How to Paint Plastic
how to paint (or re-paint) a plastic item properly
Servings 1
Cost $15
Ingredients
- fine sandpaper
- scrub brush
- mineral spirits or isopropyl alcohol
- rags
- plastic-specific primer
- plastic-specific spray paint
Instructions
- Step one: Clean off the surface with a scrub brush. Using it dry first will remove any loose or flaking paint if the item has been painted before, and going over it again with some soapy water will remove dirt on the surface as well. If the item is outdoor furniture, you may need a little elbow grease to get off areas that have mildew or algae growing.
- Step two: Sand your item with fine grit sandpaper. Since most plastic is smooth, you want to rough up the surface a bit to give the paint something to stick to. Fine sandpaper will rough up the smooth surface without leaving visible sanding marks, so make sure to keep it to a fine grit.
- Step three: Remove sanding dust. Now that your item has a rougher surface, make sure to clean off all the sanding dust so that there’s no barrier between the paint and the item so they can properly adhere. Use a dry cloth first to get the bulk of the dust and then use a wet rag with mineral spirits or isopropyl alcohol to trap the final particles.
- Step four: Paint with primer. Lay your item flat onto your cardboard or tarp and spray it with thin even coats of primer. Keep going in one direction in a close zig-zag pattern (don’t go backwards where you already sprayed). Allow it to fully dry according to the can directions before proceeding.
- Step five: Spray paint with your final color. Plastic isn’t absorbent so it doesn’t soak up paint like most materials, so you really have to do more coats of light coverage to avoid drips. Have patience and do one light coat at a time, waiting the proper dry time between coats according to the paint directions, until your whole item is covered evenly.
Notes
How to Paint Plastic Painting Tips:
- If the item is something that is handled or sat on, wait several days to let it totally cure before using.
- If you feel like there’s a slight roughness to the paint in spots, you can use an extra fine sandpaper to gently smooth out those spots in a light circular motion when the paint is 100% dry and then wipe the paint dust away with a dry and then a wet cloth (just wet with water).
- Make sure to shake the paint can every so often to keep it mixed evenly.
- Once you are down to the end of the can, don’t use the very last of the paint. It tends to come out chunky near the end, so just leave the last bit in the can.