Painting PVC Pipe???

Museum_Fab_Omaha · Mar 25, 2015

I have about 60 Linear ft of white PVC pipe and several elbow fittings to paint hopefully without a lot of prep work, (meaning I would rather not sand the whole surface of the pipe.)
I was hoping I would be able to just wipe them down with an adhesion promoting solvent and go directly to paint. This is for a kids exhibit and the two exposed ends will receive some wear and tear.
Any thoughts on:
-Adhesion solvents
-Direct to plastic paint
-Bonding primer with topcoat
-Behr Premium jokes

Sorry if this topic has been covered in an other thread... my search didn't find anything useful.

Thanks...

JourneymanBrian · Mar 25, 2015

wash it with ammonia+ dishsoap, scrub with a nonwoven sanding sponge, let sit 10 min, then rinse with water. After that you can paint it with just about anything. Primings not a bad idea.

bbair · Mar 25, 2015

Wipe it off and apply a binding primer.

Gough · Mar 25, 2015

We've done a handful of displays for our area science museum. We do a quick wash with detergent and a 3M pad, an acrylic binding primer, and an acrylic topcoat. For a little extra protection, we've added a coat or two of water-borne poly on some pieces.

PACman · Mar 25, 2015

Museum_Fab_Omaha said:
I have about 60 Linear ft of white PVC pipe and several elbow fittings to paint hopefully without a lot of prep work, (meaning I would rather not sand the whole surface of the pipe.)
I was hoping I would be able to just wipe them down with an adhesion promoting solvent and go directly to paint. This is for a kids exhibit and the two exposed ends will receive some wear and tear.
Any thoughts on:
-Adhesion solvents
-Direct to plastic paint
-Bonding primer with topcoat
-Behr Premium jokes

Sorry if this topic has been covered in an other thread... my search didn't find anything useful.

Thanks...

Oh sure. Take all of the fun out of it!

I have had painters use the cleaning solvent that they recommend before gluing it and it has worked fine. Although it would be expensive on something that large. I'm not actually sure what the solvent is, but it might be acetone.

ejs · Mar 26, 2015

http://www.kilz.com/primer/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=974ad6ea3996c310VgnVCM100000176310acRCRD

Andyman · Mar 26, 2015

No big deal. An adhesion primer and paint it.

PACman · Mar 26, 2015

ejs said:
http://www.kilz.com/primer/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=974ad6ea3996c310VgnVCM100000176310acRCRD

Read the application spec's on this. pretty much everything he wants to avoid in the first place.

Jazz_Painter · Mar 27, 2015

PPG has a product called breakthrough that is really adhesive to various surfaces. It's not cheap, but you wouldn't need to apply a primer, just basic cleaning prep (there's a tsp ecological that doesn't need rinsing) and maybe light sanding for the luck

I would strongly consider looking into this product : http://www.ppgporterpaints.com/products/specialty-exterior/break-through-interior-exterior-paint

They don't say painting PVC per say so I would counter verify with a paint rep to make sure 100%.

PACman · Mar 27, 2015

Jazz_Painter said:
PPG has a product called breakthrough that is really adhesive to various surfaces. It's not cheap, but you wouldn't need to apply a primer, just basic cleaning prep (there's a tsp ecological that doesn't need rinsing) and maybe light sanding for the luck

I would strongly consider looking into this product : http://www.ppgporterpaints.com/products/specialty-exterior/break-through-interior-exterior-paint

They don't say painting PVC per say so I would counter verify with a paint rep to make sure 100%.

I have sold the Breakthrough to a customer who used it on PVC handrails in the past and it worked quite well when the cleaning specs were followed.
Not so good when not cleaned properly.

But that was before PPG bought that company so I don't know how badly they have changed the formula.

Museum_Fab_Omaha · Mar 27, 2015

Hey thanks everyone for the help...I am familiar with Breakthrough, I think I will try that. Or maybe I will do what reps always tell me to do when painting odd ball materials...DO A TEST PIECE FIRST.

woodcoyote · Mar 27, 2015

XIM Plastic and Vinyl bonding primer

HD painting · Mar 28, 2015

Sw industrial enamel HS?
Maybe too stinky for kids but it's will cover PVC and super durable.

LaserLines · Mar 28, 2015

Is the piping in a high traffic area?
---------------------------------------------

I might try using Smart Prime to prime it. Then you should be able to put almost any exterior product as finish. The specs on Smart Prime include exterior PVC.

Gough · Mar 28, 2015

LaserLines said:
Is the piping in a high traffic area?
---------------------------------------------

I might try using Smart Prime to prime it. Then you should be able to put almost any exterior product as finish. The specs on Smart Prime include exterior PVC.

The OP was for part of an exhibit in a children's area of a museum, so I think it's safe to say it will be in a "high traffic area".

PACman · Mar 30, 2015

One coat of Marquee. No cleaning no sanding no prep whatsoever. Down the road you go.

Gough · Mar 30, 2015

Proalliance coatings said:
One coat of Marquee. No cleaning no sanding no prep whatsoever. Down the road you go.

We do a fair bit of museum work as well. It's a good gig, but there is a downside: there's no going "down the road". If you didn't get it right, you'll be back to fix it.

Also, frat boys are the only people that I've seen that are more destructve that a busload of junior high schoolers.

PACman · Mar 30, 2015

Proalliance coatings said:
One coat of Marquee. No cleaning no sanding no prep whatsoever. Down the road you go.

I could have sworn that's what the tv ad said! :whistling2:

Painting PVC Pipe???

Top Contributors this Month