21 replies to this topic

[ORHISSY]

Ayo!!
I was wondering, is there a specific way to paint your nerf guns? Or, is there a specific type of pain you need to use? I am just soooooooooo bored of the boring yellow/black colored guns.
Thanks!

[n-strike]

Ayo!!
I was wondering, is there a specific way to paint your nerf guns? Or, is there a specific type of pain you need to use? I am just soooooooooo bored of the boring yellow/black colored guns.
Thanks!

No, and no.

[CROW]

Well, for black paint, I know you have to boil down electrical tape, then add a mixture of 70% water and 30%Gatorade, filter through a straw, and paint on... Nah, but seriously, why not search it?

[Thomas]

Ayo!!
I was wondering, is there a specific way to paint your nerf guns? Or, is there a specific type of pain you need to use? I am just soooooooooo bored of the boring yellow/black colored guns.
Thanks!

No, and no.

Quit posting, it's never constructive, and your wrong. Some people sand their guns lightly, and then wash it with warm soap water before painting. That's just what I've heard. And use even, light coats.

[telekinetic]

Krylon fusion on parts you're going to touch, like cocking handles and triggers, and then latex based paints on parts you want to look super smooth, but don't need to be as durable.

All spraypaints, no primers neccessary for either.

[KyleDarklighter]

I really depends of what look your going for. If you just want to have a different color scheme then the Krylon Fusions are good paints. Sanding is a good thing to do since most plastics have a smooth coating to them. I would suggest you also use a high gloss clear coat on it as well this gives a good shine and another layer of protection. If your going for a realistic look to it then apply a silver or other metalic coat first. Use very thin coats or this stuff will run like mad. Then you can aplly you black coat. If you spray a thin enough layer the metalic will show through in places. If you want more highlights just sand the edges of parts that stick out. Good luck.

Garrett

[Thom]

With Krylon Fusion, does the original unpainted color affect the final painted color? Does it make a difference if you put on more coats?

[ORHISSY]

Thanks everyone for all of your suggestions.
The next time that I go to home depot or something i'll try to get some nice paint to make my guns look GHETTO!!

[CaptainSlug]

I don't like Krylon fusion. It really won't last and changes the surface texture of the part you paint. Really won't hold up against prolonged contact with skin. IT IS NOT A VINYL DYE. It's just a pray paint with surfactants that are specially formulated for plastics.

If you want to recolor your gun and NEVER HAVE TO PAINT IT AGAIN there's no better option than vinyl dye. I made a few guns for some LARP participants and painted them using this product. Even after 6 months of use there was no chipping, fading, or wearing of the color. This stuff is more permanent than permanent marker since it penetrates and recolors the surface of the plastic.

It doesn't require sanding or priming. Only basic cleaning of the surface is needed. Dries enough to be handled in 10-20 minutes. Should be applied in two or thee light coats to prevent discoloration and over softening of the plastic. Works on Acrylic, Polyethylene, Polystyrene, ABS, Polycarbonate, Polyester, PVC, and Vinyl.
Available at any auto parts store.

I've only had some difficulty using it on recycled injection molded polyethylene (a silver plastic with a wavy coloration and a very glossy surface). Issues was solved by sanding the part with a 300 grit sanding sponge and then applying 3 light coats.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 22 December 2007 - 08:21 PM.

[nerfnerd88]

Im thinking about painting my longshot white and black. Do you think I could just use house paint. I dont realy want to sand or layer anything. Just paint right over it.

[PC III]

Do you think I could just use house paint. I dont realy want to sand or layer anything. Just paint right over it.

Sanding helps, and by ``house paint`` do you mean like you would paint a wall with? If so then no.

[ORHISSY]

Hey!
You guys are saying this stuff about "lightliy sanding" the gun. When you say this do you mean literally putitng sand on the gun, using sand paper on the gun, or do you mean something else?
Thanks!

[sistermol]

You are a dumbass.
Lightly sand means to sand it down a little with sand paper.

[M30]

You are a dumbass.
Lightly sand means to sand it down a little with sand paper.

That was a little unnecessary; however, he's right.
I believe that's what they mean by "lightly sanding".

[keef]

If you use vinyl dye you won't need to sand at all.

I use Krylon Fusion and a matte finishing coat and it great for grips and parts that you touch a lot.

[Omega]

I'ma be straight with you:

Listen to CS. That's all I got to say. Vinyl dye works wonders. It's fantastic, especially when compared with Krylon. Just wipe 'er down, let 'er dry, paint 'er up. Permanent, that's all there is to it.

[Thom]

I seem to recall that vinyl dye does not work well on painted surfaces, including some parts of Nerf gun surfaces. Would this mean that I'd have to remove existing paint from a Longshot before using vinyl dye on it, and if so, how should this be accomplished?

[Forsaken angel24]

I can also vouch for Vinyl dye. I have held Griffins Black Longshot and God damn is it smooth and nice to handle.

During my recent move I threw out 6 cans of Krylon Fusion. I knew from now I am going to use Vinyl dye.

[agentM192]

Coming from personal experience, testors paint can wear off very easily if the surface is not sanded as well as any other paint I have used on plastics.

[CaptainSlug]

I seem to recall that vinyl dye does not work well on painted surfaces, including some parts of Nerf gun surfaces.

There are no surfaces on the longshot that are painted. I've painted quite a few of them using vinyl dye.
MOST of the colorized areas on Nerf guns are accomplished by applying a screen print in the mold prior to injection, injecting a different color into a certain section of the mold, or using vinyl dye (surprise). The base material of the different color areas is the same.
I have only had trouble applying Vinyl Dye to extremely glossy plastic surfaces because the texture causes the dye to bead up and prevent it from soaking into the surface layer evenly.

Vinyl Dye is just that, a dye. It isn't making a new layer on-top of the material. It is instead penetrating the surface and recoloring the plastic itself.

[Thom]

That's a surprise to me, but certainly a welcome one! If I can't find the right color locally, do you have any online vendors to recommend?