a good finish. I would go flat black so no reflection.

The ones from Spirit are very good. You may want to check at Spencer's (if you have one near) because they carry the same ones and they are on sale sometimes (Don't know about right now, though!)

The ones from Spirit are the same as the ones from Spencers. The Spirit Stores are sister stores of Spencers. I would suggest looking at who has a cheaper one between the two (usually Spencers during Halloween season). Party city had ones on sale in our area last week for $19.99 and they were just as good.

The Party City lights are pretty much crap. The bulbs are fine, but the light fixture is cheap plastic and the ballast is junk.

GE makes some real great 24"ers that put out more than the 48"s from the store. I will take pictures of the unit so you know what you are looking for.

Definitely use flourescent bulbs as opposed to those curle 60 equivalent bulbs!! (They don't give off enough light & they get (start a fire)hot!
I suggest you go to a hardware store, get a single flourescent bulb fixture (the bulbs can be quite pricey ($25.00 in Canadian Tire), wire it to accept a well plug & just plug it into the wall. The 48" bulb work very well!