SpudFiles

I plan on painting a lighter (Zippo) but I don't know if the paint will stay on it or not. (It'll get played with a lot I bet)

Also, I don't know if the paint will stay or be damaged because it might get hot.



What I'm asking is what kind of paint should I use to paint it with and would sanding/clear-coating be necessary?

My Zippo looks powder coated, but it may be best to use some black(or whatever colour) zinc spraypaint as an under-coat. Its heat,rust and scratch resistant. But my Zippo from Italy after doing a few tricks the hinge became wobbly and it lost minor paint on the hinge. But I sent it in for a free service and they fixed it up minus the paintwork which they don't do. If I ever get another zippo I would get a normal silver/gold one as the paint is a pain.

Whatever paint you used will inevitably get scratched. I had a camo one, when it got scratched enough I sand-blasted it to bare brass

I don't envision my girlfriend doing any tricks with it. If it were my lighter, I would, but I have my own for that stuff. I just dont want the paint to feel really crappy and rub off under your fingers.

Yeah it may be best to use a undercoat of black zinc spray paint(very light otherwise it will blob) and then spray some powder-coat looking paint on to give it a better look. How about buying a emblem for it as well and JB-welding it on.

Why do you want to paint the lighter. I am sure that you can find any color of lighter even a camo lighter. You could try tape if you do not it to sratch off which will also give more grip

us sniper wrote:Why do you want to paint the lighter. I am sure that you can find any color of lighter even a camo lighter. You could try tape if you do not it to sratch off which will also give more grip

It's an present. Oh, I'm not covering a ligher in tape, that's stupid.

Yeah it may be best to use a undercoat of black zinc spray paint(very light otherwise it will blob) and then spray some powder-coat looking paint on to give it a better look. How about buying a emblem for it as well and JB-welding it on.

So mask off what I want painted and ghost on a coat of zinc spraypaint. Then when it drys paint on my main color? Should I clearcoat it to keep it from rubbing off or would that not do anything?

You could try to use some silicon spray paint which I use on my cannons to protect the paint as we don't have Krylon here. It smells like lollies but is known to slightly darken the previous layer of paint.

Are you going to JB on a emblem?

MrCrowley wrote:You could try to use some silicon spray paint which I use on my cannons to protect the paint as we don't have Krylon here. It smells like lollies but is known to slightly darken the previous layer of paint.

Are you going to JB on a emblem?

We have Krylon here, I know they make it especially for plastics, but do they have a type specifically for metal?

I don't plan on JB'ing an emblem on, I don't have an emblem. I hand drew what I plan on painting on it.

Yeah but over time the painting my get scratched from use...being in her pocket etc. Yeah im not sure if they have krylon for metals thats why I suggested that zinc spray paint which is rust,heat and scratch resistant.

You need enamel paint for metals, clean lighter with windex/ mineral spirits/preps-sol/paint thinner or gasoline on a clean rag and just wipe it down and let it dry, then paint it. If you want the paint to last, clear coat it with 3 thin coats allowing it to dry completely inbetween coats. That should do it.

Krylon does have metal paints; I believe they're called Krylon X-Metals. I used the green for my hybrid. If you put on a couple coats and wait for the cure time, it stays on. A few clear coats over it would protect it even more.

Modderxtrordanare wrote:I plan on painting a lighter (Zippo) but I don't know if the paint will stay on it or not. (It'll get played with a lot I bet)

Also, I don't know if the paint will stay or be damaged because it might get hot.



What I'm asking is what kind of paint should I use to paint it with and would sanding/clear-coating be necessary?

Your best bet will be enamel, it's the strongest type of paint you can get in a spray can. It also can hold up to pretty decently high temperatures. In any event, it will NOT LAST like a regular metal finish, obviously. Clear coat won't really help. But yeah, a tough enamel like rust-oleum would be the strongest, cheapest paint for it.

Cash, why do you think clear coat won't help make it last?

I clear coat all the xboxs I paint and the paint seems to last just fine.