weird question -can you paint a ceiling fan?

Anonymous
I found a great ceiling fan for DD's new room; each blade is a different, bright color and it would be perfect with her bedding and wall color.

But it only takes one 40-watt bulb, which is definitely not enough light for the room.

So now I'm thinking, can I just get a white ceiling fan that provides more light and paint the blades different colors myself? Can I use regular latex wall paint? Do I have to sand or prime the blades first to get the paint to stick? Will it flake off? No one will be touching the blades so I think it should work but I don't want to buy a white fan and end up trashing it with a bad paint job.

Just posting on the off-off-off-chance that someone else has tried this or something similar (or is knowledgeable about painting) and has some advice to offer.
Anonymous
yes - my mother in law did it. I do not know details but she painted the blades red.
Anonymous
I would just get the white fan and try to restrain myself from painting it. You will be sick of that color-coordinated fan in a year or so and be kicking yourself for painting it.
Anonymous
Not while it's moving.

Otherwise, sure. Get a white one, paint ONE side of the blades so that if you change room decor, you can just flip the blades and have them be white again.
Anonymous
Make sure to apply a thin even layer, the fans are balanced and when they get out of balance they sway.

if it only has one 40 watt bulb that is a small fan, if it is 3 of them, that is plenty of light
Anonymous
No. If your layers of paint are even you will through it off balance. It will cause the motor to work harder and either kill the fan or cause a fire.
Anonymous
It is actually easier to paint while it is moving. You just hold the brush up in the center and slowly move it out. You can do the whole thing in a matter of seconds.


Good luck.
Anonymous
Otherwise, sure. Get a white one, paint ONE side of the blades so that if you change room decor, you can just flip the blades and have them be white again.


Yes, this is what I was thinking. I would leave one side of the blades white so we can flip them over if she gets tired of the colors.

13:46, why do you think if the paint layers are even it will throw the fan off balance? As long as everything is even it shouldn't make any difference; I can't imagine a layer of paint will add that much weight to the blades.
Anonymous
Your paint questions depend on the blade material. I would go with a spray acrylic like Krylon or Rustoleum. They have some that adhere to plastic others for metal, etc. The best results will come with repeated light coats done with a few minutes of dry time in between, not the two coat wallpaint method.
Anonymous
Just don't paint it while its moving.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I would just get the white fan and try to restrain myself from painting it. You will be sick of that color-coordinated fan in a year or so and be kicking yourself for painting it.


Agree. I think it would look a bit chaotic.
arisyap
Member Offline
Anonymous wrote:I found a great ceiling fan for DD's new room; each blade is a different, bright color and it would be perfect with her bedding and wall color.

But it only takes one 40-watt bulb, which is definitely not enough light for the room.

So now I'm thinking, can I just get a white ceiling fan that provides more light and paint the blades different colors myself? Can I use regular latex wall paint? Do I have to sand or prime the blades first to get the paint to stick? Will it flake off? No one will be touching the blades so I think it should work but I don't want to buy a white fan and end up trashing it with a bad paint job.

Just posting on the off-off-off-chance that someone else has tried this or something similar (or is knowledgeable about painting) and has some advice to offer.


You should consider the material used in the ceiling fan
.. And also, although no one is touching the blade, it will be spinning so I think, it might flake off, later on.
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