Restoring Neon?

MilitiaMan

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Anyone ever do this?

I have a Corona Neon sign that I would love to use in my gameroom, but the yellow paint on the neon Corona bottle is flaking badly. I figured I could pretty easily mask off the black paint on the back side of the neon tubing and then either light sand or goo gone the remaining yellow paint off ... but, then I'd be left with a white Corona bottle. WTF?!?!?

Can I repaint the neon tube yellow?

If yes, do I need to use a special paint? Will the light still show brightly yellow through my new paint?

Any tips before I start down this path would be greatly appreciated ...

Steve
MM
 
Yes, you can repaint it. Not sure where you can get the paint, though.

Personally, I'd hit the yellow pages and look for a nearby neon sign shop. They might sell you a small quantity of paint, or offer to repaint it.

-Jim
 
Thanks for the link and suggestions. I was able to dig through the Neon Attic website and found this quote from the site's creator when asked the question "Can neon be painted?":

Not if you want it to look good. Tubes are dipped to coat them. Brushing on any paint messes with the glow intensity and shows the brush marks. Personally, I'd leave it alone. Finding a neon or sign shop who could re-color the tube is a possibility, however, you'd have to remove the tube for them to do it and I am unsure what the cost would be.

I wasn't thinking of brushing paint on anyway as clearly that isn't going to look right. I am wondering if spraypaint would give a nice even coating.

I guess I can always "try it". If it doesn't come out that great, I am in the same boat I'm in right now with a sign that doesn't look very good.

Steve
MM
 
There is also special neon sign paint. It contains bits of rubber and a primer designed for use on high voltage equipment.
 
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