Can someone here tell me what kind of paint (if any) would cover this up better? - General

Okay, first of all sorry for the undescriptive title. I literally don't know what the stuff hockey armour is made of called. I'm making a costume for an upcoming convention, and lacking the funds or skill to make armour from scratch I just decided to re-purpose some old hockey armour (like a true canadian.) However when I went to test how well spray paint would work on it, it covered up the white areas just fine, the non-white areas however... [t]http://i.imgur.com/asYB68t.jpg[/t] Not so much. Is there a special kind of paint I could use instead? If not what would you suggest?

If you're worried about hiding the color, spray a layer or two of primer on top before you put your desired color.

[QUOTE=Keitaro;45472561]If you're worried about hiding the color, spray a layer or two of primer on top before you put your desired color.[/QUOTE] Alrighty, I'll go out and buy some to see if that works, anything else? I'm trying to get it so it'll be a solid colour.

As Keitaro said, using a primer than painting over it would work perfectly. One option, which will give you a totally different finish, would be to use enamel paints. In the past I've used Rosco Colorcoat on fabrics because I wanted a thick glossy colour. Normally it's used for painting floors, but surprisingly it works well fabric. Once fully dried it leaves it with a solid, glossy sheen and it has good flexibility meaning it wont crack like normal paints.

[QUOTE=dead60;45475417]As Keitaro said, using a primer than painting over it would work perfectly. One option, which will give you a totally different finish, would be to use enamel paints. In the past I've used Rosco Colorcoat on fabrics because I wanted a thick glossy colour. Normally it's used for painting floors, but surprisingly it works well fabric. Once fully dried it leaves it with a solid, glossy sheen and it has good flexibility meaning it wont crack like normal paints.[/QUOTE] So use the primer, then rather normal spray paint use enamel paint?

[QUOTE=Dukov Traboski;45477544]So use the primer, then rather normal spray paint use enamel paint?[/QUOTE] It really depends on the finish you want. The enamel will give you a glossy finish, and the spray paint will generally end up matte. I'd still give it a solid primer coat just to help the paint stick on to the fabric, and the primer will sort of fill up the holes in the fabric so the colour paint sits flatter on the fabric. (If that makes sense?) From what I can see on your picture, the printer text seems glossy. When you're painting any smooth surface a good primer is needed. You can even use shellac or button polish before painting. This will act as a good barrier and will prevent flaking or scratching. Here's a pic of the shirt I done. [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/yJkk0jL.jpg[/thumb] The shirt was painted with normal watered down acrylics to give it a muddy look. The 'red blood' was simply the Rosco enamel paint mixed with a little bit of ochre and brown acrylics to darken it. As you can see it goes pretty solid and glossy, the fabric still has some movement to it.

Yea that looks really good. I wouldn't have to worry about the fabric moving too much as the hockey armour is still pretty solid. The main part I am worried about it if it'll be able to cover up the colours and words already on the armour since I can't remove them. I will pick up some enamel paint and primer today while I am out and try it out either today or tomorrow and see how it looks.

If for whatever reason enamel paint doesn't work out. You can get a little tiny bottle of button polish (shellac) for £2 and paint that over the colours and words before painting.

[QUOTE=dead60;45477723]If for whatever reason enamel paint doesn't work out. You can get a little tiny bottle of button polish (shellac) for £2 and paint that over the colours and words before painting.[/QUOTE] Hmm, don't know where I'd find that, but I'll try that if the paint doesn't work. Hopefully the paint will work, I've already gone a tad bit over my budget (had to buy the armour for two of my friends as well, came to 200$+ so until they pay me back I'm broke) so even a small thing like spray paint or 4$ button polish is gonna hurt my wallet. [editline]23rd July 2014[/editline] Out of curiosity, would enamel paint give plastic a glossy finish too? I have a rough plastic helmet that needs to be repainted too.

[QUOTE=Dukov Traboski;45477761]Out of curiosity, would enamel paint give plastic a glossy finish too? I have a rough plastic helmet that needs to be repainted too.[/QUOTE] Yeah I don't see why not. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure you can get enamel paint in a spray can? (Car body spray paint?) Even so, using a gloss finish spray can would work. The only problem you may find is that if you are using a paintbrush and not a spray can there may be paint lines, especially if you paint it on thick. If you've ever made or painted a model with enamel paints, you know what I'm talking about. Or if you've painted skirting boards and where you painted it thick you can see little paint run marks. The nice thing with spray-paints is that you can apply many thin layers which gradually build up, giving it a smooth flawless finish.

[QUOTE=dead60;45479070]Yeah I don't see why not. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure you can get enamel paint in a spray can? (Car body spray paint?) Even so, using a gloss finish spray can would work. The only problem you may find is that if you are using a paintbrush and not a spray can there may be paint lines, especially if you paint it on thick. If you've ever made or painted a model with enamel paints, you know what I'm talking about. Or if you've painted skirting boards and where you painted it thick you can see little paint run marks. The nice thing with spray-paints is that you can apply many thin layers which gradually build up, giving it a smooth flawless finish.[/QUOTE] Yea, I'll be getting spray paint. I'm too lazy and have a lack of any sort of painting skill to use a brush. The only part I'll need a brush with is an emblem that I have to put on it, which I'll probably just stencil in on with spray paint.

Okay I put a layer of primer on and this is the result. [T]http://i.imgur.com/HW8wEFvh.jpg[/t] Do I need another coat or should I be good to paint over this?

I would use another two more coats to make sure that the color doesn't bleed through.

I put a second coat on it but it didn't really do anything. Am I doing something wrong or is this just going to work?

What primer did you buy? Does it specify acrylic, enamel, epoxy, lacquer, vinyl..?

It doesn't say. Just says primer. It was the only kind they had

So, what's going wrong then? Is it just not covering the orange and black bits fully? See what it's like after another coat. If that doesn't work, then personally I'd skip to using a thick white enamel or epoxy paint and use that as the primer. Or as mentioned previously paint the coloured bits with a layer of button polish then give the polish one layer of primer over that.

[QUOTE=dead60;45499082]So, what's going wrong then? Is it just not covering the orange and black bits fully? See what it's like after another coat. If that doesn't work, then personally I'd skip to using a thick white enamel or epoxy paint and use that as the primer. Or as mentioned previously paint the coloured bits with a layer of button polish then give the polish one layer of primer over that.[/QUOTE] I have done two layers but the orange and black bits are still showing.

Ok so three layers of primer and one layer of enemal red turns out like this [T]http://i.imgur.com/Avc8Bga.jpg[/t] In some spots it seems the paint is being absorbed and just turns white again [editline]26th July 2014[/editline] So what have I done wrong?

Nothing, the paint is going into the pockets of the cloth, leaving some areas lighter than others. You should also use a nice smooth back and forth motion when when applying coats and do not hold the paint down and switch directions, it will cause excess build up on the ends which could lead to circles or drips; move the can past the material your painting, stop spraying once you've completely left the material and swing back the opposite direction making sure to start spraying right before you get to the material. When you do the back and forth motion, you should be making sure to overlap each line by 30%-50% depending on how far you are away (8-14"). As much as I hope this turns out great, don't fret if it doesn't come out perfect, this is your first time and it's always going to have it's flaws. Just try another coat or two, the first is [i]never[/i] enough, it's just the "tack" coat to help the next few layers stick.

When painting fabric, sometimes you need to scrub the fabric or paint it at multiple angles. VHT makes a vinyl fleixlbe paint to do what you are trying to do. The first time you move this piece, I'm afraid it will probably just crack and peel.

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I'm gonna keep trying to get it right but if worse comes to worse than I will just cover it in masking tape and paint over that.

[QUOTE=Dukov Traboski;45520567]Thanks for all the helpful advice. I'm gonna keep trying to get it right but if worse comes to worse than I will just cover it in masking tape and paint over that.[/QUOTE] Well, masking tape is a really good waxy surface that generally doesn't let anything stick to it...