If you have a plastic surface, you might be worried about selecting the perfect paint to use on the plastic. You cannot use any regular water-based paint over your plastic surface. It will give you the worst experience and won’t stick to the plastic.
Since plastic is a non-porous material, you must use oil-based paint. This type of paint contains resins and sticks to the non-porous surface better. We will talk about one such paint that you can use everywhere.
Can you use enamel paint on plastic?
You can use enamel paint on plastic. It will stick to the non-porous plastic materials and last for a long time. Before that, your plastic must be prepared and free from dirt and dust. You also need to sand the plastic surface and make it suitable for the enamel paint.
Table of Contents
We find three different enamel paints that go with different surfaces. Let’s see if they can be used on your plastic and stick to that surface.
Enamel spray paint:
You can use the enamel spray paint on the plastic. It will work on the non-porous plastic and go for a long time.
You don’t need to worry about the enamel spray paint’s durability; instead, you need to prepare the surface well before applying the paint.
The preparation should include sanding and cleaning. Since the paint works on sanding, you must sand the plastic well. Then, it will be ready to stick to the enamel spray paint.
Acrylic enamel paint:
You cannot use acrylic enamel paint on plastic because it will not stick to the non-porous material. You can use concrete and hard surfaces. Another reason could be the water-based paint.
You cannot use any water-based paint over the plastic surface. It will not stick to the surface and will come off. Even the primer won’t help you paint the acrylic enamel paint over the plastic surface.
Rustoleum enamel paint:
The manufacturers specially design the Rustoleum enamel paint for the plastic.
So, you can use the Rustoleum enamel paint on your plastic surface without using any primer. You only need to clean the surface and get rid of the extra dust.
Then it will be ready to apply the paint. Even sanding is not mandatory for using this paint. If you sand the plastic surface, it will be a good thing.
Does enamel paint adhere to plastic?
The enamel paint does adhere to plastic because it’s oil-based paint. You can use the oil-based enamel paint on the plastic, which will adhere to the plastic. It has the strongest adhesive ingredients that will work much better on glass and plastic materials.
Unfortunately, you cannot use acrylic enamel paint or any water-based paint on the plastic. It will not stick to the surface and come off the plastic within a few days. Therefore, you must buy the oil-based enamel paint and apply it accordingly.
Before applying the paint, you must use sandpaper for sanding the non-porous plastic material. It will be a great job to prepare the surface well. Thus, you can let the enamel paint adheres to the plastic surface.
Can you use enamel paint on plastic models?
You can use enamel paint on plastic models. When you compare them to acrylics, enamels provide superior color coverage and a smoother finish. Even though these paints have dried, they can still be heavily manipulated, making them unique.
However, because of their pliability, they do not dry as quickly as acrylics and have a mildly unpleasant odor, which can be distracting. This is due to the turpentine base in the product, but it is still a trendy choice despite the odor.
3 reasons why you can use enamel paint on plastic
You will find three reasons why you can use enamel paint on plastic. Some will surprise you; others may seem the regular solution you can follow on every surface.
Oil-Based Paint:
Most enamel paints are based on oil, which means you will find oil-based enamel paint in the nearest hardware or paint shop.
Although water-based or acrylic enamel paint is available, oil-based paint is the main reason you can use it on plastic.
The oil-based acrylic enamel paint will stick to the plastic surface and give you the best glossy finish within a while. It will not come off, and you can use it safely.
Sandpapers:
Most non-porous plastic materials or surfaces can be prepared using sandpaper. You can buy sandpaper and sand on the plastic.
Therefore, it will be ready to stick to the enamel paint for a long time. That’s another reason you can use the enamel paint over the plastic.
Adhesiveness:
Most enamel paints are adhesive. You can use it to cover most surfaces, including metal, wood, plastic, and more.
If you go through the Rustoleum enamel paint, you will know it is designed for the plastic surface. It has the best adhesive ingredients to work best on the plastic.
How long does enamel paint take to dry on plastic?
Enamel paint can take a minimum of 24 hours to dry on plastic. After acrylic paint has been applied to enamel paint, it takes an average of 6 hours for it to dry. Compared to oil-based enamel paint, liquid enamel paint dries more quickly.
In most cases, a wet coating will dry in between 2 and 6 hours, depending on the temperature. Oil-based enamel dries in less than 12 hours when exposed to the air during the drying process.
Meanwhile, water-based enamel typically dries within four hours of being applied.
Because oils remain in the paint for several hours after application, oil-based enamel takes longer to dry. So, it will be better to wait for 24 hours after applying the enamel paint to your plastic surface. If you have any urgency, you should go for the enamel spray paint.
Since spray paint dries earlier than regular paint, you must use it to get instant or early results. The paint will stick to the surface and turn into a durable coat within two days.
How to use enamel paint on plastic?
You can use enamel paint on plastic by following the given tips and steps. If you follow them, you will paint the plastic perfectly.
Clean & Sanding:
You need to prepare the plastic first. The preparation will include cleaning and sanding.
The sanding should be done before cleaning because when you sand the plastic, you will draw the dirt and dust within a while. So, it will be better to sand the entire surface with high-quality sandpaper.
Only then you can clean the surface using dry clothes. When you remove the sanding dirt from the plastic, it will be ready to clean with damp clothes. You can also use hot water to clean the plastic materials deeply.
Buy the Rustoleum Enamel Paint:
You need to prepare the enamel paint. Before that, you need to decide to apply the oil-based enamel paint on the plastic since you cannot use acrylic enamel paint. Therefore, the Rustoleum enamel paint would be your best fit.
You should purchase the required enamel paint and prepare it following the manufacturer’s instructions. You should never try to use water-based paint on the plastic.
Apply & Dry:
After preparing and purchasing the oil-based Rustoleum enamel paint, you should start applying the paint with a paintbrush. You cannot do anything wrong with it; otherwise, the paint will destroy the plastic surface, and you will go through a lot.
Once you’re done with painting, you should wait for several hours to let it dry properly. Sometimes, it might take around 24 hours to dry from the inside.
How do you seal enamel paint on plastic?
You can seal enamel paint on plastic by applying a sealant or clear coat after the final coat of enamel paint has been applied to the plastic. You can also extend the life of enamel paint by sealing it after it has become dry.
If you leave it to dry, the sealant forms a clear thick film over the enamel paint, making the finish more resistant to factors that can damage it, such as moisture and dust.
Sealing enamel paint on plastic requires at least one coat of clear coat to be applied over the enamel finish before it can be protected. Generally speaking, it is best for you to use two to three coats of clear coats on the enamel before it is fully protected against scratches.
The fact that enamel paint on plastic does not always need to be sealed should be noted. It is very long-lasting to use paint with enamel, especially oil-based paint.
Final Thoughts
Although you can use the enamel paint on plastic after sanding the surface, you must buy the oil-based paint because you cannot use the water-based or acrylic enamel paint. It will come off the surface. Therefore, the Rustoleum enamel paint will stick to the plastic and last.