Painting Your Own Canteen
Utilitarian by design, canteens exist to carry liquids; they were not meant for any higher purpose. However, their nondescript look can make it hard to tell one canteen from another. Painting your canteen lets you customize its appearance and distinguish it from other containers. The canteen's material will determine your painting technique.
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Painting Gourd Canteens
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Canteens formed from gourds require acrylic paint, which fortunately comes in many colors and is widely available in craft stores. Buy an acrylic fast-drying sealer to complete your paint job with a durable finish. Painting a pattern onto a gourd can challenge even expert artists. Circumvent this difficulty by transferring the pattern onto the gourd's surface.Trace the major elements of the pattern onto a single layer of plastic wrap -- large enough to cover the gourd -- with a felt marker. Drape the wrap around the gourd, and trace the pattern onto its surface with a pencil before painting.
Painting Plastic Canteens
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Many canteens are made of plastics such as polyethylene. Do not use wall paint on these canteens; it will not adhere to the surface. Instead, use paint with a label that indicates its effectiveness on plastic. Clean the canteen's outside, and dry it completely. Spray or paint on a thin, even coat. Allow it to dry thoroughly. Repeat this process of painting thinly and drying at least 10 times. This will keep the paint from running and fading.
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Painting Stainless Steel Canteens
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Stainless steel is often used for canteens because of its durability and resistance to damage. These same qualities unfortunately make painting these canteens difficult. Use paint designed for a stainless steel surface. Polish the canteen with stainless steel cleaner, then rinse thoroughly. Prepare the canteen for painting by brushing on an epoxy-based primer. Then paint the canteen, using several light coats instead of a single heavy one.
Puff Paint
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Regularly used canteens benefit from a sturdy surface that hands can grip easily. Puff paint can give your canteen a tough, nonslip finish. This fabric paint features a thick, puffy texture that comes in a range of colors. For a puff paint canteen, begin by cutting out sheets of paper to cover the outside of the container. Glue these sheets onto the canteen. Then apply puff paint in your desired color or pattern.
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References
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