Airbrushing on Plastic

[hinddee29]

Hi. I was wondering if any of you have ever tried to Airbrush on plastic.
A buddy of mine wants me to AB a simple design on his quad(atv). I know
you have to use special paint. Just need some info on how you all would
prep, Ab, and seal it. Thanks


Shane

[Maryl Lehman]

Hi Shane! When I was painting with lacquers I painted on several vinyl tire covers, and also a plastic radio cover for a motorcycle. I had to add a "Flex Agent" to the paint, to make it flexible. But I haven't done anything like that since I switched to urethanes. You could check with Jeff at United Sales in Massillon---maybe he would know what to use. Tell him I sent you! Or if there's an automotive paint store in Orrville, check there. I doubt you'll be able to use waterbased paints though.

Hey, check your regular e-mail! Plans changed for Friday eve.

Talk to you soon!

~Maryl

[hinddee29]

Hi Maryl,

Thanks I will check around. I ask Penny also and she said useing paints that
they use for RC's. I'm going to look into that also. The thing is what ever I use is going to have to be real flexible. The plastic on them move alot. I don't know It might not be possible to do it for them. If they are going to be riding all the time.

Shane

[REBEL]

(after wiping it down with wax & grease remover) ruff it up with #80 grit first,
Then shoot a catalyzed primer-surfacer,(3M # 05826), and block sand with #400 grit, then lacquer prime and resand with #400, then start painting.(with flex agent)

[Penny220]

OK, sorry I'm late, I emailed my brother to see what he uses on his RC's. They use "Lexan Paint" Prep with steel wool. They like the non-water based paints best. The cars they use are Nitro and it doesn't permeate as bad with the oil based paints.

The paints are made to twist and turn and dent and....you get the point. They pretty much become one with the plastic. They are also made to handle the fuels that are used in the cars which are by far harsher than gasoline.

I hope this helps.

Penny

[hinddee29]

Reb, and penny, Thanks this helps alot I'm going to see if any one around
here sells this Lexan after I get off work. Thanks again.

Shane

[hinddee29]

Penny, I went to a hobby store today where I live and they had some of this
paint. The thing is from reading on the can Lexan is a type of plastic. It has to be sprayed from under the body of the R/C cars. The guy said that to because they are clear bodies. I'm going to do a search on this. Polycarbonate is this just plain old plastic? Could you get some more info from
your brother on this from his end. Does he paint on top or under the body?
Anyway I did a test piece some plastic. I just sprayed it on, no primer. Well
I can scratch it off with my finger, but I bent it and stuff. I had no cracking.
So I'm going to try a piece with a primer coat, and a clear coat and see what happens.
The brand is Pactra racing finish. The had little bottles I thing they were 1oz.
for 2.99, and 3oz. spray cans for 3.99 so the price isn't as high as I thought
it would be. I guess I'm just going to see what other are out there and how
they differ from each other.
I'd like to go this route because I really don't wont to have to buy auto paint
right now that's way out of my price range.

Shane

[Penny220]

Lexan is a "type" of plastic. You bought the common brand of paint from what I can tell. Did you buy "oil" based or "water" based?

If it doesn't work, I don't know what to tell you. The only paints that are going to stand up to the flexing of an ATV aren't going to want to bond. The paints that will bond won't stand up to the flexing. ATV's get a lot of abuse. Even if you find somthing that is going to work, what's to prevent the scratch on the paint? Any paint you use is going to have to go un-cleared or else use a clear that is the same as the paint. Race cars went to vinyl so that they could easily repair the body damage on the cars for this very reason.

I'm sorry to say, I think painting an ATV would only be a waist of your time. No loss with the paint though, custom painted Lexan bodies are a good seller. :) I've been thinking about trying a couple myself.