Anyway, right from the start, I would define the entire painting process as an all-or-nothing situation. In other words, you either do it carefully, exactly as it should be done, or you’re going to ruin the whole thing right from the get-go. In my opinion, painting is something where there’s no room for error, and I would advise everyone to first practice on some old parts, and then slowly, as your skill improves, move on to the real thing. That’s exactly how I learned to paint, I didn’t just wake up one day and start spraying. Yep, you should know that you’re going to need a fair amount of patience.

This tutorial will cover painting plastic parts, but the same principles can be applied to metal surfaces as well. Without further ado, let’s dive in…

Once your parts are completely dry, the next step is to apply plastic primer. The primer acts as a base layer that bonds firmly to the plastic surface, dries quickly, and allows the paint to adhere well. If you skip the primer, which I strongly advise against, you risk the paint peeling, and the painting process itself will be much harder. You can get primer in a spray can, I don’t have a specific brand to recommend right now, but the important thing is to just buy a “plastic primer”. Apply it in two coats, waiting about 5 minutes between them. Some people also have a habit of applying a clear coat as a protective layer after the entire painting process is done, but I personally don’t do that.

A golden rule of spray painting is to keep the can about 20-30 cm away from the surface. Any closer, and you risk applying too much paint; any further, and the paint won’t adhere properly. Another crucial tip is to spray in smooth, continuous motions, either top to bottom or left to right. If you can’t easily rotate or adjust the piece you’re working on, make sure to position yourself so you’re always facing the surface straight on. Before you start, shake the can vigorously for a couple of minutes and do a few test sprays into the air to clear the nozzle. Finally, always wear a protective mask so you don’t inhale the fumes.

To make the whole process easier, I highly recommend using a spray can trigger handle. The spray can simply snaps into it, giving you far more precise control over the paint application and making it much more comfortable to hold. You can usually find these in local hardware stores or pick them up on the cheap from AliExpress or Temu. Since they aren’t the most durable things in the world, I’d suggest buying two or three as backups in case parts snap. Another key detail is your spraying motion. You should never just hold the can in one spot while spraying, because you’ll ruin the finish in a split second. Instead, apply the paint using exclusively smooth, fluid motions from left to right. Try to avoid vertical movements, as it’s much easier to lose control of the paint that way. If needed, just adjust your body position to keep your hand moving horizontally.

At the very beginning, it takes a little longer for the first coat of paint to bond properly with the primer, but that’s perfectly normal. Apply the paint in thin coats, little by little, waiting a few minutes in between <while shaking the can>, and continue until the entire surface is fully coated. When you’re done, let it dry completely for at least 8 hours, then wash it again with warm water and dish soap, using only light and gentle sponge motions.

Painting and drying should be done exclusively in an enclosed, well-ventilated space. Don’t even think about painting your parts outdoors, because dust in the air and insects might quickly ruin the whole thing. Keep in mind that this is really important, so make sure to find a suitable space. As I mentioned earlier, the full drying process takes at least 8 hours, but I personally like to let everything sit for 12 hours just to be safe.

When picking out spray paint, try to buy high-quality cans, and pay special attention to the nozzle. The default nozzles that come with the cans can sometimes be pretty low quality, spraying unevenly and leaving droplets of paint on your surface. So, it’s a good idea to get some high-quality replacement nozzles if needed.