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Painting plastic white moulded accessories?

whjohnson
Applying paint to white moulded accessories? Sockets, switches and the like.

Been asked by an interior designer (cushion-thrower) if it would be safe to paint electrical accessories a different colour.

I said I didn't know and would guess that it depended upon the type of paint.

Oil-based enamel? Lacquer solvent-based? Water-based acrylics?

I mentioned that any solvent-based paints may damage the plastic and even undermine any flame-retardant ingredients within.


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  • 0
    urea formaldehyde or melamine formaldehyde are the common 'white' moulding plastics for the hard fronts of sockets. other bits may be polyamide or poly ester. All are resistant to emulsion paints, and common oil or acrylic paints, though I'd not expect the paint to adhere very well. However, while it may be OK on a blanking box lid, I'd be wary about putting paint on anything with moving parts or an opening - I can see the possibility for the rockers of light switches getting horribly gunged up, and sockets with shutters refusing to slide freely, or having to leave a border round them  which will sort of defeat the point.

    That said, it is not that uncommmon to find odd sockets that have been painted over, and apart from the fact it looks horrible around the bits that get scratched away to put the plug in, it seems to give no real problems.
Reply
  • 0
    urea formaldehyde or melamine formaldehyde are the common 'white' moulding plastics for the hard fronts of sockets. other bits may be polyamide or poly ester. All are resistant to emulsion paints, and common oil or acrylic paints, though I'd not expect the paint to adhere very well. However, while it may be OK on a blanking box lid, I'd be wary about putting paint on anything with moving parts or an opening - I can see the possibility for the rockers of light switches getting horribly gunged up, and sockets with shutters refusing to slide freely, or having to leave a border round them  which will sort of defeat the point.

    That said, it is not that uncommmon to find odd sockets that have been painted over, and apart from the fact it looks horrible around the bits that get scratched away to put the plug in, it seems to give no real problems.
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