Paint for plastics?

Ian

Ian

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Strange question I know, but someone here who's into modelling might know!

I'm building a project for uni which happens to be in a transparent plastic case, and it looks rather messy inside (covered in wires etc...).

Is there any paint which is easy to apply to a thin plastic (which will bend etc), rather like a coke bottle. Ideally it wouldn't be a spray, as I'm in a flat (so no garden).

Anyone got any ideas? :)
 
Ian, what about Airfix paint, or am I showing my age?

Alternatively, I am told that you can mix normal poster paint with something like PVA glue which makes it flexible and less prone to cracking.
 
I thought about that but I think it may flake? I know there are some paints especially for plastics, but they are all spray.

Actually, if I could find a black plastic bottle, that may do the trick!
 
I would have thought that the glue would have kept it pliable? PVA glue may not have been the right type, but the one I am thinking of is the stuff they give the kids to play with (not sniff!) The one that you can rub off your hands when they are dry, and they can take finger prints with it, so it must be flexible. (I don't think I'm losing the plot, but feel free to delete this message!)

Don't think I have ever seen a black bottle, but I will keep my eyes open for one!

Just being nosey, but what's the project?
 
Its an avionics system for a water rocket - just relays the height, speed, acceleration etc... back down to the ground. I've got it built now, but its just built in the nose of a coke bottle at the moment (just a prototype), but I was trying to make it a bit neater.

I'll have a look at the airfix stuff in the model shop in Manchester and see if it can do the trick :)
 
I see, I think there was something on Sky the other night about British teams building various rockets and they were talking about devices like yours. I seem to recall they were trying to get a GPS tracking device integrated so that they could find the rocket when it landed.

All far to clever for me! Glad someone understands it.:confused:

Good luck
 
Yeah, its quite similar to that :D Not using GPS in this one though, as they only go a couple of hundred meters :)

Cheers!
 
Ian Cunningham said:
Yeah, its quite similar to that :D Not using GPS in this one though, as they only go a couple of hundred meters :)

Cheers!
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Ian
Now your really talking in my language, go to a motor factor [PAINT DEP:]

And ask for a plastic coat sealer it comes in spray form or brush form, ask the advice of a paint technician I am sure they will help you choose the correct product, you can also get paint [spray] but it is better to seal it first, let it flash [dry] of according to the instructions and that will do the job, if it were a week day I would get the best make for you, I used to use base coat and lacquer over the sealer, made by valentine paints ltd there are a number of products/manufacturers so the choice is, pick the best.

;)
 
Well that was my speciality; :p I was the owner of a spray factory, although I was a Jaguar technician – bodywork/mechanics, I used to do powder coating/stove enamelling/plastic coating, but when it comes to painting plastics it is a different matter as you cannot put plastic through an oven at 400F whoops :D there it was gone.

Vinyl dye would peel of with what Ian wants to do.:D
 
itsme said:
Vinyl dye would peel of with what Ian wants to do.:D
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I don't doubt you're correct, but it's still what I would have suggested, rightly or wrongly.

I would have imagined that a paint that could handle vinyl flexing should withstand the rigours of being on a stiff plastic sheet?

Just shows ya how wrong a boy can be eh?

I really don't know.
 
floppybootstomp said:
I don't doubt you're correct, but it's still what I would have suggested, rightly or wrongly.

I would have imagined that a paint that could handle vinyl flexing should withstand the rigours of being on a stiff plastic sheet?

Just shows ya how wrong a boy can be eh?

I really don't know.
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You must seal it first!
Otherwise nothing will adhere to it, now take a car bumper for instance it is made of many different materials! But during the last 10-15 years the production is usually made of fibreglass or plastic-substitute, if you have to repair the aforesaid then it must be sealed after repair especially plastic, now by using what we call in the trade 2 pack which is a base-coat and lacquer, after sealing>base coat> then lacquer, which will then be flexible, but vinyl dye will crack? Even onto the sealer.;)
 
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