How to paint plastic (with photo) - tips

Video: How To Paint Plastic - HD - The Basics

Content

Advice
Warning
What you need

Gently sand the surface with 220 to 300 sandpaper. Use a gentle circular motion to avoid scratches. When finished, wipe the surface clean with a gauze cloth.

Sanding is very important. Flat surfaces will add roughness to the paint to adhere more tightly.

Wipe the surface with rubbing alcohol. This step is equally important for removing oil, which is preventing the paint from adhering. If you skip this step, the paint may peel off immediately.

Handle plastic very carefully. Hold hands on the edge of plastic or wear disposable gloves.

Paint a primer. You will need to apply a primer, so choose the type that holds tight. This will smooth the plastic surface and create adhesion to the paint. Spray-on paint is the easiest to use, but you can also use a paintbrush.

Let the primer dry completely before proceeding.
If using a spray primer, make sure to cover the surface in the work area and paint in a well-ventilated area.

Part 2 of 3: Surface painting

Paint if needed. Some paints are ready to use, others will need to be mixed. Before starting to paint, see the label on the bottle or bottle for specific instructions.
- Shake the spray paint bottle several times. This is to mix the paint evenly and the finish to be smoother once sprayed.
- Dilute the acrylic paint with enough water to give it a creamy consistency. This way, the paint will be smoother on the plastic and won't show the brush clearly.
- Some model / enamel paints also need to be diluted. You will most likely need an enamel paint remover; This product is often sold alongside other enamel paints.
Apply a thin, even coat. Don't worry that the first coat will not cover the entire surface; You will need to paint many layers. This is very important whether you spray or paint with a brush.
- Keep the spray paint bottle 30cm to 45cm away from the plastic surface. Spray paint by moving the paint bottle horizontally.
- Apply acrylic paint with a taklon, kanekalon or mink brush.
- Use a brush with hard bristles to apply enamel / model paint. This brush is sold with other model paints.
Paint more thin layers. Wait for each coat to dry before applying the next one. Change the direction of each coat: paint side by side lines for the first layer, the second layer to paint from top to bottom, and so on. The number of coats will depend on the surface you need to paint. Most times you will need about 2 to 3 coats of paint.
Time to dry depending on the type of paint you use. With most paints, this is only lost about 15 to 20 minutes. Let last coat dry for about 24 hours.
Use a paint brush to treat loose particles and gaps. Check the plastic carefully. If there are gaps or peeling patches, use a small brush to apply more paint. If you have used spray paint before, you will use acrylic paint of the same color to complete this step.
Add some details, patterns or weather patterns if desired. This step is completely optional, but it will give life and character to your plastic, especially a model or statue. Here are a few pointers to help you do this:
- Place the pattern on the plastic and then paint with spray paint or acrylic paint and a sponge brush.
- Use a small, pointed brush to carefully paint over curves or patterns.
- Add highlights with paint lighter than the original paint color and shadow with bold paint.
Apply a single coat of polyurethane to the surface for more durable paint if desired. You can use a spray paint or a paintbrush, but the spray will make the surface smoother. Apply a thin coat, then wait for at least 30 minutes to dry. You can apply one or two more coats if needed, allowing the polish to dry for about 30 minutes in between.
- Choose the surface finish you like: opaque, satin or glossy.
- Applying several thin coats is better than applying only one thick coat. If you paint too thick, the paint will be very sticky.
Wait for the coating to dry completely. Sometimes it feels dry to the touch, but that doesn't mean it's completely dry. See the information on the paint or paint bottle label to see how long it takes to dry and harden.
- Many enamel paints take several days to harden. During this time, the paint may stick and easily peel off.
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Advice

If you paint only a certain part of the plastic, you can skip the sanding step, otherwise the difference in the surface between the two areas will be obvious.
If you only paint textures on plastic, such as flowers, choose a surface finish that is similar to the plastic surface: such as glossy or opaque.
Some paints are more durable than others. For best results, choose a paint that has a resin-specific label.
If you paint an object with multiple faces, such as a box, paint only one side at a time.
If the spray paint is melted or speckled, you sprayed it too thickly. Keep the paint bottle further away from the plastic and spray in a circular motion.

Warning

Some plastics will not "eat" the paint, no matter how prepared you are. There is not much you can do in this situation.
Always do this in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhalation of toxic fumes from paint, topcoat or white gasoline.
Items that are used regularly will peel off paint over time.