Repainting Plastic Decoys

Nate Hoyt

Nate Hoyt

Member
All,

I have about 18 decoys to repaint. Most are mallards, but a few are greenwing teal. I plan on using FME from Lou, but I have some questions. First, is FME the best primer for plastic or should I use the rattle can Rustoleum prime that is labelled for plastic? What is the best color for primer? Lastly, what is the best method to prep them for paint? I planned on scrubbing them with soap and water and a scotchbrite pad. Should I scuff them with 120 grit also? Please include any pointers that you feel are relevant.

Thanks in advance,

Nate
 
I'm an idiot.

I decided to use the search function after my post. However most of my questions still stand with some modification.

Primer? FME, Rustoleum primer, Krylon Fusion primer, rattle can bed liner, Kilz Complete?

Color? Black or white for puddle ducks? My wife insists you always work up from white while I think black is the color I want to build up from. Neither of us has ever painted a decoy.

Prep? All previously listed steps... followed by specialty plastic degreaser or brake cleaner or Simple Green? What about plastic adhesion promoters?

Thanks,

Nate
 
Nate, i recently repainted some old super mag G&H mallards. Here is what i did.
clean with soap,water and scrub pad.
sand high wear areas such as bill and tail to rough up.
sand any areas with loose paint.
wipe down with solvent rag.
prime with flat black rustoleum.
base coat with FME.
finish paint with FME, ronans and tube oils...
hope this helps. best, mark

 
Mark,

Yikes! You did very nice work. I don't know that I have the attention span to do that well. I suddenly feel like painting some nice black and white seaduck decoys.

Nate
 
I would clean them up well, wipe down with acetone and then hit them with a Krylon plastic primer, maybe flat grey?
Then paint with FME.

Depending on what brand of plastic decoy they are, the paint might stick for years or might flake off after two trips.
I have some Flambeau and Carrylite decoys I repainted with straight FME (no primer) years ago that still look great.
I have others of the same brand that for the same treatment that wont hold paint worth a damn.
With the older plastics, its just a crap shoot.
Next time I repaint them, if I ever do, I will try Krylon for a primer.
 
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