Spray Paint: Overview
Spray paint, also known as aerosol paint, is any kind of paint that is contained in an aerosol can. An aerosol can is a pressurized container that allows the paint to be applied to a surface in the form of a spray by pressing the valve button. Compared to traditional paint applied by rollers or brushes, spray paint is far more uniform and leaves an even coat of paint.
Spray Paint vs Regular Paint
Spray paint has several advantages over regular paint. Spray paint is almost always ready to use. Unlike traditional paint that comes in paint buckets and has to be mixed with thinners before use, spray paint can directly be sprayed onto the surface without being prepped and without the need for brushes or rollers. Also, unlike traditional painting methods, in the case of spray paint, there is nothing to clean up after use.
Spray paint is relatively cheap and you also do not need to invest in brushes and rollers which can cost a lot of money. Also, spray paint utilizes lesser paint to get the job done. In the case of paint applied by a brush or a roller, a portion of the paint sticks to the brush or is absorbed by the roller, thus causing a waste of paint. This is not the case with aerosol spray paint.
Spray paint is far more portable than traditional painting setups. All you need to carry around are the spray cans. It is far easier to learn to spray paint than to use a brush or a roller, which are both cumbersome and require skill and experience to use optimally.
Lastly, but most importantly, you can easily get a far better quality finish (more uniform and even coat of paint) using a spray can than you can ever hope to get with a brush or a roller.
Paint Plastic Like a Pro
You might have always wondered if you could spray paint those faded plastic chairs that are out there on the patio. Well, you certainly can. However, bear in mind that plastics are notorious for being some of the most difficult surfaces to paint – their extremely smooth and shiny surfaces and their chemical composition make paint adhesion an especially hard task to accomplish. Also, compared to most other materials, plastics expand and contract to a much higher degree. This invariably causes the paint to flake and peel off. That being said, by using the proper tools and techniques, it is possible to give plastic surfaces a beautiful and durable paint finish. Bear in mind that this process involves a lot of additional preparation.
The first step is to coat the surface generously with a high-adhesion primer. This primer will ensure that the sprayed paint adheres properly to the surface. There are also various types of primers and spray paints available that are made especially for painting plastic surfaces. The actual painting process of a plastic surface involves the following three steps:
1. Preparation
Mildew is the paint’s enemy. So, make sure to rid the plastic surface of any traces of mildew by brushing the surface with a plastic-friendly bleach solution that has been properly diluted with water. The usual ratio is three parts of water with one part of bleach.
After you have scrubbed the plastic surface to your satisfaction with the bleach solution, do not immediately rinse the surface. Leave the surface as it is for around half an hour, making sure to apply bits of the solution to the surface if it tends to dry out. After 30 minutes of waiting and observing, you can finally rinse the surface with tap water.
Next, make another solution by adding fabric detergent to warm water and using it to clean the plastic surface thoroughly. Never use very hot water for this purpose. Rinse the plastic surface again and leave it to dry on its own.
As an additional precaution, you can very gently sand the plastic surface with very fine emery paper. 200-grit sandpaper will work perfectly in this case.
Finally, use a slightly damp cloth to wipe away all the dust caused by the sanding and let it dry out completely. This is extremely important. Never prime or paint on a surface that is not bone dry. The tiniest bit of moisture left on the plastic surface is enough to mess up your paint job.
2. Priming
Before painting plastic surfaces intended to be used inside the house, your best bet is to apply a generous coat of a high-adhesion latex primer. It is even better if you can find a primer that has stain-blocking properties. Apply the primer just like you would apply regular paint and leave the surface to dry on its own. If the plastic surface is intended for external use, you will need to prime it with special plastic-only primers intended for external use. After spraying a uniform coat of primer over the plastic surface, leave it to dry on its own. Take special precautions to let the surface dry in a totally dust-free area.
Also Read: Top 10 Paint Manufacturers in India
3. Painting
This is the final and most important step. Select a totally dust-free area to paint the surface in. Even a tiny speck of dust is enough to ruin a perfectly painted surface. Now, spray an even coat of paint on the plastic surface and let it dry naturally. Apply more coats of paint to the plastic surface if required and then let it dry on its own in a dust-free area. For painting interior plastics, use acrylic spray paint from reputed brands. For spray painting outdoor plastic surfaces, use a spray paint that has been specially formulated to be used on plastics.
Spray Painting PVC Surfaces
The process of spray-painting PVC surfaces is very similar to that of ordinary plastic. The only major difference between the processes is that in the case of PVC surfaces, you will need to use even finer grit sandpaper to scrub and sand before painting. Your safest bet is to use 220 grit sandpaper. Also, for spray-painting PVC surfaces, especially the ones on the exterior, it is best to use 100% acrylic spray paint.
Precautions While Spray Painting Plastic Surfaces
1. Before spray painting, the actual surface, try out the paint on a piece of paper. This way, you can detect any defects in the paint or the spraying mechanism without harming the plastic surface.
2. It is imperative that you hold the aerosol perpendicular to the plastic surface in order to avoid spillage.
3. If you are planning on spraying more than one coat of paint, it is necessary to tack-coat your first coat of paint so as to give the second coat a good surface to adhere to. Repeat this step for further coats of spray paint.
4. Never apply one heavy coat of spray paint. Instead, always go for multiple coats of thinly sprayed paint.
5. Never forget to shake the paint aerosol before and periodically during the entire painting process.
6. Never paint on a hot plastic surface. Allow it to cool down naturally before applying spray paint.
10. When painting plastic chairs, tables, or other similar pieces of plastic furniture, always spray paint one side of the surface, let it dry a little, and then turn it around to spray another surface. This ensures that there is no dripping of the paint.
Happy Painting!
FAQs: Spray Paint
Q. Is a primer required for spray paint?
Ans. The use of a primer depends on the surface to be painted. However, for plastic surfaces, it is always best to use an appropriate primer, not only for a better finish but also to ensure that the print job is durable and will not peel off.
Q. Is spray paint water-resistant?
Ans. Most of the spray paints commonly available online or in the market are either water-repellent or water-resistant. Some more expensive spray paints are waterproof.
Q. Is spray paint durable?
Ans. While spray paint itself is usually durable depending on its quality, the durability of any paint job has more to do with the process of application of paint rather than the quality of the spray paint itself. As long as you follow the basics of spray painting and do not cut corners, you will have a paint job that will last you for years, if not decades.
Q. How do I get a smooth spray paint finish?
Ans. You can obtain a smooth spray paint finish by following these basic steps. Do not cut corners in preparing the surface. This is important. Wash, sand, and dry the surface properly before spray painting. It is always best to use primer paint on the surface to get the best results.
Primers even out microscopic undulations on the surface and provide that extra-smooth finish. Apply multiple coats of spray paint in order to get added depth to the finish. More coats also mean that the painted surface will be better protected from the elements.
Remember that even if your first coat of paint looks bumpy and rough, it is always possible to fix it by lightly sanding the surface with extremely fine grit sandpaper or a sanding block.
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