Spray painting plastic is hard, this is the best primer I have found and the tests I did to back them up. please support our channel - / stiltbeaststudios or buy some sweet Merch... teespring.com/...
Everytime I am unsure about something I check youtube and sure enough, stiltbeast did a video 6 years ago. Your channel is like an encyclopedia for haunting.
The "Purple Primer" is essentially "Acetone" which PVC makers recommend for priming PVC. The purple coloring is for building inspector's benefit. It's an indication that the PVC piping was primed before the bonding solution/agent was applied.
Caution ! The purple PVC primer is a great bonding agent! .. However if you are going to spray paint a white or lighter color the purple color will bleed up through the paint and leave a splotchy purple cast in your finished paint, Even with numerous coats of paint the purple will reappear. Oatley does make a clear PVC primer that works very well and won't bleed through your finished paint.
I use rubbing alcohol to clean the surface first. When dry then I prime with Rustoleum Self Etching Primer - Gray. Then what ever Rustoleum 2X color I need. Finish with Rustoleum Matte Clear Coat. I have camo painted all my pellet rifles, shooting benches / tables (folding tables which are plastic). I have also painted T-Fal frying pans, these make excellent cheap plinking targets. Any paint I used without the self etching primer would flake off in big chunks when struck with pellets. This stopped when i switched rustoleum self etching primer. I know its a bit off topic, but the point Im trying to make is this Self Etching primer is awesome on plastics and tough as nails. I don't have to repaint my plastic surfaces anymore due to normal wear and tear. Great Video! :)
Chemist here with a few years coating chemistry experience. Never though of purple primer for polyethylene especially HDPE. Makes sense. Solvent softens HDPE and let's materials penetrate the polymer network. I looked at ingredients over 10 years ago and, back then, listed a chemical used to bond scratch resistant coatings to polycarbonate eyeglass lenses. So it makes sense for purple primer to help bond paiit to plastic. Now I have a resin shed converted to home office that needs its roof painted and this looks better than anything made by paint companies.
people are looking for an adhesion test , not a wire brush scratch test because any coating in gonna get scratched from using a steel wire brush on it , even a 5000 dollar factory automotive paint job is gonna easily get scratched from using a steel wire brush on it. he should have tested it with using his fingernails or cleaning it to see what the results of that would be because that would be the most likely thing to come in contact with most surfaces . but contact with a wire brush is not common so this video was kind of useless .
This actually makes me super happy to see. I did so much sanding of pipes last year to paint. I was so afraid it wouldn't hold up through storage. I feel so much better knowing I took the time that they may make it through.
Loved this video! As an automotive painter I always sand and never paint anything shiny. I use a ready to spray adhesion promoter when painting non steel.
@@RocketPunchHero1 about a 116$ a gallon for Transstar brand. I scuff or sand first then shoot a coat of promoter on through an hvlp( paint) gun or airbrush for small parts.
@@swingbelly not that ive seen. There is a an adhesion promoter in a spray can made by UPOL to be sprayed before shooting bedliner down. I haven't tried yet but I.might buy a can and test it. Never paint anything shiny though! That's the best advice, sand ot first for a strong mechanical bond.
MEK is a amazing chemical. That is one of the chemicals in purple primer. I believe in the raw form it has been banned. Engine (enamel) paint or high temp (grill paint) work amazingly well. We used to paint the rims of our Vw with it and it held up the best. I painted a old milk can with engine paint and it has been in my yard in the rain and sun daily for 30+ years and its still looks red and shiny.
Main solvent in pvc primer is acetone. Fast acting solvent used to soften, clean and prepare plastic. Nothing of adhesion is left behind. You are painting chemically treated raw plastic. Purple is mainly a visual indicator. Once opened, they both quickly disappear from the can. Even with the top on. Makes it hard to keep on our trucks.
Thank you Allen. Since I just got into lots of crafts 3 years ago this is going to help me so much. You and Shannon stay safe. Stay blessed. Love and Hugs to you both.
I'm curious if you've tried a flex test. My disappointment with spray-painted plastic, especially thinner plastic, mostly stems not from abrasions but from flaking when the plastic flexes. Anyway, I love seeing experiments like this. Thanks!
Kudos to presenter. So many amatuers are SO BAD at presenting otherwise great information but this video was to the point, well thought out, and presented very well. GREAT JOB! 🥳
Awesome info, thanks Allen! Any reason why the first half of the video uploaded flipped horizontally? Everything is backwards. I do think this video shows us more of how desructive your thumbnail is rather than how effective a primer can be!
Thank you for this video! I'm making a wrought-iron fence for Halloween decor with pvc pipe and I wanted to give my paint job the best shot at sticking. One question though: before painting, how long can I let the purple pvc primer sit before it would become useless?
I am upcycling polypropylene feed bags making tote/grocery bags. I am trying to paint some. Wondering what you think about primer/paint for this project. I’m not having great performance with my few methods I’ve quickly tried. Thank you
Thanks so much for doing this. I've used spray adhesive, and didn't have much luck either. Sanding was my alternate, and I hated doing it. I will use the purple primer on my next project. Thanks again; you're awesome!
I am thinking of painting a home depot animatronic stormtrooper to make a shadow trooper. What primer and paint should I use?? I was thinking a 2000 grit to prep
Just a better production value, better lighting , more close-up would make this a great video. The last test was marred by glare. Up close is needed. thanks for some useful info however!
That video was really good .im using different types of plastic for my dragons primers are so important to get right before spraying. Thanks Allen I like the purple suff
Haven't looked recently, but they used to sell untinted PVC primer. They started making it purple so plumbing inspectors could easily tell primer had been used in construction. Also, you can get the primer in a spray can now, more expensive, but I know you weigh cost vs ease vs time too. You may also be able to use it through an air gun, but I don't know, it is quick drying so it might clog up quickly.
I have plastic trim on my sorento that was scuffed and took away the texture and had to replace a few pieces. What I did was to remove the trim and make a block from 2×4 to support the back side.then with a piece of the old textured trim 2"×6" glued to a radius on another 2"×4 .using a heat gun and heating the trim (I practiced on the old peice) I was able to transfer the texture to the damaged trim by pressing and with a roll motion using it as a sort of die,make sure to also put a champher on the edges.i then (using the clear primer ) painted it with flat black from the auto paint storei its holding up great.it takes so time to get the texture right but with some practice on the old trim,with different heat and pressure methods it can come out prity good.also for small spots I used a plywood backing on a smaller die using vice grips.id like to see a expearamint with that.any other methods you come up with.thanks for the great info,if been searching for a good adhesive to hold the paint,I think you nailed it buddy.😉
Would like to try the purple primer trick to my kayak. I'm curious if you could top coat the rustoleum 2x with another paint that is submersible. Thanks for the video I've been searching forever to find some way to paint polyethylene
I've used the 3M spray adhesive to get spray paint to adhere to plastic wrap when making noodle roots and vines. Works pretty good. Paint hasn't scratched off yet and it does get a bit beat up with setup and tear down every year, but that was on plastic wrap and not on HDPE/PVC plastic.
I plan to paint a beverage cart. It's in a bit of rough shape so I'll have to sand for sure. I'm curious how this will hold up over time with putting ice in it and pulling/pushing drinks in/out of it...🤔 Is there a waterproof sealer I should use?
Hey great info! My situation might be a bit different. I have 8-9, two inch risers with brass ball valves coming up in 75 foot or so intervals along my wood line permitter around my house. I live in a very fire prone area. I need to protect these little “mini hydrants” in case SHTF from the UV to act as a last ditch potential defense. Yea this will be damn futile in a real full on crown fire….) but I also want to use them as occasional irrigation…. But my question is that wouldn’t the heavy application of PVC primer weakening the pipe enough to possibly compromise the strength of the pipe as opposed to say doing a light to moderate sanding job? I like the easy quick way but I have a lot already invested in building these “hydrant stations” with multiple brass ball valves, strapping to the 4x4s out of concrete, obvious PVC pipe and labor and don’t want to have to redo it in a few years due to the high UV we have here in Colorado where I live at 7000 feet which is pretty severe. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated ! Cheers , Chad
yeah this is for prop fabrication- in most plumbing applications you do not paint the pipe, so thats not the intent of the video. you could be correct but ive never tested either for pipe psi afterwards.
This was great!!! Did you ever do a video on tinting the purple primer? I would be VERY interested in that! Painting plastic is a huge part of theater and always a challenge.
I just mixed some very dark Minwax oil-based stain with a half a can of purple primer and coated a 10" length of 1.5" PVC. I'll let you know how it does and if it seems to work I'll decipher specifically what stain I used.
I've read that to spray on plastic your supposed to sand first then clean with mild soap and water Then supposedly use rubbing Alcohol to ensure the surface is very clean then you use a acrylic type primer But I've not seen any spray on undercoat which I'm assuming you do not need to use an undercoat unless anyone else can tell me different
is there a difference if craft paints were used instead of spray can paint? i'd be grateful if you also test on store bought skeletons or other props made with the same crappy plastic alan, you are a genius, love everything that you do, especially when $ are taken into account. no one does it better :-)
For aging "skeleton" plastic, a lot of people have luck with the gel-based wood stains. The gel-based stains also work on cling-wrap used in corpsing. Of course, that doesn't give you quite the range of colors and finishes that you'd get from paint.
@@haywardhaunter2620 thx for the info ... i like painting my skeletons with fluorescent/neon black light reactive paints but unfortunately the slightest bang & the paint comes off :-(
Nicely done, I have been a user of a scotch brite before with a rag of denatured alcohol before I hit any plastic with paint ...just to knock a little of the gloss off ..............great video , right to it and thanks for the patience to wait 7 days .... have a super week !
I have a project where I will be painting plexiglass panels in a small Chapel. If I sand it with 150 then use a matte medium and a gesso will this work ?
New Test Variables: 1) Pressure Washer Test (15° nozzle @ 1,2, and 3 ft. and other relevant settings for item's use specifics) 2) Fade/UV Resistance Test (direct sunlight for 8 hrs. for 1 month. Time permitting, a 6 and 12 month followup short video of results) Possibly add followup results of other items tested in a 'followup video' with items tested at different time intervals. This video was great. Good Job and thank you for the time and effort you spent on making it.
Old video, but Flame treating plastic works well. You use a propane torch with a a wide nozzle and a soft flame. The idea is to just “kiss the surface” without melting, moving the flame quickly. It should look like you did nothing to the surface when you are done, maybe a little soot left behind. It essentially releases free radicals on the surface of the plastic which will grab onto paint and or adhesives. It’s what the experts in the plastic manufacturing world use to treat next to impossible to bond plastics like HDPE/ LDPE.
3M maked #80 for plastic but adhesives are not primers. You should of used a plastic primer bare and over each of uoyr primers and trien POR 2k urethane paint. How to paint HDPE: Wear gloves and a resparator, not just a dust mask. Mask of all areas not to be painted. Remove all oil and fingerprints with Acetone or MEK. Do not use Turpentine. 1. Using a green scotchbrite pad, dull the HDPE plastic. Sand in circles. 2. Clear untinted PVC Solvent wait 30 minutes 3. Second coat of PVC Solvent. Wait 30 minutes 4. Spray paint plastic primer lighter than final color, Rustoleum Plastic Primer. Light coat. Wait 6 hours 5 Sand any rough spots or runs with 320 grit. 6. Spray paint plastic primer lighter than final color, Rustoleum Plastic Primer. Medium coat. Wait 6 hours. 7. Sand with 320 or 400 grit. 8. Using an airbrush or fine spray paint gun, not a spraycan, Apply Clear POR epoxy paint, thinned. Medium coat. This provides a surface any paint will stick to.But it must be a continous coverage, not spotty. This will prevent deep scratches. Wait 12 hours. 7. Sand with 320 or 400 grit to remove gloss. 10. Paint with your favorite spray paint. Repeat coats until all sanding marks dissappear. 11.. Using an airbrush or fine spray paint gun, not a spraycan, Apply Clear POR epoxy paint, thinned. Medium coat. Never have to pint it again. Else instead of Clear POR epoxy paint you can use POR colored Epoxy paint or for a rubbery look use POR POR 2k urethane paint. Done
I've been trying to paint Polypropylene plastic eggs for an easter diorama I'm making for the last 2 days and have learned the hard way that the paint just peels right off. I tried some sanding, but it's pretty unappealing for what I'm working on. I'm going to pick up some purple primer tomorrow and see how it goes. Thanks for the video!
@@StiltbeastStudios Unfortunately the purple stuff bled through the white primer I was using even with several coats. I put another color over it and it looks a little better, but It seems sanding may be my personal best option. It's hard to do on a giant egg though :D
I've heard they make spray paint specifically designed for plastic. What if you did a test with the following four on, let's say, a faded deck storage box. 1) No primer, just the spray paint for plastic. 2) Sanding and then the spray for plastic. 3) The PVC primer and then the plastic specific spray paint. Then lastly, 4) I saw on another video that you have to first wash the deck box with soapy, sudsy, water, wipe it down, apply paint thinner and let it dry. Then spray with spray paint meant for plastic. I'm curious to see if a spray paint designed for plastic works better with a prepping stage or without.
What king of paint I can used for PVC.? I’m try to painting a pvc backdrop in gold rose? Absolutely already painted, but the paint come out. I’m would like to paint i gain. Thank you.
I have a 55 gal., blue plastic drum that I am making into an airplane-style trailer to pull my dogs behind my electric bike or my lawn tractor with. I used a plastic adhesive before primering but it did nothing and the paint easily peeled. The Oatley PVC primer and cleaner product looks like it may work okay, but I am wanting to use an enamel to paint the thing two different colors. I will tape off the sections which are different colors, but I don't want the edges to peel on me when I remove the paint. I am not keen on the rattle can paints and I want to use my HLVP gun, anyway, as it has remained in the box for about a year, now. Any rate, I didn't see the purple color when you applied that PVC primer and cleaner. Is it clear, as every time I use that blue stuff, I get it on my hands and look really stupid for a day or two before it wears off. ;-) I wish you had done up a plastic drum/barrel in your experiment, as they have multiple scratches in them and the plastic in them is not as smooth as the Home Depot buckets are. I don't want to fill with Bondo or filler or anything, so any rough scratches in the plastic will simply be part of the thing when I finish. It may give the trailer character marks, right? ;-) Thanks for the video. It really helps as I already wasted a lot of time and money on other paint materials which were bad results for this project.
if the paint sticks to the spray adhesive and the adhesive sticks to the plastic, then it is a primer. ya gotta think past what it says on the can. in a lab or factory yes things would have been done differently. Im just a dude in a shop.
@@StiltbeastStudios Thinking you are smarter than the manufacture and dozens of engineers will only lead one to an early grave. While I get your point a primer and a glue are not the same. Primers are removable. Glues are meant to be permanent. I can mis-use a wrench as a hammer but it is still a wrench and now possibly a broken wrench.
Would suggest the test we did at the cabinet shop. Apply your top coat let it cure the cut a checker pattern into it and lay piece of masking tape down and yank it off.
@@StiltbeastStudios people are looking for an adhesion test , not a wire brush scratch test because any coating in gonna get scratched from using a steel wire brush on it , even a 5000 dollar factory automotive paint job is gonna easily get scratched from using a steel wire brush on it. u should have tested it with using your fingernails or cleaning it to see what the results of that would be because that would be the most likely thing to come in contact with most surfaces . but contact with a wire brush is not common .
need help. I used a cleaning chemical on my vinyl fence and left shiny streaks and browned a bit. how would you take that. I didn't use it on the whole vinyl fence. could I use your methods?
Thanks for this test and video. I'm working on a community art project PVC board and my students will use acrylic paint once primed. Do you think that will work?
Can I ask you what would be the best way to paint plastic pallets that I want to use as a walkway or extra sidewalk that can also hooks up to weather extremes and or power washing once in a while? I know I could use wire wheel over the top to give pain something to bite into the plastic pallet. And then seal it after spray painting with some type of sealant so paint doesn’t wear away? But theee really isn’t anything out there on this
this is a mythical hope lol. I mean you could rhino liner them and that would do it- but no spray paint will survive powerwashing or foot traffic on plastic- you might look into agraco specialty coating for the plastic- but cost wise why not cover them in 1/4" plywood and paint that?
I wonder how they do on bending tests. I spray paint plastic bottles for a number of things and they do fine until the plastic bends for whatever reason. Paint pops right off in big flakes which then disintegrate like burnt paper. One time I did give a layer of water based acrylic paint to an ice cream bucket and then spray painted it and it seems to have done a lot better, but I did loose the even, glossy finish that all the others have.
I’m trying to paint a plastic light RED… I tried krylon stained glass spray paint… it came out BEAUTIFUL-- but it peeled right off!!! What did I do wrong?!?
Nice to see that someone didn't edit their vid. What's with the bassackwards ness? Luckily I read and speak bassackward. BTW, good all around vid. Yes, I still gave you a thumbs up.
Wow didnt know the purple liquid can b used for paint primer....my kid has a prject n this ibfo is very helpful .....let se how this wotks with acrylics ...thanks
Wanting to spray paint my kayak. I'm thinking sanding and purple primer. Lots of items to scratch it out there, plus drag marks on the side, I just know it's going to come off the normal way. Just not sure what size of the primer to get. Time to check out good top coats. Thank you for this informative video!
I want to paint my black window plastic louvers w I sanded them I'm using 2x ultra black semi gloss primer and paint all in one is that good or should I prime with purple pvc first?
spray adhesive as a primer for painting HDPE surfaces you want to reset to default color by simple scraping or maybe pressure washing🤔? Also could make giant scratch off ticket things.
