Paint That Will Stick To Plastic

By | January 21, 2026

Paint That Will Stick To Plastic – Whether you have some lawn furniture that has seen better days or a used child’s toy, if you know how to paint plastic, you can give the piece new life (rather than saying goodbye too soon).

Plastic is one of the most difficult surfaces to paint because of its smooth surface, and plastic responds easily to heat by expanding and melting, so it is more prone to cracking or flaking over time.

Paint That Will Stick To Plastic

Paint That Will Stick To Plastic

By taking a little extra care, you can get a new paint job that looks great (and lasts a long time) rather than rushing through the process and jumping into painting.

Chunkies Paint Sticks

I painted my daughter’s plastic slide in a DIY Mid Century Play Set makeover that I made for her, and this plastic takes a beating from anything that might happen. It sits directly in the sun, so there’s a lot of ebb and flow and weather.

Plus, it’s outside in the winter and all the other elements, and the kids are sliding down and up almost every day. It takes some beating, but it’s easy to refresh the paint as needed.

And if you paint a plastic item inside or gently use it on a covered surface, you can imagine how long the paint stays put.

Spray painting is best done outside whenever possible due to fumes and overspray. Check the paint can for temperature requirements so it is not too cold for the paint to set properly.

Cotton Candy Glow In The Dark Paint

Lay down a sheet of plastic, or a large piece of cardboard to protect your lawn/yard – cardboard gets paint easily, so that’s what I usually use.

Paint tip! If there are areas you don’t want to paint (or you want to paint a different color), tape painter’s tape or put plastic around those areas and use painter’s tape to hold the plastic in place.

Although there are exterior paints that include a primer, if you’re painting plastic, it’s a good idea to use a specific plastic primer first to get the best adhesion. Do it after lightly papering and cleaning the surface, and applying light coats.

Paint That Will Stick To Plastic

Yes! Most paints will clearly state what materials they are intended for, but there are some that are specifically designed for plastics, so you will want to use one of those.

Flood E B Emulsa Bond Stir In Bonding Paint Primer Additive, 1 Gal.

Lines like Krylon Fusion, Rust-Oleum Universal, and Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch 2X Ultra Cover are some of the more popular options.

Using it dry first will remove any loose or flaking paint if the item was previously painted, and re-doing with soapy water will also remove dirt from the surface.

If the article is outdoor furniture, you may need some elbow grease to get rid of mildew or algae growth.

Since most plastic is smooth, you want to shrink it a bit to give the paint something to stick to.

Gallon Paint Paddles

Fine sandpaper will rough up a smooth surface without leaving visible sanding marks, so be sure to keep it on a smooth surface.

Now that your object has a hard surface, make sure to clean off all the sanding dust so that there is no barrier between the paint and the object so that it adheres well.

First use a dry cloth to get most of the dust and then use a wet rag with mineral spirits or isopropyl alcohol to catch the last particles.

Paint That Will Stick To Plastic

Lay your item down on your cardboard or tarp and spray with even thin coats of primer.

U.s. Art Supply Plastic 17 Well Artist Painting Palette With Thumb Hole 2 Pack

Continue walking in one direction in a tight zigzag pattern (don’t go back where you ran before). Allow it to dry completely according to the can’s instructions before continuing.

Paint tip! Spray a test spray first to make sure the paint is mixed well enough or hasn’t expired if it’s one you’ve had for a while. Sometimes the nozzles on spray cans can become clogged, which you can fix by removing the nozzle and soaking it in mineral spirits or paint thinner for a few hours before replacing it. If you start spraying your item right away, you may get a thick spray that you can’t adjust once it’s on, so it’s best to test it first to make sure it’s spraying to smooth and even.

Plastic isn’t absorbent, and it doesn’t absorb paint like most building materials, so you have to do multiple light coats to avoid leaks.

Be patient and do one light coat at a time, waiting for the proper dry time between coats according to the painting instructions, until your entire object is evenly covered.

Dixie Belle Slip Stick

Paint tip! Make sure you are not spraying too close! Hold the can 8-12″ away from the object and tilt down at a 45° angle to spray light coats.

You have it! Now you can be your own plastic painting expert and renew the plastic items in your home to give them a new life. no. Laura We have collected some of the best paints to meet the challenges of adhesion, coverage and durability for a range of specific applications in plastics.

When painting plastic, the strength of adhesion can vary greatly, so you will get the best results using a product designed for your application. We have collected recommendations from an initial review list for use in various projects. The best samples hit the mark for application properties, adhesion, durability and cost.

Paint That Will Stick To Plastic

Rust-Oleum Painter Touch Ultra Cover is a very limited choice for spray paint on many surfaces, including plastic. (Rust-Oleum American Accents is a similar paint with similar properties, if you want more color options.) The oil-based formula is made to resist chipping and adhere to a wide variety of surfaces such as plastic, wood, concrete, metal. , stone and ceramic without glass. Most colors can be found online for $4 to $6 per can, and economical six-packs are also available.

How To Choose And Use Painter’s Tape

Another DIY user said, “I like making furniture. I have painted many things using different paints, but so far this project is the fastest and easiest to complete. I used four cans and they covered all the angles.”

ColorBond LVP Leather, Vinyl & Hard Plastic Refinisher is an interior spray paint that gives you extra budget to restore or customize car interiors. The flexible coating resists cracking and peeling, and is available in over 90 color options to match most manufacturers’ interior colors. If you just want black, you might want to check out Landau’s SEM 15013 Black Color Coat. Most colors can be found for $15 to $20 for 12 oz. it can be.

One user said, “The ease of use and durability of the finish make this an essential tool when refinishing your car’s interior.”

Check out NAPA paint products for a great selection of DIY color matches for your car’s exterior, including plastic panels. Their quality paint can give you what you need to restore chips, scratches or entire body panels. Clear hard coat protects against corrosion, UV degradation and prevents future scratches.

Paint Sticks Bucket

If your local NAPA shop offers aerosol paint mixing services, you can fill custom aerosol paint cans with your manufacturer’s color by paint code or chip color match. The paint can be mixed in a two-part system to best match the color (you’ll need a base coat and a separate clear coat) or, for easy application, mix it with a one-part formula. Prices may vary depending on your choice and color, but expect to pay around $35 for each 16-oz. it can be.

For black exterior parts or bumper parts, you might want to check out SEM 39143 Black Aerosol Trim.

For test enamel 1/4 oz. The 1100 & 1500 series model paints come in a wide variety of great colors, as well as color sets for specific themes such as cars, airplanes and camouflage. So it’s great for plastic model projects and small creative needs. These paints contain fine pigments for smooth application, and the oil-based formula dries quickly and adheres to almost any surface.

Paint That Will Stick To Plastic

Individual bottles can be purchased for about $2 to $4 per half ounce. bottle plus shipping, or look for themed kits that include 10 or more colors and cost less than $20. Your local hobby shop will be your best bet to find a wide selection of colors or kits.

Marvy Uchida Decocolor Id: Solid Stick Paint Markers

Another user said, “Great product. I have been building models for many years, and I always try to use Testor products. The choice of paint colors is excellent.”

Rust-Oleum Specialty Plastic Primer is an oil-based coating that promotes adhesion and durability of your top coat. It’s one of the few plastics on the market that comes in a can so you can apply it with a brush or spray. It is recommended to use polypropylene, polystyrene, PVC, resin, fiberglass and hard vinyl plastics. It only comes in white. Prices online at most stores seem to vary from $17 to $30 for 32 oz.