Clean the can thoroughly. Make sure any stickers or glue are completely removed from the outside and inside of the can as both are considered fire dangers.
Place the can open end down on a newspaper. Be sure the surface you are working on is level to prevent drips of paint or any pooling.
Spray the outside of the can with the black, matte paint. It is important to purchase heat resistant paint so that it can handle the heat from the light.
Apply the white or silver heat-resistant paint to the inside of the can. Be sure to let both sides dry completely. It should only take a minute or two because it is spray paint.
Measure the ceramic light socket with a tape measure to determine the diameter.
Drill a hole in the bottom of the can to the same size as the ceramic socket. Make sure you have gotten a ceramic socket as the intense heat in the metal can causes problems with other socket types.
Put the electrical cable through the hole in the bottom of the can.
Take apart the back of the ceramic socket so you have access to the wire lugs. This is where you will connect the wire.
Use the wire cutter to strip the ends of the insulated wire. There should be a small “hole” below the cutting part of the wire that fits around and pulls the plastic insulation off, exposing the metal portion of the wire below. Strip about a ½-inch of plastic off both wires.
Screw the wires into the lugs. The exposed metal will wrap around the lug to make the proper electrical contact once the wire is attached to the plug and has an electrical source.
Reattach the cover to the socket on the inside of the can. It has a hole for the wire to come out so the housing fits back on correctly.
Pull the socket up to the hole of the can, making it flush to the bottom of the can.
Attach the socket to the bottom of the can with the screws provided in the socket package. You will need to drill small holes that line up with the attachment piece.
Push the screws through the holes and secure each with the nut provided. You can change out the screws if your socket did not come with the pieces.
Cut the cable to the appropriate length. You can make it short if you plan on running an extension cord or surge protector, but make certain you leave enough cable to be practical when running it to an electrical source. A few feet is usually preferred.
Strip the end of the wire and attach the plug. This provides power to your light.
Put in your light bulb and you have your stage light. You can attach baling wire to the bottom of the can in order to hang the lights or change the direction. Just drill a small hole in opposite sides of the can and string the baling wire across the bottom. This gives you a handle to angle the can in any direction.