SpudFiles

So I'm using plans from this magazine to make my first combustion spud gun, so I know everything I'm doing is safe except for one addition of my own, strictly aesthetic: spray painting the lackluster white with printed numbers PVC piping I am using to make the body. I have heard of certain plastics being not OK to spray paint because they can become brittle and easily damaged and cracked. I know that for a cumbustion spudder it is vital to use good condition PVC with no cracks or damages for safety and performance reasons. My question is, will this happen to PVC if spray painted? or should i just leave it white? (I will be using PVC primer and cement, if this holds any importance.)

blowitup wrote:So I'm using plans from this magazine to make my first combustion spud gun, so I know everything I'm doing is safe except for one addition of my own, strictly aesthetic: spray painting the lackluster white with printed numbers PVC piping I am using to make the body. I have heard of certain plastics being not OK to spray paint because they can become brittle and easily damaged and cracked. I know that for a cumbustion spudder it is vital to use good condition PVC with no cracks or damages for safety and performance reasons. My question is, will this happen to PVC if spray painted? or should i just leave it white? (I will be using PVC primer and cement, if this holds any importance.)

You can paint it, I personally prefer to use Krylon Fusion paint (it's for plastics) but any spraypaint works fine really. As long as there isn't any paint on the joints, you'll be fine.

I would reccomend just painting it after it has been all glued together and cured for 24 hours.

Yea, they make spraypaint for plastics. Modder, why not on the joints? Will it react with the primer or something? Or do you just mean joints that move?

I think he means joints that move... I have sprayed primer fine.

Use Krylon Fusion, it's the best for this really.

appreciate the help, going to get started now. thanks guys.

Paaiyan, I'm pretty sure he meant that there shouldn't be paint on sockets or on the outside of the pipe before you solvent weld them together. That keeps them from bonding correctly and they will blow apart.
Blowitup, make sure that you get a paint that's meant for plastics. I've tried a bunch of wood and metal paints, and most won't stick, even with a coat of primer applied first.

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noname wrote:Paaiyan, I'm pretty sure he meant that there shouldn't be paint on sockets or on the outside of the pipe before you solvent weld them together. That keeps them from bonding correctly and they will blow apart.

Yep.

The most important thing for painting PVC is to wash it very well before painting.

Dish soap and a green scubber work well.

Wiping it down with mineral spirits or acetone has also be recomended. PVC cleaner (not pvc primer/cleaner) is pretty much 100% acetone.

would you mind showing us those plans? we could improve them or double check for safety.

Modderxtrordanare wrote:

noname wrote:Paaiyan, I'm pretty sure he meant that there shouldn't be paint on sockets or on the outside of the pipe before you solvent weld them together. That keeps them from bonding correctly and they will blow apart.

Yep.

Ooohhh. I get it now. I always just assumed you painted it after you put it together, it just doesn't make sense to me to do it beforehand, so I didn't think about that.

its ok, your not the only one

ive painted guns before ive but them together but most of them have been strafer's so its not like theres a huge amount of pressure.

I like the look of an ordinary unpainted spud gun. Looks like it should cheap and scrappy

I say leave it white because combustions are better unpainted. But if you want to paint it, I'm sure it would be OK.