Have you ever thought that painting on metal is a hard job? Maybe, you’re right. But to make this progress simple, you have to have some certain understanding about this field like what to do with acrylic paint or how to use acrylic paint on metal. Well, we’re here showing you how!
If you’ve ever wondered what to use to repaint or simply paint metal surfaces in general, acrylic paint can help. This kind of paint is very versatile, so it can be used for different purposes such as model painting, painting metalwork, and especially for artistic painting.
Now, let’s dive deep into acrylic paint and then painting on metal is not challenging anymore.
About Acrylic Paint
The way to become a professional who has profound knowledge about acrylic paint may cause you to be in hot water. So, what do you need to do first? Well, you need to know what the concept of acrylic paint is. Keep reading this article to get its basic information first.
What Is Acrylic Paint?
Acrylic paint is a high-quality paint with high coverage, good adhesion, and various colors. This kind of paint can stick on many surfaces and is completely harmless to our health. For that reason, many artists and painters prefer to turn their ideas into works by acrylic paint.
Acrylics are water-based, which makes them different from oil paint. They can be thinned and cleaned with water, so they are fully appreciated because of their outstanding features.
In general, acrylic paint dries quickly. If you want to work promptly, it won’t let you down. But the downside of quick-drying is that you can have difficulty in blending colors. The best way to remedy this problem is by using Open acrylics which are a slow-drying paint.
As mentioned above, acrylic paint is one of the most versatile mediums, for it can be easily used for a variety of surfaces. Depending on your needs, you can create different effects.
See Also: Latex Vs Acrylic Paint
Is Acrylic Paint Safe For Your Health?
The answer is definitely yes!
Acrylic paint is generally quite safe to use as it’s one of the least toxic paint. Because it is water-based, so it can be easily cleaned by water and soap without using any kind of toxic chemical. This is the reason why many people prefer to use acrylic than oil paint.
You need to pay attention to taking extra care of washing your paint brush. Make sure that you don’t dispose of acrylic paint in an area where it might seep into the groundwater.
Therefore you just need to be a little careful when cleaning your painting tools. For the most part, when you use acrylic paint with common purposes, it will be harmless to you.
How To Use Acrylic Paint On Metal Step By Step
Acrylic paint is often used on metal because it dries fast, wear-resistant, and its color will not fade even when being exposed to external factors. As long as you master your knowledge carefully before carrying out this task, applying acrylic paint on metal is within your grasp.
Here are some steps that you can follow to apply acrylic paint on metal in the most effective way. Let’s take a look.
Step 1: Clean the Surface on the Metal
Clean the metal surface which you will paint with alcohol wipes. Even if the metal looks fairly clean, don’t forget to skip this step. Then use a fresh cloth to give down the metal’s rub, clean off all loose paint and dirt on the surface.
Failure to clean properly the surface of the metal will make your job become such a mess. So, remember to do this step carefully; otherwise, the acrylic paint won’t stick on the metal and be peeled off quickly.
Read More: How to Remove Paint from Metal?
Step 2: Priming the Surface
When you paint metal with acrylic paint, you will need to use a primer in order to cohere quickly. You can apply the oil-based primer on the surface by using a paintbrush. Make sure that you chose a paintbrush with the right size for the object you are painting.
In addition, you will need to choose an oil-based primer that compatible with acrylic paint. Finding a primer product that specially made for the metal will best adhere to the metal’s surface.
Primer prepares your surface well as it helps to smooth out any color and texture left that you are unable to remove during the cleaning process.
Step 3: Allow the Primer to Dry Thoroughly
Checking particular information on the can for details as primer products vary from product to product. Generally, the average time is about an hour.
Remember that the acrylic paint will stick better and become more endurable if the primer is thoroughly dried. Be careful and conform to the appropriate time suggested for the best results.
Step 4: Start Painting the Metal
Using a paintbrush to paint the metal surface. As mentioned before, depending on what object you are painting, the size of the paintbrush you use will vary. You can even use a roller if your object is particularly large.
Firstly, you will need to apply one coat of acrylic paint then let it dry completely as you do with the primer. Luckily, acrylic paint dries very quickly so the entire job you need to do is just about one day if you time accurately.
Now, It’s time to apply the second coat of acrylic paint to the surface. The second coat will help the finished project have the best effects. Moreover, it also provides additional protection for the surface, and of course, the acrylic paint will be last longer on your metal.
Finally, What you need to do last is let the metal dry for 36-48 hours before using it. Believe us, the time you spend on these stages will soon pay off!
Tips For You
Until acrylic paint dries, it’s still water-soluble. At the same time, you should wash the paintbrush in the water or it will be dried immediately. So, don’t mind doing this step.
What may surprise you is that acrylic paint is water-resistant, which means you can apply multiple layers as you want to achieve various effects.
You should wear old clothes, gloves, and a dust mask while you work. These are the must-have items you need for your own safety. If these requirements are met, it’s high time for you to get down to painting.
In Conclusion
We believe that you can now make a decision quickly when it comes to painting on metal after reading this article. Acrylic paint is really a helpful choice to jazz up your belongings. And as you have grasped the basics of how to use acrylic paint on metal, the job will no longer pose any problem to you.
Thank you for your attention!
Peter Levick
ArchitectI am a licensed architect who is passionate about all things home improvement industries, I have been doing DIY painting projects and have developed lots of experience around home improvement over the 10 years.
