Painting Laminate

[RayB]

Welp, I thought sanding down laminate would be enough to help paint adhere to it, but noooooo. It scratches right off. (I used an acrylic latex. Not a good choice, I know, but it was the only black satin finish I could find).

So what kind of paint/primer works best on laminate?

[RayB]

OK I figured this was a lame thread, then it occurred to me this isn't anything special to arcade games. Surely there is info out there! So I found this: http://magazines.ivillage.com/countryliving/decorate/hbexpert/qas/0,,622481_649109,00.html

I basically did everything they suggest (even the paint they suggest is what I'm using!) except they say to wait 24 to 48 hrs. So, in 2 days I'll post what my results were. But I have a feeling the paint will still scratch off real easy. 

[DrewKaree]

Try wiping the laminate down with some mineral spirits or acetone before painting.  Dunno if it'll work, but maybe it'll help with adhesion.  I'd try the acetone.

[Kremmit]

Here's how you paint over laminate on a cab:

1) peel laminate off of cab

2) sand wooden surface of cab

3) paint wood!


-Or is there some reason you need the laminate?

[Kev-in DFW]

I painted the laminate on my Dynamo Cab conversion and haven't had any problems with it.

[21up]

You can now buy paint that says on the tin
(laminate paint) i did not take a lot of notice as i was gonna stay with the colour i had .
But if the colour is not what you want ok,it was

[RayB]

-Or is there some reason you need the laminate?

It's factory-applied laminate. Have you ever bought a piece of Ikea furniture? Now imagine trying to peel off the top layer they have over the particle board... IMPOSSIBLE!

The ironic thing here is that I'm sure I used the right kind of paint. I checked again and it is an enamel (but an acrylic latex enamel?? How is that possible?)

I'll have to re-sand and get a proper adhering primer, or laminate paint as was mentioned above.

[RayB]

OK I went out and bought a proper primer for glossy surfaces. It's Zinsser brand "Stain Cover". This stuff is supposed to stick to anything.

Will update again tomorrow...

PS: When sanding old paint n stuff, make sure you wear a mask AND that it's secure. I thought I was fine until I took the mask off and found a tone of paint dust all around my nose and nostrils. Today, I have a slight headache and sinus feels weird.

[RayB]

The Zinsser primer is amazing. Goes on in one coat and dries within an hour or two. Tomorrow I will see how well the top coat adheres.

[buck16]

So how'd the paint take to the primed laminate?

[ultramagnus]

i know im rather new at this, but isnt laminate a plastic? you cant paint plastics, your supposed to dye them...

[RayB]

i know im rather new at this, but isnt laminate a plastic? you cant paint plastics, your supposed to dye them...

Zinsser "Stain Cover" primer covers ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. It is recommended for glossy surfaces which normal paints will not adhere to.

As for the top coat, I have not gotten that far yet since I have taken it one side at a time and given each side a full day to dry. Now I just removed the old t-molding and am priming those edges.