What’s required to spray paint foamex?

[Robert Lambie]

different paints and primers for different surfaces David.
what are you planning on painting and what sort of size?

if it’s just Foamex, like the title says. I would consider “ink”.
Buy it from apollo inks http://www.apolloinks.com
Ink goes much further than paint and is ideal for bonding to plastic, like foamex. It also dries within seconds/minutes, where spray takes a fair bit longer. increasing wait time between coats.
As foamex is PVC, it will expand and contract a lot during the day/night. Therefore certain spray paints and primer would be required to prevent flaking. The ink wouldn’t.
You should also check from your ink or paint supplier that you chose, the type of life expectancy of the warm colours.

If you do speak to apollo inks, tell them exactly what your painting and the life you hope to give on colour stability and they will specify you the correct ink to use.

[NeilRoss]

We used to use screen inks for spraying plastics. I think it was Sericol Polyplast we used for Fomex. Worked a treat.

[Jeff]

I havent used ink for doing this type of thing but have on plastic and other things, so this makes sense.

[David Stevenson]

Thanks for the replies folks, sorry for the delay getting back to you. I’d never even considered ink but it’s something we’ll definitely look into. Hoping to make an enclosure approx 12ft x 12ft to turn into a spray booth, that’s when we get time (things have thankfully picked up again)

[Joe Killeen]

Hi David

Try Auto Paints in Dundalk they do a PVC paint which is the job for Foam letters.

You can apply it direct to the letters, PVC windows, Truck curtains.

[David Stevenson]

Cheers Joe, could be worth a shout. Thanks

[Simon Worrall]

I spray painted some CNC cut foamex letters using cans of auto paint from the local car spares shop, about 15 years ago, they are still perfectly good. Keeping it simple.