Plasti dip is a safe and unique way to cover something for protection or just to change its appearance. But can you paint over plasti dip to get the desired color? What happens when you do so? Here is a complete guide about painting plasti dip.
Can you paint over plasti dip?
It is entirely safe to paint plasti dip. But sometimes, plasti dip can make something less shiny than before after peeling the plasti dip. Washing will bring the shine most of the time. Often, paint makes the plasti dip hard to remove from a surface.
Plasti dip has many advantages in different situations. Mose people use the product to make a protective layer over their car paint or car rims from scratches, snow, and weather.
Many people are very passionate about their car, and they want to try different things on their car to change the look. Plasti dip is something they can use on their vehicle without a second thought as it’s super easy to peel off when they get bored of it.
But what if you take one step further and paint over plasti dip? You got to be careful and sure before painting over the plasti dip you applied over your car. Let me explain why.
When you air dry plasti dip, that’s similar to a rubber coat. As we know, rubber is flexible and also responds to heat. Paint can be a wrong choice for long-term use.
When the temperature rises, rubber or plasti dip coat expands, but the paint does not expand like rubber, so in about one or two months, you will notice cracks on the color, and the paint is coming off.
However, if you want to paint something that stays indoors at a constant temperature, painted plasti dip will last longer.
Painting plasti dip is easy and looks good if you can paint it properly. But don’t expect it to last long. You can not remove the paint from the plasti dip, which means you will have to remove the plasti dip to get rid of the damaged color.
Another essential fact is that it becomes tough to peel off the plasti dip once you paint it. The paint can work as a hardener. You may have to work on peeling for 1-2 days to peel off the plasti dip without proper equipment.
Now let’s go through some of the paints and their behavior over plasti dip.
Spray paint:
Spray paint is the easiest way to paint over plasti dip. But you will need to apply the color appropriately. Coloring is an art, and patience is the key to perfect color.
We will discuss the painting ways in the letter section of the article. Like most other paints, spray paint will not last long over the plasti dip.
Regular paint:
Regular oil-based paints are not suitable for painting plastic dip. Oil-based paints work actively to harden the plasti dip. Moreover, the color comes off quickly. Peeling off the oil-painted plasti dip can be a nightmare if you don’t have some friends to help peel off the paints.
Acrylic paint:
It is possible to color plasti dip with acrylic paint. The paint will not make the stain harder, but the pain will come off if the plasti dip comes in contact to heat for long.
Gloss paint:
Plasti dip will hold up with gloss paint. But should you paint gloss paint over your car? The answer is no. The gloss quickly fades away within a short time.
Clear coat paint:
You can also use clear coat paint over plasti dip, but like all the colors, they are not long-lasting when used over the car or outdoor stuff.
Does paint hold onto plasti dip? Can you paint over plasti dip wheels?
Most of the paint holds onto plasti dip. I should say almost any color works on plasti dip. But as we mentioned above, the paint will not last over plasti dip much longer. It should stay about six months indoors if you regularly use the thing.
But paint over plasti dip will last about two months on the outside. When the paint and plasti dip contact the sun and weather, the color gets damaged and comes off.
Painting over plasti dip used on the car wheel rims is possible, but the paint goes bad quickly as the wheels get hot and cool down more frequently. Moreover, the wheels can contact small stones, dust, and wind.
If you don’t expect the color to stay longer, you can use paint over plasti dip. Note that, without the color, the plasti dip should last at least three years.
Can you paint plasti dip with a brush?
You can paint plasti dip with a brush. Plasti dip is similar to the rubber object, and most of the painting methods will work over it.
However, painting with a brush is more challenging than spraying. You should know the basics and have some painting experience to painting with a brush. If you are new to painting, first try to paint on a similar surface to get the basic idea of painting.
However, we recommend choosing spray paint if you have a lot of areas to cover.
What happens if you paint over plasti dip?
Painting indoor objects covered with plasti dip should be fine and not create many issues. But most people use plasti dip to protect the paints or parts of their cars.
And when you choose to paint plasti dip over your vehicle, you should be mindful. Here we are explaining what happens if you paint over plasti dip.
The paint looks great:
At first, the paint looks great if you paint the plasti dip with proper technique and patience. Plasti dip works similar to rubber and holds on the color very well.
The paint starts to crack and fade:
Within 1-2 months, the paint starts to crack as paint does not expand like plasti dip. If it is an indoor object, the color should last six months, and then the paint will fade afterwords.
Note that damaged paint on the plasti dip looks horrible and can not be removed easily.
Removing the plasti dip:
When the paint goes bad, you will have to remove the plasti dip with your hand and nails. Plasti dip is harder to remove with paint on it.
You can use some chemicals to clean the plasti dip. Be careful to use harsh chemicals and a sharp object to remove the plasti dip.
How long to let Plasti Dip dry before painting?
You can start painting over plasti dip after six hours of applying it for the best result. However, it is possible to paint plasti dip right after it dries, but it will not last long, especially outside.
You will need to apply 3-4 coats of plasti dip, and it is necessary to wait 30 min between each coat.
Similarly, if you can apply 2-3 layers of paint, you should get a neat and long-lasting color. Do not paint over a thin coat of plasti dip. Color naturally makes the plasti dip hard and harder to remove. A thin layer of plasti dip is even harder to peel off.
How to paint over plasti dip?
So, you decide to paint over plasti dip? No worries, we are sharing some useful tips you will need to complete the project easily and, importantly, avoid future issues. A thick layer of plasti dip is suitable for coloring. Here are the steps
Applying plasti dip for painting:
If you want to paint over plasti dip, you should apply plasti dip with thick layers. First, clean the area carefully with water and completely dry the surface.
Now, apply the first coat of plastic dip from about 20 cm away. The first coat should be thin.
Now wait 30 min and apply a second coat. Repeat the coating process before you get a decent coat over the surface. Wait 6 hours before starting painting.
Painting:
Before starting the paint, wash the surface with water and dry it. After that, apply a thin coat of paint first and wait for drying.
Spray paint bottles work best to paint a plasti dip surface. After drying, apply second and third coats. After painting, wait at least 48 hours before using the painted thing.
Thick coats will be easier to peel off. Make sure to dry the surface nicely. The peeling process will be more complicated if moisture is left under the plasti dip.
Final Thoughts
Painting plasti dip over a car or outdoor object will not last more than two months and is hard to remove. Sometimes a shiny surface may look faded after removing plasti dip. By washing the surface, you can get back the shine again. Color over plasti dip lasts about two months.
I am an automotive enthusiast and have been interested in cars since I was a little kid. I have worked in the automotive industry for many years and have extensive knowledge of vehicles and their engines. I am a father of two and I love spending time with my family.
Read more about the author here.