Painting a plastic switch plate cover

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Hey all, I realize the subject matter is somewhat off topic but wanted to tap into the knowledge and experience here as it relates to airbrushing plastic.

Long story slightly shortened- just installed a slate backsplash in the kitchen as the little woman has been asking for one since we bought the house 9 yrs ago. Boy what a tiring maiden voyage it was and I ran into one snag i did not contemplate and had not planned for. Where the backsplash ends on one wall is right in the middle of a switch plate cover.

After I start tiling snug around the switch outlet it dawns on me that the whole switch cover will have to be recessed as 1/2 is over new slate tile and 1/2 is over the drywall. Naturally the nicer switch plate covers that the missus picks out (and rightfully so) are slightly bigger in dimension than the standard cheap plastic covers and the one in question won’t fit (of course it’s an odd ball dual on/off and dimmer outlet).

Bottom-line I have to work with the existing cover and try to paint it to match the new covers as closely as possible. It’s your standard white shiny pastic finish. The new covers are metal with a “oil rubbed bronze finish” but frankly are more copper looking than any bronze I have ever seen.

My idea was to spray the cover flat black and let it dry then find a copper color and thin it and brush it on leaving brush marks that will show the black underneath to give it that antiqued look in an attempt to duplicate the coloring on teh new metal plate covers as closely as I can.

  • Do you think the shiny plastic covers take paint well - should I prime first?
  • Acrylic vs enamel
  • Any other bright suggestions or helpful hints

http://www.lowes.com/pd_149302-77652-Z1768TR-EORB-N_0__?productId=1215023&Ntt=oil+rubbed+bronze+switch+plates&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_10_0__s%3FNtt%3Doil%2Brubbed%2Bbronze%2Bswitch%2Bplates%26page%3D2&facetInfo=

For a picture of what color I am try to replicate see link

Thanks - any advice would be welcomed.

Swede

2

I would give it a light buff with some fine grade sandpaper just to take some of the shine off (800-1200 grit maybe?) Prime it with a flat primer. Then get ur paint on. Final finsih (gloss or matt) is up to you of course, but make sure you clear coat it with something hardy (Hardier than future)

3

As a former painter I can state that oil based paints will stick to the shiny plastic switch covers. I would just use some model enamels that match what you are shooting for and then clear-coat with some rattle-can clear.

4

I’d first clean the plastic using lighter gasoline or something like that. Then your best bet would be to use plastic primer and then the automotive gray primer (both as automotive paint spray cans). Then you can use almost any paints you like, but you have to keep in mind, that you shoould also varnish the finished thing quite heavily, or the paint will quickly be worn down by constant touching. So you should use a paint that would be compatible with some clear coat. Gloss clear coat is a lot more resistant against human touch, so you should use that, then you can top it off with matt if necessary. Hope it helps, have a nice day

Paweł

5

I would use 0000 steel wool to knock off the gloss and spray it with Krylon Fusion for plastic. I would shoot the copper first and when dry shoot the black. Come back when dry and rub it with 0000 steel wool to expose some of the copper underneath. I did the same thing on a aluminum lamp using Rustoleum rattle cans and the wife loves it.