Thread: DIY Blacklight Fixture

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Just wondering if anyone builds their own Blacklight Fixtures — complete with reflectors — with any success?

Menards has been selling 48" 40 Watt T12 GE Blacklight bulbs for some time at a modest $11.22 — which is much cheaper than those sold at DJ or other specialty shops. I seem to remember their two-lamp shop lights go on sale somewhere around $8.

I figure it is simply a matter of painting the fixture matte black and adding a mirrored reflector behind the actual lamps. This is where I'm wondering what people may have used. I would prefer to use something more than tin foil, but if it gets too expensive, you mind as well by the pro fixture, right?

My initial thoughts would be to tape the inside of the fixture behind the bulbs with Metal Repair Tape - again, from Menards. It would require some patience to apply smoothly, but having used it before, I know it's possible — just not 100% sure of the reflectability.

If this were to work, total costs would amount to

$22.44 for 2 Black Light Bulbs
$ 8.00 for Shop Light
$ 4.50 for Metal Repair Tape
$ 4.00 for Matte Black Spray Paint

$38.94 Total for 2-Lamp Black Light

CheapDJGear.us sells just the bulbs alone for $19.99 — and claims their price is 1/2 off. At this point I figure I'm already ahead.

* It's worth noting that the price is actually less if more than one lamp is built, as the tape and spray paint won't be used up.

Finally, found this nice article about reflectors for aquariums which got me thinking.

I don't think you'll need to do much, really. No one should be seeing the top/back of the fixture, and the bulbs put out enough light that you won't need to modify a fixture to get more light. I used a $10-$15 shoplight fixture from WalMart, unmodified.

Originally Posted by UnOrthodOx

I don't think you'll need to do much, really. No one should be seeing the top/back of the fixture, and the bulbs put out enough light that you won't need to modify a fixture to get more light. I used a $10-$15 shoplight fixture from WalMart, unmodified.

That's how I've done it in the past — leave it white and no reflector. However, I think painting it black will add to the ambiance. Also, if you check out the article I linked above, they claim a good reflector will almost double the light output. To me, that's a big deal.

Light fixtures are pretty cheep, honestly just buy one with a reflector and buy a bulb.
The time spent on finding parts and assembling this thing probably isn't worth it.

In many cases we are talking about $15 for the fixture. Also, just check out craigslist.. people are always getting rid of things like this for practically free.

Add me to the list that thinks you don't need to do anything. I just use basic white shop lights. I guess if you really want them to disappear, you could spray paint them black.

Yeah you could spray paint them, but honestly you should just find a clever way to hide them.. Light should be seen, lighting not so much.

Too bad the Spirit 48" ones didn't have reflectors, they're wide open low profile fixtures so you get about 270° of light which is great if you have it in the middle of the ceiling, not so great against a wall.

Sign Warehouse has a good deal on a nice big roll of ScheinChrome vinyl right now, 12" x 10 yds for $11.25 + shipping. May be overkill on quantity, but it's pretty good stuff. (edit: meh, logged in and shipping for just one little roll is $8 commercial or about $11 residential).

Thanks for the Chrome Vinyl Idea, Xane. I may look into that.