Painting PLA

Any do's and don'ts when painting PLA 3D prints?

The things I would to hear people's experiences on are - what types of paint are suitable and what are not (I was thinking of aerosol enamel) and because PLA absorbs water should I aim to totally enclose a print in paint?

Thanks to everyone who is further down the 3D printing road that I am (ie most people)

Nick

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 18/08/2021 20:54:47

I know much less than you, Nick … but hopefully, one day, the matter will be of interest to me : So I thought it worth a browse.

**LINK**

https://all3dp.com/2/beginner-s-guide-to-painting-3d-prints-pla-abs/

MichaelG.

I bought some Plasticote acrylic spray cans from Hobbycraft thinking it would be good, unfortunately it wasn't! While it adheres well the primer is difficult to flat and the (silver) top coat was very soft. Just picking the part up left fingerprints even after a good few hours.

Maybe I did something wrong, I followed the instructions though, but found it to be much harder to spray than normal car (Halfords) paint which I will try next time.

Haven't needed to spray anything else since as I bought some silver PLA and the Plasticote stuf went in the recycling bin...

Nick, might help to know what the purpose of the painting is eg are you wanting to get a smoother surface for use as a pattern or just decorative in which case is it just going to sit on a shelf or be subjected to weather, oil, etc.

Use Halfords plastic primer as first coat, then Halfords primer/filler if required, then almost any compatible paint for colour coat, I'm fond of brush-on acrylics for my railway buildings, but other paints will also work. Top coat of clear lacquer if the item is going to spend any time outside.

A nameplate for an IC engined loco - so will be subjected to weather (but only as long as I will!) but it will be located where solvents, oils etc will not be an issue.

It will be the final product not a pattern.

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 19/08/2021 10:59:02

Thanks Gordon, that's what I'll do next time...