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Has anyone ever painted a pedal with hobby model paint as in Testors paint? The dilemma I have is that I live in Chicago where it is illegal to sell spray paint in the vicinity of the city. I used to put model cars together as a kid and I recall the painting coming out fairly well. What do you guys think?

I once painted a pedal with enamel hobby paint. It didn't turn out too good.....but then I'm no Picasso with a paint brush either!

I don't recall the brand but it was some good UK made stuff, I still have a heap of colors somewhere.

If you're talking about the rattle can testors stuff, then you should he great. If you're talking about the brush on stuff, it can be done well, just make sure to get enough on, the wet sand the strokes out and make it flat, then polish, have a friend buff it or whatever. What are you using for primer?

Yeah enamel paints work fine on pedals.

you can't buy spray paint in chicago? i thought things were bad here. they just keep it locked up and card you if you want to buy any. although i recently found you can't buy aniline dyes in the state of california. i was gonna use it to do a sunburst finish. i guess i'll have to get some next time i'm in nevada.

I ended up being able to catch a ride to the suburbs and I was able to score a sweet key lime green. I'll post pictures after I wet-sand it.
Yeah, they banned spray paint in the city of chicago a number of years ago, so its pretty shitty for anyone who doesn't paint graffiti.
I just used Krylon Primer.

that's fucking thug life for you.

in KC 2 in the belt is worth 1 in the cart.

Enamels are awful paints. I never, ever use enamels. You're better off laying down an acrylic primer, car primer works best, and using acrylics instead. It depends how complicated your design is, though. If you're just painting things like "tone, volume" and stuff, then stick to enamels. But some sort of full design all over a metal case will need acrylics covered in a gloss/satin/matt coat. When enamels chip, they chip bad.

Also: HATE TESTORS.

ekwatts wrote:Enamels are awful paints. I never, ever use enamels. You're better off laying down an acrylic primer, car primer works best, and using acrylics instead.

+1. Enamels are horrible to work with because they take forever to dry, especially in cold weather. Acrylics are lovely. Find some waterbased if you can find some. I vouch for EK, car paint works as well, but if you must use enamels, Krylons are cheap and work fine, but may take longer to dry in cold weather. Also, make sure you get a clearcoat with the same material base (acrylic paint to acrylic clear) or you may get a weird funky texture. You don't need to prime and sand, but I like to because it gives your paints a nice smooth look.

My pedal painting resume a la Dwarfcraft Secret Destroyers:

Oh, and stay away from "Chrome" colored paints. They mess up as soon as you touch them and react badly with clearcoats most of the time. If you want that "Metal" look, just clearcoat the box or use a metallic silver instead.

duck egg blue 4eva and eva

I used Rustoeum spray paint on a few pedals and they chip pretty easy. Nothing beats powder coating.

nice roachello

Order the spray cans through the internet, I doubt anyone will notice.

JSutter wrote:I used Rustoeum spray paint on a few pedals and they chip pretty easy. Nothing beats powder coating.

You've powder coated a pedal before? Do tell! I've forever been fascinated with powder coating!

I'd like to see a pedal finished in one of those "suede effect" sprays from Plasti-Kote. That would be awesome.