How should i paint a spudgun?

[Velocity]

Here is my process, and it works really well for me

1) Sand the pipe down with a medium grit sandpaper, to take off any deep scratches, discolorations, etc.
2) Sand the pipe down with a fine grit sandpaper, to give it a nice smooth feeling.
3) Take a rag (I use a piece of a cut up white button down shirt), and use it to apply laquer thinner to the pipe. Rub the laquer thinner all down the pipe. After doing this, the pipe and fittings should have a dull clean finish. The laquer thinner does a good job taking off primer stains, if I remember correctly (haven't painted in about a year).
4) Take a spray can of paint meant for plastics, and apply a very light layer. If done right, there should still be some white patches, and even the part that is painted is not completely opaque. Wait 10 minutes, and do this again. After about 5 cycles, the pipe is perfectly opaque.
5) Follow this up with a spraying of a few layers of clear paint, for protection.

This process does take a long time, but works well for me. The key is to avoid paint runs. If you put too much, and a drip of paint appears, its basically ruined in my eyes. You want it smooth and even, so start with only a little bit of paint.

[bigbob12345]

elitesniper:Wow your lucky $10 is the cheapest I can find it auto stores sell it for like $15 a can.I dont get why because it seems in most places it cost $5 a can.

Edit :velocity I remember someone doing a test on gasolines effect on pvc and they used laquer thinner as another variable and it made the pvc swell a little and get softer.

[starman]

Wash the surfaces to be painted with soap and water and dry thoroughly. This should result in squeaky clean PVC

I couldn't find an orange plastic paint so I used Valspar white Plastic Primer...covers the printing on the pipe well. Allow to dry then use any standard cheap spray enamel paint...orange and many other colors readily available.

Carefully mask off your gun appropriately and paint as desired. Take your time, it will be worth it.

[Thursto]

I was told b a paint specialist, if i was to pant my *PVC Science Project* it'd work a hell of alot better if you ruffed up all the edges, and then sprayed with a spray paint that has like he primer crap mixed in.

[Wombat]

You can find vinyl dye at auto parts stores. It's used to re-color many parts of a car's interior. Here is a website- http://www.duplicolor.com/products/vinyl.html

[sjog]

Thank's WOMBAT!!!
It is worth a try for me.
Some of the other tips are good.Like the clear finish.

[jimmy101]

You can always just use PVC primer and paint the whole gun purple.

Just about any paint that says it'll work on plastic works fine for PVC. Just a couple things you need to do to get a sturdy coat.

1. Clean the gun well before painting. I prefer a green Scotch-brite pad with liquid dish soap (IIRC the green pad is roughly equivalent to 400 grit). Others use fine grade sandpaper with water or mineral spirits. Both work fine. This is the most important step in painting PVC. PVC is usually pretty dusty (it generates static charges easily and will attract dust like a magnet) and it also seems to be coated with a light oil coat from the factory. It doesn't matter what type of paint you use it won't stick to a hunk of PVC that hasn't been cleaned. After a thorough cleaning with the scortch-brite and soapy water the PVC will look and feel different than it did before the cleaning.

2. Make sure the gun is completely dry before painting. A little water in the joints will trash the paint coat around the joints, so let the gun sit for several hours at least to make sure it is dry.

3. After painting, let the gun dry for at least a couple days before any rough handling. A week or two is even better.

You can wipe the PVC down with a solvent but I find that soapy water works just as well and you don't have to worry about getting high from the fumes, damaging the PVC, or blowing yourself up.

[*5*STAR*GENERAL*]

yeah you can but use some kind of paint prime with alcohol so the paint will stick. try to use flat paint itt sticks more. if you want gloss use a lear coat of gloss paint over the flat.