How To Spray Paint A Plastic Case?
- Thread starter fibes
- Start date
I just purchased 1 can of Krylon Fusion spray paint to mod my plastic case. I want the finshed product to look nice. Does anyone have any input on how to make this a painless experience? Thanks
Based on my experience, make sure to clean the surface of all dust and oils. Alcohol on a lint-free cloth will work well to remove any residues. Apply the paint in several thin coats. Be sure to allow ample drying time between each coat. Don't get in a hurry and you should do fine. 
Originally posted by: TonyH
Based on my experience, make sure to clean the surface of all dust and oils. Alcohol on a lint-free cloth will work well to remove any residues. Apply the paint in several thin coats. Be sure to allow ample drying time between each coat. Don't get in a hurry and you should do fine.
Thanks for the advise Tony. Being that I live in Chicago, and it's too cold to do any painting outdoors, do you recommend painting inside? Or is it possible to spray paint in 20 degree weather? I can paint in our basment and leave the door open for ventilation, or is it just to "messy" to paint inside?
I WOULD NOT use vinyl dye indoors. The stuff is toxic. Wait for a warm day or use someone's garage. I recently painted in some 30 degree weather here in Kansas and my finished drive bezels look fine. I would not use it inside, that stuff is toxic.
Sand the case lightly with #240 silicon carbide paper to give the paint something to "bite" into. Now clean it real good with a solvent such as Prepsol or Acriclean. Use compressed air to blow off any dust.
Now prepare the painting area by getting it to the right temp. Spray paint is designed to work best at 70 degrees but you're generally OK in the range of 55-80. Lay down some newspapers to protect the floor and use carboard if you have to make a "makeshift" spray booth.
Now set up some bright lights in the spray area.
Read the directions on the spray paint but most say to apply several coats a few minutes apart. I like to apply a very light coat and give it 10 minutes to flash off. That gives the solvents in the paint time to evaporate and will allow solvent absorbsion from the subsequent coats which prevents drips and runs. These follow on coats can be medium thick and should still be given 10-15 minutes between coats. One flash coat and 1-2 medium coats should be all you need. (thicker is not better - a consistent color/sheen is all you need)
Now get out of the spray room and let the paint cure undisturbed. Even though the can probably says you can handle it in 6-8 hours don't. Give it a few days to cure if it's oil based paint. If it's laquer based, one day is more than enough.
You should wear a respirator if you spray in an enclosed area that lacks ventilation.
If you pay attention to detail (ie preperation and technique) you can get some pretty good results with normal spray paint.
(If for some reason you need to respray an area make sure you read the instructions on the can for recoat sensitivity. Most oil based spray paints can be recoated within 1 hr or after 48 hours. If you try to respray an area that hasn't had enough drying time you'll start dissolving the previous coat and it'll wrinkle real bad.)
Now prepare the painting area by getting it to the right temp. Spray paint is designed to work best at 70 degrees but you're generally OK in the range of 55-80. Lay down some newspapers to protect the floor and use carboard if you have to make a "makeshift" spray booth.
Now set up some bright lights in the spray area.
Read the directions on the spray paint but most say to apply several coats a few minutes apart. I like to apply a very light coat and give it 10 minutes to flash off. That gives the solvents in the paint time to evaporate and will allow solvent absorbsion from the subsequent coats which prevents drips and runs. These follow on coats can be medium thick and should still be given 10-15 minutes between coats. One flash coat and 1-2 medium coats should be all you need. (thicker is not better - a consistent color/sheen is all you need)
Now get out of the spray room and let the paint cure undisturbed. Even though the can probably says you can handle it in 6-8 hours don't. Give it a few days to cure if it's oil based paint. If it's laquer based, one day is more than enough.
You should wear a respirator if you spray in an enclosed area that lacks ventilation.
If you pay attention to detail (ie preperation and technique) you can get some pretty good results with normal spray paint.
(If for some reason you need to respray an area make sure you read the instructions on the can for recoat sensitivity. Most oil based spray paints can be recoated within 1 hr or after 48 hours. If you try to respray an area that hasn't had enough drying time you'll start dissolving the previous coat and it'll wrinkle real bad.)
Sand the case lightly with #240 silicon carbide paper to give the paint something to "bite" into. Now clean it real good with a solvent such as Prepsol or Acriclean. Use compressed air to blow off any dust.
Now prepare the painting area by getting it to the right temp. Spray paint is designed to work best at 70 degrees but you're generally OK in the range of 55-80. Lay down some newspapers to protect the floor and use carboard if you have to make a "makeshift" spray booth.
Now set up some bright lights in the spray area.
Read the directions on the spray paint but most say to apply several coats a few minutes apart. I like to apply a very light coat and give it 10 minutes to flash off. That gives the solvents in the paint time to evaporate and will allow solvent absorbsion from the subsequent coats which prevents drips and runs. These follow on coats can be medium thick and should still be given 10-15 minutes between coats. One flash coat and 1-2 medium coats should be all you need. (thicker is not better - a consistent color/sheen is all you need)
Now get out of the spray room and let the paint cure undisturbed. Even though the can probably says you can handle it in 6-8 hours don't. Give it a few days to cure if it's oil based paint. If it's laquer based, one day is more than enough.
You should wear a respirator if you spray in an enclosed area that lacks ventilation.
If you pay attention to detail (ie preperation and technique) you can get some pretty good results with normal spray paint.
(If for some reason you need to respray an area make sure you read the instructions on the can for recoat sensitivity. Most oil based spray paints can be recoated within 1 hr or after 48 hours. If you try to respray an area that hasn't had enough drying time you'll start dissolving the previous coat and it'll wrinkle real bad.)
Now prepare the painting area by getting it to the right temp. Spray paint is designed to work best at 70 degrees but you're generally OK in the range of 55-80. Lay down some newspapers to protect the floor and use carboard if you have to make a "makeshift" spray booth.
Now set up some bright lights in the spray area.
Read the directions on the spray paint but most say to apply several coats a few minutes apart. I like to apply a very light coat and give it 10 minutes to flash off. That gives the solvents in the paint time to evaporate and will allow solvent absorbsion from the subsequent coats which prevents drips and runs. These follow on coats can be medium thick and should still be given 10-15 minutes between coats. One flash coat and 1-2 medium coats should be all you need. (thicker is not better - a consistent color/sheen is all you need)
Now get out of the spray room and let the paint cure undisturbed. Even though the can probably says you can handle it in 6-8 hours don't. Give it a few days to cure if it's oil based paint. If it's laquer based, one day is more than enough.
You should wear a respirator if you spray in an enclosed area that lacks ventilation.
If you pay attention to detail (ie preperation and technique) you can get some pretty good results with normal spray paint.
(If for some reason you need to respray an area make sure you read the instructions on the can for recoat sensitivity. Most oil based spray paints can be recoated within 1 hr or after 48 hours. If you try to respray an area that hasn't had enough drying time you'll start dissolving the previous coat and it'll wrinkle real bad.)
Sorry, but if you live in Chicago then you should wait for spring to spray paint. Both spray fumes and overspray are not a fun thing to have inside, and it really sucks if you get overspray on the wall of your dorm room (not that I'd know )
Spray painting indoors is not a good idea at all, unless you have a heated yet unfinished basement or a large open garage with a space heater.
You MIGHT be able to pull off a good spray if you keep both the paint and the parts you are painting nice and warm, take them outside and spray them, then immediately after take the parts back inside.
)Spray painting indoors is not a good idea at all, unless you have a heated yet unfinished basement or a large open garage with a space heater.
You MIGHT be able to pull off a good spray if you keep both the paint and the parts you are painting nice and warm, take them outside and spray them, then immediately after take the parts back inside.
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