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Turning a white power cord black help |
Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 5011
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
|  Posted: 2014-06-24 10:50 am Permalink
The 2 ships lamps I just got came with white cords. Replacing them with a black cord is not what I want to do. The person who converted it from an oil lamp to electric soldered everything together. I could splice a black cord onto the white, but I'd still be spending money on a cord I'd rather not and still have some white cord sticking out regardless.
Any have a painless way to make a white cord black? Paint tends to be sticky on cords I have found.
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Chip and Andy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 13, 2004
Posts: 2176
From: Corner table, Molokai Lounge, Mai-Kai.
| Posted: 2014-06-24 11:57 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2014-06-24 10:50, Swanky wrote:
Any have a painless way to make a white cord black? |
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Krylon has a line called Fusion that is designed specifically for painting on plastic. It is a bit more expensive, but it works better and doesn't make the plastic all tacky (looking or feeling).
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El Jefe
Grand Member (2 years) 
Joined: Mar 13, 2012
Posts: 236
From: The Third Coast
| Posted: 2014-06-24 12:31 pm Permalink
You can buy lengths of heat shrink wrap used for wiring. I have seen them in up to four foot lengths. What about getting a length and slicing it down the length to be able to slip it over the white cord and then shrinking it?
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Slacks Ferret
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 02, 2003
Posts: 1248
From: Calgary
| Posted: 2014-06-24 3:12 pm Permalink
Would taping black electrical tape around it (in a candy cane swirl pattern) suffice?
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TikiTacky
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Nov 23, 2010
Posts: 1286 | Posted: 2014-06-24 5:40 pm Permalink
Splicing cord is pretty easy and would give the best result. Maybe you should give it a second thought.
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TikiAno
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 07, 2012
Posts: 782
From: San Diego, CA
| Posted: 2014-06-24 8:05 pm Permalink
Sunglasses.
But seriously, if it's going to "live" in one place and not move around, I'd try a different spray paint, or the one listed above. Maybe let it sit/ dry for a while before turning the light on (letting the cord heat up)?
Splicing is the easier/ safer bet.
[ This Message was edited by: TikiAno 2014-06-24 20:08 ]
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Humuhumu
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 22, 2002
Posts: 3606
From: San Francisco
| Posted: 2014-06-24 8:12 pm Permalink
I'll second Chip & Andy's suggestion to try that Fusion paint. Haven't heard about it, nor used it, but that sounds promising. I did a bunch of researching paint/stain options for the white vinyl front of my bar (I wound up just reupholstering it). There are special vinyl spray paints on the market, but they're tough to come by and a bit pricey—though I did find some for cheap at a shoe repair shop. If Krylon is filling that almost-hole in the market, that sounds like it's worth trying. If you lived nearer, I'd just give you the black vinyl spray paint I never used! You can maybe pick up a cord in a thrift shop to use as a test, if you don't have some test cord lying around the house.
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ErichTroudt
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 27, 2002
Posts: 412
From: SoCal
| Posted: 2014-06-24 8:50 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2014-06-24 20:12, Humuhumu wrote:
There are special vinyl spray paints on the market, but they're tough to come by and a bit pricey—
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Anytime in the past I've needed Vinyl spray paint I got it at Pep Boys...made for car seats and interior.
As far as the cord, not what you wanna hear, but on all my vintage lamps I redo everything...cords, switches and sockets.
I don't like being zapped or the possibility of fire from an old lamp. for less than $20 and a hour time I have peace of mind
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tikiskip
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Posts: 2777 | Posted: 2014-06-25 05:49 am Permalink
PAINT?
Come on Tim you are going to spend $6.00 bucks or so on high dollar paint that will flake off
in no time.
Change it all for like $10.00 more bucks and be done with it.
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Chip and Andy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 13, 2004
Posts: 2176
From: Corner table, Molokai Lounge, Mai-Kai.
| Posted: 2014-06-25 07:03 am Permalink
If the cord is good you could just braid some hemp around it and hide it that way.
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jimsflies
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 02, 2010
Posts: 219
From: Michigan
| Posted: 2014-06-25 07:06 am Permalink
I've still yet to try it, but I think this stuff would work to dye a white cord:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Dye-for-PVC-STAIN-1-oz-concentrate-lqd-/260720985413
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tikiskip
Grand Member (8 years)
Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Posts: 2777 | Posted: 2014-06-25 07:41 am Permalink
It may work Jim, But now you are
paying more than the costs of the best fix that you know would work.
I think it's fun to rewire stuff, not that hard to do.
Plus you get the added advantage of making the cord just as long as you want.
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 5011
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2014-06-25 08:55 am Permalink
Rewiring is just a giant pain here because whoever made this oil lamp electric went ahead and soldered the socket into the lamp base, along with soldering the wires in. The wires are unreachable.
I can splice in a black wire. I'd just not like to spend $15 per lamp on cords if there was just an easier way. I think the shrink wrap stuff is expensive as I recall.
Using regular paint on cords will result in them being tacky for life. Nothing "dries" them.
Will look into a specialty paint and that may be the fast and easy answer.
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jimsflies
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 02, 2010
Posts: 219
From: Michigan
| Posted: 2014-06-25 09:57 am Permalink
Here is a video showing the dye I linked above...used on cords.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ITGM1XILb4
Granted it is more for the dye, but you'll have enough to use for future cords as well.
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GROG
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Jun 21, 2006
Posts: 6836
From: Tujunga
| Posted: 2014-06-25 10:30 am Permalink
You could always buy a different lamp or trade this one for one you like better.
No need to thank GROG. GROG happy to help. 
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