How To Paint Plastic Effectively?

Plastics are among the most challenging materials to paint. It is hard to find specific paint designed for plastic surfaces. Additionally, paint doesn’t adhere well to the plastic’s surface. Nevertheless, there are some methods for painting plastic permanently. Below, we explain how to paint plastic and what materials to use for plastic painting.

How To Paint Plastic?

Painting plastic is more challenging than painting other materials. This difficulty arises from the tendency of plastic materials to repel paint. Consequently, when plastics with a previously painted surface are coated, the paint quickly enters the peeling process, and adherence becomes an issue. Therefore, when painting plastic, it should not be considered a straightforward task. Significantly more attention should be given to the preparation and painting process to ensure the paint adheres properly and does not peel off the plastic.

What Kind Of Paint Will Stick To Plastic?

Obtaining special paints for plastic can be challenging for many individuals. Finding a specific paint for plastic in your local area might pose difficulties. If you manage to locate it, your primary option should be to use paints explicitly manufactured for plastic surfaces. However, if this is not feasible, it is still possible to paint plastic with alternative paints. Regardless of the paint chosen for plastic application, careful and diligent work during the painting phase is crucial. Below, we outline the types of paints suitable for plastic painting.

What To Paint Plastic With?

• Special paints for painting plastic: We mentioned above that plastic is a very risky material to paint. Therefore, your first choice for painting plastic should be to use special paints for plastic. If you want to paint something very important to you, a good precaution would be to sand it or use a primer before painting to make it more durable.
• Spray paints: Spray paints are one of the best options for painting plastic. They are both fast drying and easy to apply. Suitable for small plastic toys, ornaments or children’s slides. However, it can be very uncomfortable to use indoors. Therefore, either paint outside or use a mask.
• Acrylic paints: Acrylic paints are very suitable paints for painting large-sized plastic materials. They offer an economical solution for painting large plastic parts. They often leave no brush marks, are easy to apply and have a large painting area. If you want to paint large plastic parts, general purpose acrylic paints may be for you. However, it is a good choice to sand the surface or use an acrylic primer before painting.
• Oil-based paints: Oil-based paints are one of the most suitable paints for painting plastic. However, many of them are glossy. This can leave roller and brush marks during the plastic painting process. It also dries late. It is necessary to wait at least 1 day between coats. If you want to paint plastic with synthetic (oil-based) paints, use an oil-based primer or sand the surface the day before painting. Oil-based paints become very hard and brittle when dry and may crack. They are therefore not suitable for flexible plastics.

How Do You Paint Plastic?

We have mentioned above which paints are suitable for painting plastic. If you are thinking of buying a special plastic paint, follow the application instructions. However, if you want to paint plastic using one of the other paints, we describe the painting process for each of them separately below.

Surface Preparation

Whichever paint you paint plastic with, surface preparation is very important. Preparing the plastic surface for painting ensures that the paint is resistant to friction and that the paint adheres well. So how do you prepare the plastic for painting?

1. Sanding the plastic: Sanding the surface of the plastic allows the paint to adhere much better. This makes the paint resistant to friction. It will not peel off easily. However, it is a good choice to use a fine sandpaper that will not roughen the surface.
2. Priming: Priming is one of the best ways to prepare a plastic for painting. But you must use the right primer. Plastic tends to repel primer as well as paint. Therefore, the primer you use should be of good quality. You can use a special primer for plastics, a general purpose primer, or a primer of the same type as your paint. But avoid using cellulosic primer with paint.

How To Paint Plastic With Spray Paint?

Spray paint stands out as one of the top choices for painting plastic. It’s possible to apply spray paint to plastic with or without using spray primer, though using primer significantly improves adhesion. Additionally, applying varnish after painting enhances durability. Here is a step-by-step guide to painting plastic with spray paint:

1. Apply one coat of spray primer.
2. Wait half an hour for the primer to dry.
3. Apply the first coat of spray paint.
4. Wait half an hour.
5. Apply the second coat of spray paint.
6. Allow it to dry for half an hour.
7. Apply spray varnish.
8. Apply the second coat of spray paint

If you think you have painted incorrectly, the article “how to remove spray paint from plastic?” may be useful.

How Do You Paint Plastic With Acrylic Paint?

Acrylic paints are highly suitable for painting large plastic surfaces and PVCs. However, it is still necessary to prime or sand the surface. Remember to choose general-purpose acrylic paints. Adding acrylic varnish after painting will significantly enhance durability. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to paint plastic with acrylic paint:

1. Apply one coat of acrylic primer.
2. Allow it to dry for 4 hours.
3. Apply the first coat of acrylic paint.
4. Allow 4 hours for the first coat to dry.
5. Apply the second coat of acrylic paint.
6. Wait 1 day and apply acrylic varnish.”

If you have made some mistakes when painting plastic with acrylic paint, the article “how to remove acrylic paint from plastic” may be useful.

How To Paint Plastic With Oil-Based Paint?

Use oil-based paints exclusively for painting rigid plastics. Apply one coat of synthetic primer one day before painting. Wait for 24 hours and then apply a second coat. “If you are thinking of painting plastic with oil-based paint, the article how to use enamel paint may be useful for you.”