Painting plastic parts

[funkywrench]

Hey,

I have been searching for white pickup surrounds suitable for a les paul (i.e. they must have arched bottoms) for some time with no success. I thought they would be easy to find since white is a pretty common colour, but i guess not! :smack:

Anywho, if i can't find any soon i will have to consider painting my existing pickup surrounds to white. What would be the best way to do this withou it looking cheap and nasty? What prep would i have to do and which paint should i use?
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Alternately, if anyone knows where to get white pickup surrounds for a les paul then that would be even better!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Painting plastic parts

Don't paint plastic parts because the second your pick swipes it, the paint will flake off. Go to a Gibson dealer and get the right ones....or aftermarket, as long as the screws line up.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Painting plastic parts

you could paint it but you should use some resistnat varnish to keep the paint on the parts otherwise it's like gearjoneser said.

 

[Martian]

Re: Painting plastic parts

I used acrylic based nail polish on a Strat tremolo arm knob once, it worked just fine.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Painting plastic parts

Your best bet is to get a pair of white rings. Check Warmoth and Stew Mac – I’m sure one of the two companies has them.

But, if your search continually comes up empty, lightly sand the rings with 800 grit paper (easily found at an auto parts store). Then spray a coat of adhesion promoter. After that, prime and paint. With proper prep there is no reason why even an aggressive pick attack should chip paint off. Careful handling the parts after paint – the surface may be durable but the paint will still crack should the plastic flex.

Also be careful of your whites. Matching whites can be hell sometimes.

 

[MattPete]

Re: Painting plastic parts

Here's some cream ones at stewmac:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardwar...ic_Mounting_Rings_For_Humbucking_Pickups.html

Allparts has white ones (product #PC_0743-025).

 

[metallicajs1]

Re: Painting plastic parts

I wouldn't paint anything on my guitar, but if you wish to paint the parts white then there is special paint that bonds to plastic, I don't know what it is called but it comes in a spray can.

 

[Bluesman75]

Re: Painting plastic parts

Don't paint plastic parts because the second your pick swipes it, the paint will flake off....

I painted the pickguard on my Tele with spray enamel and then put a coat of Turtle wax on it. That was ten years ago and none of the paint has flaked or chipped off at all.

 

[proxy]

Re: Painting plastic parts

You could also dye the plastic. I used to do this to my lacrosse stick heads. I'll see if I can dig up an article online about it.

 

[Old Ghost]

Re: Painting plastic parts

I wouldn't paint anything on my guitar, but if you wish to paint the parts white then there is special paint that bonds to plastic, I don't know what it is called but it comes in a spray can.

It's called Krylon Fusion Spray Paint. It bonds with plastic with no primers needed. This will NEVER peel off as it becomes part of the plastic itself.

 

[funkywrench]

Re: Painting plastic parts

Thanks for the replies everyone.

MattPete:
The allparts surrounds are not curved at the bottom and wouldn't fit a curved top les paul. unfortunately this is the constant problem i am encountering. There are white ones out there but they all seem to be for flat tops. I even emailed gibson and they don't even manufacture them.

I think i may try some of the painting techniques and products suggested here. :burnout:

 

[theodie]

Re: Painting plastic parts

If they are plastic rings and they are flat, you can easily put an arch into the bottoms of them. I would put something durable, felxible, and that wont mar the finish on your guitar top. Like thin plastic, card board, etc I would attach it with blue masking tape (draftsman tape) Then attach some sand paper to the material you have applied with the tape, sand side up, then just sand the radius into the rings. I have used this method before with great success.

 

[BluesNRock87]

Re: Painting plastic parts

You could also dye the plastic. I used to do this to my lacrosse stick heads. I'll see if I can dig up an article online about it.

+1, i did the same thing to my lax heads. It is kinda hard, and u can make a mess. But....ive always died from white to other colors, not others to white, so i dunno if it will work. If it does, and u do it properly, it looks great.