Spray Paint A Fountain Pen

[Tessy Moon]

I have read here on FPN about spray painting preppies. (Using that special meant-for-plastic-spray-paint)

 

I was wondering if I could spray paint a Pilot Metropolitan?

 

I am considering purchasing the white one but I don't like the animal print design and was considering painting that part of the pen.

I would take it all apart of course and tape up the the silver end and the open part very thoroughly.

 

Any thoughts? Is it worth it to try or would it be a disaster?

 

As the pen is only $15 I thought it might be safe to give it a try and it wouldn't be too big of a loss if it didn't go well.

 

But I'd really like to hear what you think.

 

Have you ever painted a fountain pen? How did it turn out? Did you like the end result? Tell us about it!

 

Thank you for your input!!

[ac12]

Well the trick is preparation and paint. Just like doing a plastic model.

The most important is that the pen has to be prepared so the paint will STICK to it.

Then you need a paint that will be DURABLE, and not flake off.

You also need a good way of applying the paint. Personal opinion is to use an air brush...which isn't cheap. I would not think of using a spray can, the spray is not fine enough for a small object like a pen.

[Left FPN]

If the pen is only $15 you have nothing to loose...

 

Painting a Waterman Carene

[kidde]

You want to scuff and clean the part you will paint. Scoth-Brite pads will work, just enough to give the paint something to stick to. Soap and water, water, alcohol and maybe acetone, in that order, to clean it. Be prepared to wait days for the paint to not only dry but cure also. Prep and patience are what it takes for a nice result. Good luck!

 

Paul

[johniem]

I agree with AC12. Many years ago I came across a site which described a process for painting cameras, (high dollar cameras). The illustrations were gorgeous. Imagine a Canon SLR in deep lemon meringue yellow (my favorite color). It can be done, but it isn't cheap or possibly easy. To do it well would require an air brush. If you have one and know how to use it, or know someone who has one and is willing to do the job for you, go for it. I don't have an air brush, but you've got me thinking... all I need is one more hobby.

Edited March 8, 2014 by johniem

[van]

I paint my Varsities and have used both regular Krylon and their "for plastic" Fusion paints. The fusion took forever to dry and never looked good, but the regular Krylon - I use the semi gloss black - works perfectly for me. I prep the body and cap using acetone, and while the paint is not totally permanent on the cap (which is most likely polyproelene), the paint bnds to the body well and shows almost no wear at all after a few years. I also refill them by pulling the nib/section out with pliers and fillingwith an eyedropper. I really hate the way Varsities and V-Pens look from the factory, but painted up they make a great looking pen that you can take to the beach or leave in your car without worry.

 

I have also stripped and buffed out both, which gives you a frosty-looking demonstrator type thing.

[Tessy Moon]

I paint my Varsities and have used both regular Krylon and their "for plastic" Fusion paints. The fusion took forever to dry and never looked good, but the regular Krylon - I use the semi gloss black - works perfectly for me. I prep the body and cap using acetone, and while the paint is not totally permanent on the cap (which is most likely polyproelene), the paint bnds to the body well and shows almost no wear at all after a few years. I also refill them by pulling the nib/section out with pliers and fillingwith an eyedropper. I really hate the way Varsities and V-Pens look from the factory, but painted up they make a great looking pen that you can take to the beach or leave in your car without worry.

 

I have also stripped and buffed out both, which gives you a frosty-looking demonstrator type thing.

 

 

Thank you for these ideas!

 

This is exactly what I was thinking. I am looking for something fast and easy to make a cheap pen look a little more to my liking. I think I will practice on one of my preppies first with the Krylon spray paint and see how it goes.

 

Thank you so much for your comment! It helped a lot!

[inotrym]

Would a technique like this work on a nib too?

 

I was looking at a Parker Urban Premium matte black the other day, and thought that it would make a pretty nice stealth pen, if it hadn't been for that steel nib.

 

(come on parker... common sense...)

Edited March 12, 2014 by inotrym

[distancerunner]

Rattle cans will work fine. Small guitar repair shops and do it yourselfers use them all the time to produce fine finishes that must stand up to the highest (think looking at a finish from a distance of four inches and flipping it 360 degrees through the light) scrutiny. The atomization is not as fine as what can be achieved with an air brush, but that does not matter if you rub out and buff the final finish.

 

As has been mentioned, prep work is key. Light thin coats, followed by a couple or six coats of clear should produce stunning results.

 

However, it is about fifty dollars worth of work on a fifteen dollar item.

[Plume145]

This is GREAT! I really hope you do it, and then post the results :-)

 

 

However, it is about fifty dollars worth of work on a fifteen dollar item.

Yeah, but you get the *exact* item you had in mind - priceless! Heh heh That's kind of the DIY mindset really isn't it? More about being able to have the exact item you want, than to avoid purchasing it.

[distancerunner]

This is GREAT! I really hope you do it, and then post the results :-)

Yeah, but you get the *exact* item you had in mind - priceless! Heh heh That's kind of the DIY mindset really isn't it? More about being able to have the exact item you want, than to avoid purchasing it.

 

This is GREAT! I really hope you do it, and then post the results :-)

Yeah, but you get the *exact* item you had in mind - priceless! Heh heh That's kind of the DIY mindset really isn't it? More about being able to have the exact item you want, than to avoid purchasing it.

Yes, you do. And yes, it is.

 

That was simply data. If you can't find what you want in the marketplace you have to make it yourself.

 

There is a value in the conceiving and the doing of a pet project. That value can be simply the joy of creation.