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Thread: Painting gatorboard

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    DIGICOM IMAGING, Naperville IL
    Posts
    55

    Default Painting gatorboard

    I have a bunch of letters I cut from 3/16" gatorboard that need to be painted a dark green. I purchased a can of matte green paint from local hardware store and painted a few to see how they would look. The finish is OK, but the foam has started to 'shrink' around the edges where the paint has come in contact.

    My question is: Is there a specific paint for foam boards like gatorboard? Apparently, the solvents used in ordinary spray cans attack the foam and causing it to 'vaporize'.

    Any info on painting foam would be helpful.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    34 Hickory Lane, Granville, PA 17029
    Posts
    72

    Default

    Mike, Gatorboard is a polystyrene which means that it must be coated with a water base primer or epoxy to avoid the chemical attack. I use Bullseye 123 primer.
    Bryson

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Norman, Ok
    Posts
    3,251

    Default

    Mike,

    Any quality exterior latex will work.

    If these are to be placed outside and will get any sun at all, they will curl up like a potatoe chip unless you paint the backs in the same way as the front. Two coats on front, two coats on back.

    To adhere to wall: Put a few pieces of foam take on back to hold in place while the adhesive, silicone or polyeurthand is drying.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    DIGICOM IMAGING, Naperville IL
    Posts
    55

    Default

    Bryson & Joe,

    Thanks for your quick response. Even though I have had my bot for a couple of years I only cut signs that I have printed on PVC, acrylic or gatorboard. I don't cut letters or rout signs.

    But that is changing since I was just awarded 6 large projects involving alot of routing. I'll be using this resource alot in the coming months which is why folks like you make this forum an invaluable tool.

    Thanks

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