How to Coat Acrylic Glass

Acrylic glass is much safer than real glass.

Acrylic glass is actually not glass at all, though from a distance it may very well look like it. It is poly methyl-methacrylate (PMMA), which is really a type of plastic that is made to look like glass. It is commonly used to make tableware such as cups, bowls and plates because they look like glass without the risk of breaking. Though many acrylic glass pieces come in colors, you can buy clear acrylic and coat them in a paint color of scheme of your choosing.

Things You'll Need

• 400-, 600- and 800-grit sand paper
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cloth
• Soap
• Primer
• Acrylic glass item
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brush or sponge

Instructions

1. Rub the entire acrylic glass piece with the 400-grit sandpaper. Make sure you cover the entire area you want to paint. This will turn the acrylic glass milky or opaque so it will be hard to see through. This gives the piece a base to help the primer and paint adhere.

2. Wet the cloth with rubbing alcohol and rub onto the entire surface you just rubbed with the sandpaper. Allow to dry.

3. Wash the dry cup with a little soap and warm water. Allow to dry again. There should be no dirt at all on the cup or else the primer may not set properly.

4. Coat the entire piece in 3 to 4 layers of primer. This will give the paint something to stick to while also making sure that you can see the true color of the paint that you will eventually use on it. Allow the primer to dry as directed in the instructions. Each primer is a little different.

5. Rub the 400-grit sandpaper again over the dried, primed area. Next, rub it down with the 600-grit sandpaper, then one more time with the 800-grit sandpaper. If the acrylic glass starts to show through the primer again after sanding, put another coat of primer on and allow to dry. If it doesn't show through, proceed to step 6.

6. Wash the piece again with soap and warm water. Allow to dry.

7. Coat the piece in a layer of paint and allow to dry. You may need several more coats to get the hue that you wish for. Keep coating until you are satisfied with the color.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to use gloves when using primer and paint because they can dry out and/or stain your hands. Protective eye wear is a good idea as well just in case any splashes back towards you.

References

• Overclockers: The Performance Computing Community; How To Paint Steel, Aluminum, Plastic and Acrylic; Aaron McBride; January 2011
• Absolute Astronomy: Acrylic glass