help with finding metal cables to hold a pool light DIY

F

filluptieu

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am planning to build a pool light because I just dont seem to see anything that is sleek/thin enough but still having light bafflers (aka egg crate similar to diamond)

So with that said, I decided to move forward to building my own.

The problem is that I cannot find a nice sleek metal cables for mounting the light. I recall seeing some folks on AZB that has something similar and if you can help point me in the right direction I would really appreciate it!

Thanks!
 
Aircraft Spruce

I suspect similar stuff can be had at ACE, Lowe's, or Home Depot. The SS is stainless - which would look better.

There is probably somewhere nearby that has industrial cables and supplies too. If not, Grainger's will have it...

bes
 
But what about the top piece that will drill into the sheetrock? Hoping to have more flexibility is placing the light wherever so I don't have to use the joist in the ceiling
 
Unless the light is super low weight, Im talking the new LED panel light kind of low weight..... sheet rock would not be the best idea to support the weight of the light. Might get away with it, but I would never trust it.

It really should be anchored to a joist.
 
I drilled eye-bolts into the joists when mounting my light <Diamond>.

The height off the ceiling is controlled by medium strength chain in 2 loops to hook bolts into the frame of the light.
 
There are plenty of anchoring options that would hold a light. Check your local hardware store or big box stores. They should have a few options.
 
filluptieu said:
The problem is that I cannot find a nice sleek metal cables for mounting the light.
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Just go to Home Depot or Lowe's, they have lots of different kinds of steel cable aka wire rope (and a variety of chain too if you want to consider that also). Some is sold packaged in preset lengths, and they usually have a variety to choose from that you can purchase by the foot off of their big spools of it.

If you don't already have some you will likely need to pick up some heavy enough duty wire cutters for the job as well, and if using cables you will almost certainly need a way to secure the ends into loops (they usually have some kind of clamp sets for this). Just talk to someone in the department with the steel cable and they can give you some input based on what you are looking for and how you want to mount it and then set you up with everything you need.

http://www.lowes.com/Search=steel+c...gId=10051&N=0&newSearch=true&Ntt=steel+cable#!

http://www.homedepot.com/s/steel%20cable?NCNI-5
 
filluptieu said:
I'm looking for a really nice clean look from the ceiling and not a hook. Any other suggestions?
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Go to an electrical supply store. Tell them what your goal is. I have hung many a light from steel rod. Can also get them chrome finish or stainless steel.

I second the notion NOT to hang it just from the drywall. That is just asking for trouble.
 
You need to visit a real electrical supply house. They make a ceiling escutcheon kit that includes the canopy, the aircraft and all the hardware. acuity lighting is bay far the best kit, axis lighting, lithonia, etc. GO TO THE STORE. salesmen that deal in large commercial jobs like schools and prisons will know exactly what you mean. They may not be excited to sell you $100 dollars worth of stuff instead of four million, but they usually will.:)
 
As far as the ceiling load goes. some toggles are rated to hold 100 plus pounds suspended from drywall. This will depend on how the drywall its fastened. 16 on center or 24; glued or not. This theoretically means your light could way 200 lbs. Talk to the fastener guys. Fastenal type outfit. if unsure of your framing borrow a stud finder or us a magnet to find exsting screws. An engineer once told me that a can of great stuff sprayed through a toggle hole left overnight to dry will hold over double what the toggle will because it spreads out the load. I've never tried this, but the theory is there.
 
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