Issue Painting Rubber

[Aradun]

My EC-17 holdout blaster received some light sanding to remove burrs and to file down the seam from the casting process. It’s pu rubber. There was also a shade difference from the blaster and the scope.

 

I used a new can of Krylon Flat Black spray paint on it cover up the sanding marks and create a uniform color. The only problem is that the blaster is tacky to the touch. It’s been a full 2.5 days since it was painted.

 

Does anyone have any ideas on what the issue might be and how to correct it?

 

 

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[Retrofire]

Did you use a primer? Normal sprays can be reactive against a rubber base without a primer base coat.

You also may need to use a rubber compatible paint like Plasti-Dip and I know Rust-O-Leum makes a rubber compatible paint as well. You can also use acrylics.

[Chopper]

Hey Dennis, I'm super sorry to say this but you really can't use Krylon paint on flexible rubber resin -- the paint isn't formulated for it. Generally, you'll get reactions similar to the one you're encountering, which I suspect is that the paint isn't curing. Based on past experience, it's probably going to remain sticky for quite a while.

The other issue that you could run into would be that the paint would start flaking off as the rubber flexes.

You can use acrylic paint on rubber, and that's the ideal paint to use for flexible materials, such as rubber or HDPE, but acrylic also doesn't bind to the rubber material.

 

[Aradun]

Thanks guys. 

 

Did you use a primer? Normal sprays can be reactive against a rubber base without a primer base coat. You also may need to use a rubber compatible paint like Plasti-Dip and I know Rust-O-Leum makes a rubber compatible paint as well. You can also use acrylics.  

 

 I should have known better! I did not prime it.

Hey Dennis, I'm super sorry to say this but you really can't use Krylon paint on flexible rubber resin -- the paint isn't formulated for it. Generally, you'll get reactions similar to the one you're encountering, which I suspect is that the paint isn't curing. Based on past experience, it's probably going to remain sticky for quite a while. The other issue that you could run into would be that the paint would start flaking off as the rubber flexes. You can use acrylic paint on rubber, and that's the ideal paint to use for flexible materials, such as rubber or HDPE, but acrylic also doesn't bind to the rubber material.

 Sorry, my mistake. It wasn’t Krylon. It was Rusoleum painter’s touch, which is a paint and primer, but I suspect it has the same issue as you described for the Krylon paint.

 

I’m guessing I’ll need to remove the paint, in which case what is the best way? Sanding or some other alternative. Please say there’s another alternative, pleeeaase!

 

Once the paint is removed should I just let it be or should I use a primer and Plasti-dip?

 

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[Chopper]

Yes, it'd be about the same reaction for Rusto vs Krylon rattlecans.

Quite honestly, I'm not sure what you could use to remove the paint that wouldn't attack the rubber resin as well. Typical methods to remove enamels, like Rusto and Krylon, would be thinners, acetone, or oven cleaner.

Problem is, I think those options would all wreck the rubber resin.

Your blaster is from DVH right? Let's check with Lou -- @Darth Voorhees what do you think?

[Chopper]

Ok, small update -- Lou said that he's going to do some tests on some bad casts to see how some paint removing solvents react with the rubber. If you can wait until tomorrow or so, he said he's gonna drop by with the results, once he's back on a computer.

[Aradun]

Ok, small update -- Lou said that he's going to do some tests on some bad casts to see how some paint removing solvents react with the rubber. If you can wait until tomorrow or so, he said he's gonna drop by with the results, once he's back on a computer.

Awesome! Thanks Corey for going the extra mile here and thanks Lou[mention]Darth Voorhees [/mention]for being willing to potentially sacrifice some bad casts.


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[Dart]

For future reference, if you wanna paint rubbery things, an easy thing to do is get some acrylic paint and some liquid latex, mix them and you've got paint that'll stick.

Also, I've been seeing in Michael's a brand of latex paint, so that could be an easier choice.

[Chopper]

I heard back from Lou:

He said you could try wiping the blaster with a paper towel saturated with acetone and that might remove the rusto paint. Acetone didn't seem to affect the rubber when wiped with a paper towel, but he also said don't soak the blaster in an acetone bath. 

Best give it a shot at least. 

 

[Aradun]

Thanks Corey. I don’t have any on hand but will pick some up tomorrow and give it a try. I’ll be sure to post up my results. I’ll PM Lou too to let him know and thank him for going through the trouble of testing things out for me.

I’m still kickin myself in the pants for such a knucklehead move. Thanks again for the assist!

[Aradun]

[mention]Chopper [/mention] [mention]Retrofire [/mention] [mention]Dart [/mention] [mention]Darth Voorhees [/mention]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I really appreciate the guidance and help on this one. Lou’s advice to use a paper towel soaked in acetone worked like a charm. All the paint was removed and the blaster it is as good as new. Lesson learned and that blunder will never be repeated. Thanks again everyone!