T
Joined: Apr 24, 2008
Posts: 242
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T
These have different applications, too, though. The Feelings Flame is best where you want a thin, traditional candle and where the flame will be visible. Dream Candles also go in spots where you want the flame visible, like on tabletops and in big lanterns.
Flicker effects units are best where you want lots of flickering lights AND the bulbs won't be visible. Hanging paper lanterns; 'fire' effects aimed up onto moving water; lights shining up on Moai or set behind masks; they've got their applications. I highly recommend single 7-watt white or clear candelabra-base bulbs if you're trying to simulate a candle flame, and a cluster of three+ of the same bulbs, I'd say amber, red and white, if you're simulating bigger flames, with each bulb on its own flicker circuit. Three bulbs (I'd say transparent/clear orange, red and clear) behind a mask with open eyes and mouth, or shining up on a standing Moai or tiki, would be fantastic.
If you're using colored light anywhere, by the way, I highly recommend the following:
First, candelabra base bulbs, aka E-12 or "c7", fit just about anywhere. Even the smallest spot can often hold one. Sockets: Grand Brass is your friend on these.
This page:
http://www.grandbrass.com/catalog.cfm?category=Sockets&subcategory=Candelabra%28E-12%29%20Base%20Sockets
lists sockets that clip into a round hole and, lower down, various heights of socket that screw onto a threaded pipe, which can be bought at any hardware store in countless lengths.
This page:
http://www.grandbrass.com/catalog.cfm?category=Sockets&subcategory=Candelabra%28E-12%29%20Base%20Sockets&STARTROW=18&ANAME=top
See cat. no. SO10032, or cat. no. SO10032BRS if you want a brass bezel. These push into a round hole and the bezel screws on to hold them in. Immediately below are pre-wired strings of three and four sockets.
On this page:
http://www.grandbrass.com/catalog.cfm?category=Sockets&subcategory=Candelabra%28E-12%29%20Base%20Sockets&STARTROW=29&ANAME=top
You'll find screw-on 'festoon' sockets, cat. no. SO267. Just unscrew the cap, lay your zip cord in, screw the cap back on, and the metal spikes pierce the wires' insulation. You can hang these on a string for party lanterns, using the included hook, or remove the hook and hide them anywhere along a cord. If you're running a bunch of little lights behind objects in spots with a few feet between each, these are for you; run the cord from place to place, and stick a socket wherever you want it.
http://www.bettyschristmashouse.com/lights/classic.htm
This site has many colors of C-7 bulbs, in boxes of 25. Big box hardware stores sometimes sell these by-the-bulb at Christmas. I suggest experimenting with many different colors. Ceramic, transparent and the somewhat hard-to-find metallic colors all give different effects for concealed/back/internal illumination. A warning: except the transparent dark purple (sometimes sold as blacklight, though it isn't) most purple bulbs end up looking very orange. So does ceramic pink; transparent fuschia pink and metallic pink are very pink. Effects vary even within a color: if you want blue, if possible try ceramic blue, transparent dark blue, transparent teal and metallic blue, as all will be different. Most stores also sell the traditional orange neon 'flicker flame' bulbs, which I think do have their uses, though they're not at all realistic. A whole bunch of these behind a fake fire log does a nice imitation of glowing embers.
A bunch of these sockets, a spool of cord, and you're set.
http://www.grandbrass.com/catalog.cfm?category=Wire&subcategory=On%20the%20Roll%20or%20Loose
Grand Brass has cord, too, booth zip cord (table lamp cord) in multiple colors, and twisted or flat cloth covered cord, also in multiple colors. The latter is great for putting on vintage table lamps or desk fans, or using to suspend lightweight hanging fixtures.
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