Can I Paint a Light Bulb With Acrylic Paint?

Acrylic paint mainly comes for canvas art projects. But It is widely used for any type of craft and artwork. Now you are planning to make your artwork on a light bulb. So is it possible?

Yes, Acrylic paint will work well on light bulbs. But normal acrylic paint should not work with. You need good heat-resistant paint. Otherwise, when you turn on the bulb, it will overheat and then explode.

Pebeo Vitrea Glossy Glass Paint [ad] is a very good heat resistant acrylic glass paint. This paint will give you very good support in your art project.

In this article, we will describe the easiest way to paint on a light bulb with acrylic paint, how to make it long-lasting, and lastly how you can remove paint from your painted bulb.

Is it safe to paint a light bulb with acrylic paint?

A light bulb releases a high temperature when it is on. So the question is can this paint be safe at this temperature?

Yes, acrylic paint is generally heat-resistant paint. But you require more good heat resistance paint.

It is true that a painted bulb will heat up fast. Use less than 40 watt bulbs [ad] to avoid high heat. This type of bulb handles your art project easily.

How to paint a light bulb with acrylic paint

Step 1: take a light bulb. Clean all the dust with alcohol.

Step 2: take any kind of tape and cover all bulb metal surfaces. Tape protects the bulb metal from paint. But if you want to paint metal, you can do it. It is not harmful to your bulb.

Step 3: start your painting. Take your paint on a plate, then paint it with brushes and sponge.

Step 4: After finishing your project, give it time to dry for about 1 hour. Then apply more layers. It will make your work brighter.

You can watch the video about painting.

Does a light bulb Take Off Acrylic Paint?

Regular paint can be peeled off. You should choose high heat resistance acrylic paint like this one. This type of paint is specially made for glass. So will give you more durability.

Also, this kind of paint comes with in-built sealer. So without extra sealer, it gives your project long-lasting life.

What kind of paint to use on a light bulb

Glass paint: This paint is recommended to paint glass-related surfaces. This type of paint adheres very well on a glass and long-lasting life. And not peel off from the surface. For glass paint, choose heat-resistant glass paint.

Enamels paint: This is a good type of paint for painting glass. This paint is also the least long on bulb glass. Take one coat on glass, it will survive easily.

Engine paint: You also can use car engine paint on the bulb. It can survive on bulb heat. This paint sticks like glue. You can paint multiple coats to make your painting brighter.

Watercolor or acrylic paint: For crafty ideas, you can use those paints. But don’t forget, paint should be heat resistances. Otherwise, this paint could explode.

Can I remove acrylic paint from a colored bulb?

Yes, you can remove acrylic paint from a colored bulb. Isopropyl alcohol does a very good job for this type of cleaning work. How to do it, I will describe below.

Solimo 99% Isopropyl Alcohol is recommended for this project. It will clean the paint surface very well.

How to remove acrylic paint from a colored bulb

Step 1: Take your colored bulb.

Step 2: Wipe a paper with alcohol, then apply the bulb glass surface to paint.

Step 3: Take a knife. Rub on the paint.

Step 4: You will see, paint is coming up.

Step 5: Again wipe the paper, clean all the paint.

Now, your bulb is clean. This relevant video I found on YouTube.

Final Thought

Painting on a bulb is a unique project. But be always careful. Choose heat-resistant paint and don’t take high-watt bulbs. Following all safety, your project will be very interesting. Good luck!