How to choose paint for plastic in spray cans?

There are probably a lot of decorative items made of plastic in your house. This modern and easy-to-use material has earned consumer recognition and is widely used in the field of renovation and decoration. But often, with active use of plastic parts, the paint layer can be severely damaged. The surface becomes cloudy, the color fades, and the paint and varnish layer may peel off and crumble.

The first step is to know what type of plastic your parts are made of, since the further choice of the properties of the dye and the technology of its application depends on the material itself.

• ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) - from it are made, cases of household and computer equipment, mobile phones and much more.
• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) - window constructions, floor coverings, children's toys and goods, some types of household containers.

These two types of plastics differ in that when they are painted, a prerequisite is the application of a primer. Its presence gives high-quality adhesion of paint to the surface, which excludes subsequent peeling and cracking. If you don't know what kind of plastic you are holding, there is a simple method to check.

Fill a container with water that will fit your plastic part (excluding large items). Dip the item into the water. If the plastic sinks, then no primer is required. You can apply paint directly to the surface. If your part remains welded, you will need to purchase a primer spray. Without it, the paint will not last long.

Spray paints are easy to use. You don't need special skills, training or additional expensive equipment. It is enough to adhere to the simple recommendations from the manufacturer.

The advantages of enamel also include:

• Smooth smooth surface. Modern spray heads are made in such a way as to simulate the torch of a paint spray gun. This allows you to achieve a uniform spray of enamel, due to which an even, smooth surface layer is obtained.
• Drying speed. Spray paint dries very quickly, which is an undoubted convenience, since you do not have to spend a lot of time on work and speed up drying with additional methods.

• Economical consumption. Balloon enamel is consumed slowly and one cartridge is enough for a large surface.
• Convenience of storage. There is no need to create special conditions for storing unused leftovers, pouring and carefully closing, as is the case with cans. The enamel in the cylinder is stored for a very long time and reliably.
• Large palette of colors and textures. This allows you to achieve great artistic expression and simulate many surfaces, for example, metal.

However, the surface of the spray coating is small. It is impossible to mix paints to obtain the desired shade. As a rule, there is a certain set of colors on sale, so it is not always possible to accurately match the tone of the wallpaper or window details.

Cons of spray paint:

• If the aerosol is brought too close to the surface to be painted, smudges may form on smooth plastic. To work with cans requires the acquisition of skills and dexterity.
• Large spray area. Elements for painting will have to either be dismantled or protected from splashes using film and special paper tape adjacent surfaces.

• Limited ink density. You will not be able to adjust the hiding power or transparency of the paint, you will have to work with the enamel thickness specified by the manufacturer.
• Temperature conditions of work. Painting of external elements must be carried out in warm, calm, sunny weather. In case of wind or precipitation, the result is unpredictable.
• Some paints may contain acetone and acetone derivatives. Be sure to study the composition and consult the seller on this issue. Acetone enamels can seriously damage plastic.

• Polymeric. Basically it is a high-gloss paint that combines the properties of both paint and primer at the same time. In addition, this enamel does not require the application of a varnish layer; it itself gives a high level of gloss on the surface. Polymer paints are both water-permeable and waterproof.
• Polyurethane. This enamel based on polyurethane resins has high wear resistance, strength and excellent gloss. The composition allows you to create a durable coating that is not afraid of daily friction, small impacts and sharp objects. This paint provides for the use of a primer and is suitable exclusively for application on rigid parts, since the paint layer has a significantly higher strength than plastic. Detachments are inevitable on items made of soft, bendable plastic.

• Structural. This paint contains special particles that create a textured surface reminiscent of semolina with different grain sizes. This property will successfully help to hide any plastic imperfections.
• SoftTouch. The paint allows you to create a pleasant velvety or velor surface. This type of coloring gives the product an expensive appearance and a pleasant-to-touch texture.

For painting plastic with your own hands, you can also use specialized car paints and primers.

• Base for varnish. This type of enamel must be applied to a special primer for plastic, which will increase its adhesion to the surface of the part. Finally, the area to be painted must be covered with an aerosol varnish. The base enamel comes in simple colors, as well as with metallic and mother-of-pearl effects, which allows you to transform interior items.

• Enamel with chrome effect. Allows you to create a surface close in appearance to chrome. The effect of a well-polished mirror, captivates with its beauty and looks expensive, at the same time, will not hit the budget.

• Aluminum effect paint. The enamel has a fine and dense grind of the dye, due to which the effect of the reverse side of aluminum foil is created on the surface. There is no specular sheen, but a soft, delicate glow is present.

Along with the base for varnish, paints with various effects are made for gold, platinum, antique silver or copper. They have the finest grind of the dye, due to which a reliable imitation of the precious metal is created.

• Vinyl paints. If you are a fan of interior decoration under the skin, then this paint is your option. Any plastic surface painted with vinyl enamel will look and feel as similar as possible to leather products.The advantage of this paint is plasticity and an increased level of adhesion, which makes it possible to exclude a primer. You can not be afraid of cracks and chips, this is out of the question.
• High temperature enamels. Of course, interior items can hardly be heated to temperatures that this enamel can withstand. But if you want to repaint or update the surface of an electric kettle, vacuum cleaner, plastic parts of a coffee machine that heat up in one way or another, then high-temperature paints will come to your aid.

Before painting parts, you must:

• clean the plastic surface with sandpaper with an abrasiveness of the order of 1500-200 grit;
• degrease the site of the intended application of the enamel with an alcohol cleaner using a lint-free cloth;
• before painting the main part, you should practice on an unnecessary piece of plastic: determine the pressure on the spray head and choose the optimal distance from the can to the surface.

You will learn how to paint the plastic yourself with a spray can in the following video.