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Wire chase / channel for wall light?

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:52 am
by greasywheats
Howdy all-
I have (or will have shortly) a reading light on my Teardrop wall that requires that i run the wiring up the wall (from the floor to the base of the light). I am looking for a wire chase/channel/cover to enclose the wire as it runs up the wall. I don't want to use the clunky white or black plastic junk they have at the big boxes. I am looking for some nice silver/stainless steel/ chrome stuff to do the job...plastic is not out of the questions, but it needs to go with a nice chrome-finish reading light. BTW- it is small diameter (<1/4") Anyone know of any good stuff- maybe for that high-end track lighting systems or something?
In advance, thanks for any suggestions! :applause:

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:48 pm
by Ken A Hood
Couldn't you paint the white plastic a silver color? I know they have spray paint that's used for patio furniture (Krylon I think).

Or if you have a router/table could get a nice piece of oak/maple etc, and route out a chace on the backside.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:34 pm
by Dale M.
How about some polished aluminum tubing... Like tubing used in plumbing "gas" connections...

You couild use tubing as "ground" conductor, and just run single hot wire through middle, that way you could use a really small tubing....

Dale

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:38 pm
by greasywheats
I like the aluminum tube idea :applause: ...i was just looking at some stainless steel tubing from a precision parts co. online, but its pretty pricey... any suggestion on where would i find polished alum tubing as small as 1/4" diameter?
Thanks!

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:44 pm
by Et Cetera
How about braided stainless steel hose?
http://www.tru-flex.com/indapp.html

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:54 pm
by rbeemer
Question,

Are you plugging this into an exsting wall plug or wiring it in?

If wiring it in couldn't you drill a hole and fish the wire to the bottom to a second hole for power or no second hole and wire it to the hidden existing wire?

If you are using a plug then you could keep hitting the plug with you leg or other body part, a little painful in my book.

Just trying to figure out why you want a chase when it may not be necessary

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 7:08 pm
by greasywheats
rbeemer- i left out some detail...my TD has solid Plywood walls, so the wiring (12v hardwiring from fixture to fuse block) can't go through a wall like it could with sandwich construction. I don't want to router a groove down the wall so i need a nice shiny chase to get the wiring up the wall to the fixture. :twisted: Thanks!

Et Cetera- I saw some of that, unfortunately I'm gonna have to give it the big X! :R Thanks for the suggestion though! :applause:

Ken- Gonna have to X the painting the plastic chase idea...i know its gonna take a beating since its gonna be surface mounted on the wall, and i know the paint is gonna chip/flake after a while. Also, I am trying to stay away from using a wood chase since i fancy the chrome look of the light. Again- thanks for the ides! :thumbsup: :applause:

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:43 pm
by rbeemer
greasywheats,

What about chrome brake/fuel line tubing or something in the custum automotive world, you might be able to get a color that will compliment your fixture

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:45 pm
by Dale M.
greasywheats wrote:I like the aluminum tube idea :applause: ...i was just looking at some stainless steel tubing from a precision parts co. online, but its pretty pricey... any suggestion on where would i find polished alum tubing as small as 1/4" diameter?
Thanks!


How about stainaless steel brake line from auto parts, a little time polishing....

Dale

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:01 pm
by greasywheats
Dale and rbeemer- someone owes someone a beer there....i like that idea...probably cheaper than the SS tubing i have been looking at online. Gonna have to hit a couple auto suppliers tomorrow. Thanks a bunch!
:applause: :thumbsup: :D

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:09 pm
by madjack
GW, is your exterior going to be clad in AL...if so, route your "groove" on the outside where it will end up behind the AL skin...this is what we were going to do for a porch lite that got blown off.....
madjack 8)

Wiring chase

PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:49 am
by Sandy Claws
What about using a piece of that aluminum channel that you find in the hardware section of Home Depot or Lowe's? Just run a screw through it every foot or so(be sure not to hit the wire).

Rog...

PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:18 pm
by Ira
madjack wrote:GW, is your exterior going to be clad in AL...if so, route your "groove" on the outside where it will end up behind the AL skin...this is what we were going to do for a porch lite that got blown off.....
madjack 8)


You make me SICK with all of these great ideas that I would never be able to pull off in a million years.

Seriously:

Everyone's thinking inside, but your thinking OUTSIDE the box--literally!

PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:46 pm
by madjack
Ira wrote:
madjack wrote:GW, is your exterior going to be clad in AL...if so, route your "groove" on the outside where it will end up behind the AL skin...this is what we were going to do for a porch lite that got blown off.....
madjack 8)


You make me SICK with all of these great ideas that I would never be able to pull off in a million years.

Seriously:

Everyone's thinking inside, but your thinking OUTSIDE the box--literally!


Ira, don't get sick...just realize that I literally grew up in the residential construction industry...coon-ass engineering is a beautiful thing :D ;) ...besides, it much to hot and humid to stay in the box around here :lol:
madjack 8)

PostPosted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 1:22 pm
by Ken A Hood
The reason I suggested painted plastic instead of metal conduit is merely for safety.... Since metal conducts electricity, and "if" you were to ever have a short etc, having a metal chase would conduct electricity...