Painting Case Screws

[bobross419]

I've got a surplus of case screws that I'd like to paint to match the scheme I'm working on for my new build. I have been researching quite a bit, but I don't know what the best way to paint the screws would be.

I have read that if you heat the screws up to 450-500 in the oven then paint, the paint will get really hard and resist the screw driver scratches a little more. If this is true, should I primer them? Primer before heating? After? Both?

 

[aigomorla]

how about just getting color annodized thumb screws?

 

[bobross419]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
how about just getting color annodized thumb screws?

Don't have a lot of money (I know they're cheap), but I've got the paint already and a butt ton of scews, not to mention that any anodized screws I get may not be the same shades that I'm looking for. I'd really like to paint the screws I have and I did consider going with anodized, but chose this option instead. Thanks for the advice though aigo

 

[aigomorla]

problem is when u paint them.. and u do screw in, the threads will rip the paint.

Its gonna be hard to paint them.. that's why people just get them annodized instead.

use a spray paint from a distance... And you could try to cook it.

Try not to get too much on it, otherwise the screws will be too big to fit in the hole due to the paint.

 

[Zepper]

I'm thinking you'd have to lightly etch (acid, sand, etc.) the plating on the screws for the paint to get a good grip then use a reilable brand of paint that's designed for metal.

.bh.

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: bobross419
I've got a surplus of case screws that I'd like to paint to match the scheme I'm working on for my new build.

What's the scheme? Happy trees?

I wouldn't worry about it too much, you can just retouch by hand after the screws are in place, yah?

 

[bobross419]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
problem is when u paint them.. and u do screw in, the threads will rip the paint.

Its gonna be hard to paint them.. that's why people just get them annodized instead.

use a spray paint from a distance... And you could try to cook it.

Try not to get too much on it, otherwise the screws will be too big to fit in the hole due to the paint.

Won't be painting the threads, just the heads... will shove them into a piece of cardboard so the threads don't get paint on them. Mostly concerned with the screw driver/driver messing up the paint.

Should I cook before or after I paint? And should I use a primer? I've got plenty of these things so I'll probably do a test run and see what happens with each if no one knows the best way.

Originally posted by: zagood
What's the scheme? Happy trees?

LOL nope, Yellow with Purple. Based on my dream Corvette, but since I won't be able to afford a 1969 Corvette with an Aluminum 427 painted Daytona Yellow with a Royal Purple interior I'm doing it up on my case

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: bobross419
Won't be painting the threads, just the heads... will shove them into a piece of cardboard so the threads don't get paint on them. Mostly concerned with the screw driver/driver messing up the paint.

That's a very sensible thing to do - only worry about painting the parts that are visually accessible once the screws are in place on your rig.

Originally posted by: bobross419
Should I cook before or after I paint? And should I use a primer? I've got plenty of these things so I'll probably do a test run and see what happens with each if no one knows the best way.

Cooking before won't hurt, basically "cooking before" is done to vaporize any oils (your fingers) that might be on the metal or any other organic contamination that might have contaminated the metal surface.

You could accomplish the same with rigorous physical wiping using soapy water and then after a thorough rinse us an IPA soaked cloth/rag for final cleanup. Just be sure and wear neoprene or vinyl gloves so the IPA isn't transferring oils from your hands back onto the screws (which will then be left behind as residues when the IPA dries).

Likewise if you back them before painting, basically do everything you can to minimize contaminating the surface as the paint will not adhere well wherever there is surface contamination in the form of organics.

The question of primer really depends on what paint you are going to use. Is your paint intended for application to metal surfaces? And does it state you should use primer? If it plainly states you should use primer then your answer is yes, or if your paint does not explicitly state it is for use with metal surfaces then you are going to need a metal-surface paint primer.

This is just to ensure your paint doesn't simply bubble off the screw heads over time, let alone worrying about immediate scarfing and scratches that the screwdriver will impart.

As for the screwdriver what you want to do is use a sacrificial buffer material between your metal screwdriver and the slots in the screw-head. Something like a paper lining or wax paper or a few layers of saran wrap, basically you want to effectively create a temporary poor-mans rubberized screwdriver tip. It still won't be perfect, you'll still need to be gentle with your pressure and rate of rotation to ensure you don't cut thru the buffer material and scrape the paint on your screw heads.

I haven't done this with hand-painted screws, but I do this technique when installing things around my house that involve screws that have nice finishes (bronze, etc, as well as painted) and it works good enough for those applications, but no telling how much better of a job the manufacturer did in those cases with getting a toughened finishing surface on those screws.