Golf Cart Color Schemes? The 127 Latest Answer

If you’re looking to improve the look of your plain white golf cart but aren’t sure how much a repaint would cost, you’ve come to the right place.

Stay tuned to find out:

The estimated cost of DIY painting versus professional painting

The main advantages and disadvantages of hiring a professional or doing the work yourself

Loads of other useful tips and tricks to reduce your costs when painting a golf cart.

If you’re ready to learn all of this and more, I’m here to guide you through all the cost of painting a golf cart and the rest of the details, whether you decide to do it yourself or join a professional painter .

Let’s start!

How much does it cost to paint a golf cart?

The cost of painting a golf cart can vary widely depending on a few factors. This includes the quality of the work, the type of paint, the condition of the car and some other factors that you need to consider.

For example, if you’re looking for a simple sanding and painting job and decide to do all the work yourself, you can get great results for under $100.

If you’re looking for custom work or have a larger cart, expect to pay up to $1000.

Although this may seem expensive for a golf cart paint job considering you are likely to need a lot more than just a fresh coat of paint, such as a paint job.

Average cost of a professional golf cart paint job

While golf cart refinishing prices can range from $100 to $1000, if you decide to hire a professional for a standard paint job, expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $500.

There are several factors that determine the price of livery, including:

Your location

The color and the design

The kind of color you choose

The type of car you have

Average cost of a do-it-yourself golf cart paint job

While it can take a lot of time and effort, painting the golf cart yourself can save you a lot of money.

Aside from saving you a few hundred bucks, you can also have a lot of joy and fun with the whole process and even learn a few DIY tips and tricks along the way.

If you decide to do the work yourself, you can expect the following expenses:

To paint your golf cart yourself, you need to get the necessary materials and tools, which shouldn’t cost more than $100 depending on the ideas you want to implement and the amount of materials and tools you may already have have in your garage.

What kind of supplies do you need for a DIY golf cart paint job?

You may already have most of these supplies on hand, and even if you had to purchase each of these items individually, you can still end up with a paint job that costs less than $100.

Depending on the quality of paint you choose and the amount of consumables you need to purchase, you can even end up completing the entire project for less than $50.

You can either buy 3-7 cans of acrylic spray paint, enough for 2-3 coats. If you want to get an even better result, you can choose a combination of primer + base coat + clear coat.

Here are the approximate prices for each of these materials to help you understand how much you’re likely to spend.

spray paint

You can buy a can of acrylic spray paint for about $10 each. This one from Krylon might be worth considering.

primer

You can buy a can of acrylic primer for $15-$20, although there are some that cost up to $80 depending on the quality.

base coat

You can use acrylic latex paint like this for your base coat, which is great for painting a golf cart. You can expect to pay around $20-$30 for a gallon of medium quality paint, or up to $45-$60 for higher quality brands. You can even buy paint and primer in one for about $40-$50 and save even more.

clear coat

You can find an affordable acrylic clear coat for less than $30.

Cheaper options include brands like Rust-Oleum, Dupli-Color, etc.

The total price of all three products can range from $60 to $100, and you may get additional paint to use on other projects.

A pro’s attitude versus a DIY paint job

While it may be tempting to cut your costs and do the entire painting process yourself for $50-$100, there are certain advantages to hiring a professional.

The main advantages of hiring a professional painter for your project are:

Being able to ask for all kinds of custom paint jobs

So your car is painted and finished faster

You don’t need to buy any materials and tools yourself

Achieve a quality finish and great results that you might not have been able to achieve yourself

Hiring a professional painter makes the process much smoother and allows you to focus on other tasks while the painter transforms the overall look of your vehicle.

However, to help you decide whether to hire a professional or do the job yourself, here are some of the key benefits of DIY golf cart painting:

Pay much less for the entire livery

Have fun during the process

Go at your own pace

Choose the type of consumables and materials you want yourself

Along the way, learn a few tricks and tips for painting yourself and

Get a sense of accomplishment and feel proud of yourself by doing everything with your own hands

The final result

Whatever type of method you choose, make sure it best suits your needs and budget.

You can always get great results without it costing you an arm and a leg. So before you decide whether you should hire a professional or do the job yourself, consider some of the pros and cons discussed above to see which option is right for you.

Golf carts can last a very long time.

Because they last so long, your car may eventually need to be repainted.

This is fairly common, and as golf carts become more personalized, you will find that many people paint their golf carts a variety of colors.

Painting a golf cart can be done by you or professionally.

We will inform you about all the costs for painting your golf cart.

How much does it cost to paint a golf cart?

It can cost anywhere from $400 to $700 to have a golf cart painted.

The cost differences depend on where you live and what type of car you have.

If you have a larger cart, you may end up spending a little more.

You can also spend more by having your car custom painted.

If you want a stripe or emblem painted on, you’ll need to budget a little more money.

There is always the option of painting the golf cart yourself.

If you want to paint the car yourself, it will cost you quite a bit of money.

How much does it cost to paint a golf cart yourself?

If you want to paint your golf cart, you will need a number of accessories.

However, it will probably be a bit cheaper than paying to have it painted.

Painting your golf cart involves washing the cart, sanding it, and then spraying it with acrylic paint.

Another essential part of painting your car is marking the areas where you do not want paint.

The most labor intensive part of the whole process is masking off all areas of the car that you don’t want to spray.

If you want to make a living painting golf carts, you need a paint sprayer.

However, if you just want to paint your own golf cart, then spray paint in a can should work just fine.

Once you’ve bought all the supplies to paint your car, you should be looking at well under $100 for the entire project.

This is undoubtedly a little less than the average $500 to have it done professionally.

However, there are some benefits to getting paid for this work.

What are the benefits of hiring someone to paint my golf cart?

If you’ve never customized your golf cart, you may not be used to the work that goes into it.

Having someone paint your golf cart for you can make the process go a little smoother and the overall finish can turn out better.

One thing that you need to be very careful about when painting the car yourself is that you roughen the surface sufficiently.

Many people skip the step of sanding the golf cart, and that’s a mistake.

If you don’t roughen the surface of the car, the new paint won’t stick.

Another problem people have when painting their car is the prep process.

Everyone wants to jump right into painting and unfortunately this leads to some problems with your shopping cart.

If you don’t properly and adequately mask and protect the areas of your car you don’t want to paint, the project will be sloppy.

Finally, you want to make sure you have an excellent area to paint your golf cart.

If you’re stuck in a small garage, this process gets a little more complicated.

You need space to work around your cart and you also need to provide adequate ventilation.

Your golf cart will need to remain in place for approximately 48-72 hours to ensure the paint is fully cured before driving it.

Keep this in mind before you start the process so you don’t end up in a bad situation.

What kind of paint do you use on a golf cart?

The only type of paint you should use on a golf cart is acrylic spray paint.

Using an acrylic spray paint will ensure the paint is applied evenly and will last for years.

If you try a different type of paint, you’ll likely struggle with paint chipping and other long-term problems.

How much paint does it take to paint a golf cart?

If you paint the car yourself and buy spray paint, it can take anywhere from three to seven cans of paint.

This depends on the size of your car and the areas you want to paint.

One thing to keep in mind is that you want to apply at least two coats of paint to all surfaces.

Ideally three coats is best to give you the protection and finish you need to keep your car looking the way it should.

Anything else could chip off over time and might not cover the car as well either.

Are there alternatives to painting a golf cart?

Absolutely!

An excellent alternative to painting a golf cart is to purchase a golf cart wrap.

You can buy these stickers or foils and apply them yourself.

Some golf companies make the decals to fit your type of golf cart exactly.

You should have no trouble finding a color, pattern or design that you like for your golf cart.

In general, adding a wrap or decal to your golf cart is a lot cheaper than painting it.

Most of these wraps are made from a very durable material that will hold up over time.

Of course, if someone comes up to them with a sharp object, there could be cuts or scratches in the sticker, but this can also happen with paint.

Wrapping a golf cart is much cleaner than painting it.

You still need to clean your golf cart to prepare it for the decal, but you don’t need a properly ventilated space to work with.

The decals also dry much faster than the paint.

Your golf cart will not be out of service for several days like paintwork is.

Part of that decision comes down to the style you prefer.

Conclusion

Painting a golf cart is one of the most expensive customizations you can do to your cart.

Of course, doing this process yourself will save you some money, but it’s a more detailed and time-consuming project.

When deciding to paint your golf cart, make sure you have a color that you will be happy with for a long time.

If you’re painting to cover a small imperfection, consider using a sticker or foil instead.

It will probably save you a bit of money and be a much easier project.

You’ve spent all that money buying a quality golf cart, so it’s understandable that you want to get the best performance out of your vehicle.

We constantly get questions about how car owners can make them go faster, turn better and last longer.

There’s an entire industry revolving around golf cart enhancements to help owners turn simple carts into dream machines.

Modern carts are a far cry from the first golf carts that hit the market decades ago.

Now they come with better options, electronic systems and comfort than ever before.

Despite all the options available, most car owners want more speed.

Today we’re going to talk about how choosing the right tire size can help you go faster and some of the other benefits that come with upgrading.

Will my golf cart run faster with bigger tires?

The effect of larger tires on golf cart speed

Getting better and, importantly, bigger tires on your golf cart is one of the best ways to increase speed without breaking the bank.

You can spend a fortune on a bespoke engine to make your kart fit for the track.

However, if you don’t want that, tires are a more efficient way to get a speed boost.

It is common for golf carts to come standard with 8 inch tires.

Larger tires, e.g. B. Tires over 20 inches, ensure a clearly noticeable increase in speed.

Most drivers report getting an extra 4 mph with larger golf cart tires installed.

The larger surface area means more ground is covered with each tire revolution.

Larger tires make your cart move faster because they add more leverage to the mechanical movement of your golf cart.

The resistance in the axle goes down and it doesn’t have to work as hard to get you moving.

This means that with the same engine power, you’ll be a good deal faster on the new, larger tires.

Larger wheels also experience less drag when rolling through potholes and over rocks and other debris.

This makes it easier for vehicles to stay at high speeds on different terrains.

One thing to note is that after installing larger golf cart tires, you will notice an effect of low end torque.

This is because it takes more force to turn the larger hoops than the original smaller cart hoops.

So larger tires can mean slower initial acceleration as a trade-off for higher top speeds.

Of course, where you drive your golf cart will affect performance.

It’s a good idea to consult an expert to talk about things like climate, how much you will be driving, and other considerations before upgrading your tires.

They can recommend bigger tires with the right profile that will give you the speed you want but also keep durability in mind.

Maintenance is the key to speed performance

There are a few things you need to do before considering tire size to ensure you get the maximum speed out of your car.

Failure to properly maintain your tires and the rest of your golf cart will negate any speed advantage the larger tires give you.

The weight of your golf cart has a big impact on speed.

A golf cart professional can give you tips on what to remove from your golf cart to make it lighter and faster.

You also need to make sure your tires are always properly inflated to keep them going fast.

Low air levels make it harder to reach and stay at higher speeds because your engine has to work harder.

Some things to consider

You need to make sure your golf cart is properly outfitted to fit the larger tires.

It’s great if you can find bigger tires that will fit.

It is possible to install them yourself with little effort.

However, sometimes the tires are too big for your current car frame.

For many cart owners, that could mean you need a lift to make room.

You also need to be aware of how larger tires will affect your maneuverability.

At higher speeds you need to be aware that it can be more difficult to take sharp turns.

Make sure you take the time to get used to driving your golf cart at higher speeds to protect yourself and your fellow passengers.

Above all, enjoy your custom high-speed golf cart!

Bigger tires not only look great, you’ll love your car’s performance with this effective upgrade.

Why people want faster golf carts

Sure, most golf carts are still in place, but millions of Americans use golf carts to get around their communities.

Whether they live in a private community or a beach town, in places across the country it’s common to see families zooming in on a golf cart for dinner or parking in front of the grocery store for a bite to eat.

We use them more and more in our daily life.

People use golf carts for hunting, recreation, racing, and other activities.

So it’s no wonder that we all want a little more power.

You want to use your time efficiently, and that means getting from point A to point B faster.

Is a 48 volt golf cart better than a 36 volt golf cart?

Is a 48v golf cart more powerful than a 36v golf cart?

Is a 48v golf cart faster than a 36v golf cart?

Can I convert a 36 volt golf cart to a 48 volt golf cart (and how)?

Why 48V and not 72V?

Which golf cart brands make 36v and 48v golf carts?

When did you start manufacturing 48v golf carts?

How old are 36V golf carts?

Is a 48 volt golf cart better than a 36 volt golf cart?

The answer is, it depends. There is not much difference between a 36V and a 48V golf cart. Both are excellent choices and have many benefits to consider when purchasing a golf cart. It really depends on how you’re going to use your shopping cart. Here are some things to consider:

Power/Torque – A 48V system has more low end torque that you will feel when accelerating. Basically, a 48v system will give you more momentum and accelerate slightly faster than a 36v system.

Energy Required/Amps Drawn – A 48V system draws fewer amps and offers slightly more range, all things being equal (car/passenger payload weight, engine horsepower, etc.).

Driven Terrain – A 48V system is preferred for slightly rougher and “hillier” terrain where the golf cart needs a little more “push”. For example: A golf course with lots of hills, rough terrain up and down to get to your hunting spot, etc. A 36v system is great for flat, smooth and dry surfaces, z course or general recreational cruising.

Cost – 36v golf carts and their replacement parts can be slightly cheaper than 48v golf cart parts.

Is a 48v golf cart more powerful than a 36v golf cart?

48 volt golf carts have improved torque, better pulling/hauling power over hills and rough terrain, and just generally have more overall horsepower.

Is a 48v golf cart faster than a 36v golf cart?

Standard 36V and 48V golf carts are capable of the same top speed (12 MPH). However, you can make your golf cart go faster by doing a few things:

Bigger Tires – You can buy bigger tires. The larger the diameter of the wheels, the faster your golf cart will go. Standard wagons accept a maximum of 20″ tires without the need for a lift kit or block lift. Standard golf cart tires are 18 inches, so upgrading to 20 inch tires will give you an additional 2 MPH.

Torque/Controller Upgrade Kit – You can upgrade your golf cart’s torque with a torque upgrade kit or a controller upgrade kit.

Something to remember when increasing the speed of your golf cart: ALWAYS be careful! Golf carts have stopped speeds for a reason. But if you just need that extra boost and decide to improve on the factory default speed, safety first!

Can I convert a 36 volt golf cart to a 48 volt golf cart (and how)?

Yes! Here are the main parts that need to be installed/replaced to perform a 36V to 48V conversion:

Improved Batteries

Improved Solenoid

Improved magnetic diode and resistor

Improved controller

Improved engine

Why 48V and not 72V?

While 72V systems pack a punch in terms of performance, the parts and maintenance of a 72V system can get expensive. Think of 48 volts as the Goldilocks option. Not too little power (36V) and not too much power/cost (72V).

Which golf cart brands make 36v and 48v golf carts?

There are 3 primary golf cart brands in the industry, both of which have 36v and 48v systems: Club Car, EZGO and Yamaha. There are also several other brands such as Taylor-Dunn, Par Car, Polaris, GEM Car, the Star EV golf cart and many others.

When did you start manufacturing 48v golf carts?

48V golf carts, starting at 36V and working up to 48V (even 72V in some cases), were not introduced until the mid 1990’s. Here are the manufacturing years when some of the most popular golf carts start making 48v carts:

Club Car – Club introduced their 48 volt system in 1995.

EZGO – EZ-GO introduced their 48V system in 2008.

Yamaha – Yamaha introduced their 48V system in 1995.

How old are 36V golf carts?

Golf carts in general have been around for quite some time, longer than you probably think! Here are the manufacturing years when some of the most popular golf cart manufacturers start making 36v golf carts:

Club Car – Club Car first introduced their 36-volt golf cart in 1950.

EZGO – EZ-GO first introduced its 36-volt golf cart in 1960.

Yamaha – Yamaha first introduced its 36-volt golf cart in 1979.

Need something for your golf cart? Click here to shop all golf cart parts. If you know your specific make of car, try our Club parts and accessories, EZ-GO parts and accessories, or Yamaha accessories and parts.

Want to learn more about golf carts? We have loads of information in our golf cart resource library.

If you have a golf cart and are wondering what the best golf cart color is, you’re in luck because this is the perfect item for you.

I’m going to show you some great brands of paint to use on your golf cart body and roof. In this article, we discuss the best golf cart paint and how to choose the right color for your cart.

There are so many types of paint brands that it can be difficult to know which one is best for your golf cart. So if you are confused about golf cart color ideas, read our in-depth article on it.

Best Golf Cart Paint: Top 7 Brands

Here are the best paint brands for golf carts in 2022:

Top Pick Rust Oleum Paint + Primer 13 color options.

primer included.

Oil based formula.

Low odor.

Dries in 20 minutes. Check Price Krylon Premium Metallic Spray Paint 8 metallic colors.

Glossy finish.

Dries in 10 minutes.

Works on most surfaces. Call for Pricing Cart Shine – Cleaner + Polisher for cleaning, polishing and protecting golf carts.

For use on plastic, aluminum and stainless steel surfaces.

Works on wet or dry surfaces. check price

1. Rust Oleum Enamel Spray Paint + Primer

Top Pick Check Price Available in 13 premium colors.

Enamel spray paint.

6 pack (recommended)

20 minutes quick drying.

Provides a flat finish.

Oil-based liquid with a smooth texture.

2. Krylon Premium Metallic Spray Paint

Check price Gives a premium metallic finish.

8 unique colors.

Dries in 10 minutes.

Gives a smooth and shiny texture.

Works on most surfaces.

3. SprayMax 2K High Gloss Primer

Check price Spray Max paint is an excellent choice for your golf cart.

It’s one of the most durable and long-lasting foundations available in 2022.

This primer consists of a clear coating that gives the color a glossy look.

It is scratch resistant and durable.

Spray 2K clearcoat is easy to apply, flows smoothly and dries to a high gloss finish.

Its unique nozzle delivers spray gun results.

Benefits Durable.

Easy to use.

High gloss finish.

Long lasting. Cons Can be a bit pricey if you have to buy 6 or more cans.

4. Color Bond 2000

Colorbond 2000 is the best paint for golf carts because it is the most durable paint on the market. Colorbond 2000 is a durable paint that can withstand the harshest weather conditions.

Advantages:

It is the most durable color on the market.

It is the cheapest color on the market.

It’s easy to attach and remove.

Disadvantages:

It is the most expensive paint on the market.

5. Zinsser lacquer

Zinsser paint is one of the most popular brands when looking for the best golf cart paint. It is a spray paint that comes in a variety of colors to choose from. Zinsser paint is perfect for golf carts as it is easy to apply and comes in a variety of colors.

Advantages:

It’s easy to attach and remove.

It is a high quality paint that will last a long time.

Disadvantages:

Difficult to get as they are often sold out.

6. Compared to

Compared to the brand is a spray paint that looks like brushed steel. Compared to it’s great for golf carts as it looks like brushed steel. Compared to it is easy to attach and remove.

Advantages:

It is the cheapest color on the market.

It’s easy to attach and remove.

Disadvantages:

It is the most expensive paint on the market.

7. Tuff Weld

Tuff-Weld is another popular golf cart paint brand. It is a spray paint that comes in a variety of colors. It is a great paint for golf carts as it is durable and can withstand the harshest of weather conditions.

Advantages:

It is a high quality paint that will last a long time.

It’s easy to attach and remove.

Disadvantages:

It’s more expensive than Zinsser.

What kind of color for a golf cart?

Acrylic spray paint is the best type of paint for a golf cart. It can be used on any surface, including a golf cart cover.

The acrylic spray paint can be applied to the car with a handheld sprayer, or you can purchase a spray gun. You can also use acrylic spray paint to paint the interior of a golf cart.

Spray paint is ideal for painting golf carts because it dries quickly and doesn’t require much cleaning.

What Are the Different Types of Colors for a Golf Cart?

When looking for the best golf cart paint, it is important to understand the different types of paint. There are two main types of paints, latex and acrylic.

Both are suitable for use on golf carts, but latex paint is the best option for most golfers. Below are the pros and cons of each paint type:

1. Acrylic paint

Acrylic paint is an oil based paint. It is the most popular color for golf carts. However, acrylic paints are generally very durable but are not the best option for golf carts and can be very expensive.

Advantages:

Acrylic paint is more durable than latex.

It’s easier to apply and remove.

Acrylic paint is cheaper than latex paint.

Disadvantages:

Not very durable.

It can be difficult to remove alkyd paint from the finish of your golf cart.

2. Latex paint

Latex paint is water based paint. It is more expensive than acrylic paint but more durable.

Advantages:

The latex paint is more durable than acrylic.

It is cheaper than acrylic paint.

It’s easier to apply and remove.

Disadvantages:

The latex paint is not as durable as the acrylic.

It’s not very affordable.

Best paint for golf cart body

Instead of painting your cart, we recommend trying wraps when looking for the best color for your golf cart body. You can have your golf cart wrapped hassle-free for as little as $150 and get the best golf cart body paint.

Check out our recommendations for the best paint for golf cart bodywork. These wraps are durable, can withstand the harshest weather conditions, and are affordable.

1. Mossy Oak: Camouflage golf cart film

The Mossy Oak Camouflage Golf Cart Wrap is a premium golf cart wrap perfect for use on your golf cart. It is a quality golf cart wrap as it is durable, affordable and comes in a variety of colors. Check out our article on the best electric golf carts for hunting that shows you all the examples of what camouflage golf carts look like.

2. Wholesale Sticker: Slash and Burn Club Car Wrap

The Slash and Burn Club Car Wrap is a high quality golf cart wrap perfect for use on your golf cart. It is a three-layer vinyl film with a transparent protective layer over it. This wholesale decal film has a clear overlaminate for a polished looking armor.

Best paint for plastic golf carts

If your cart has a plastic body, consider using quality paint. The best paint for a plastic golf cart body is a durable paint that will stand up to the elements. It’s important to realize that plastic is not a durable material, so it’s best to use durable paint.

1. Zinsser: multipurpose golf cart paint

Zinsser Multi-Purpose Golf Cart Paint is a durable paint suitable for use on your plastic bodied golf cart.

2. Ultra Stick Golf Cart Paint

Zinsser Ultra Stick Golf Cart Paint is a high quality paint that is ideal for use on a golf cart. It is a spray paint that comes in a variety of colors and is easy to apply and remove.

Best spray paint for golf carts

As explained above, SprayMax 2K High Gloss Paint is the best spray paint for golf carts. Spray paint is a great option because it’s easy to apply and less expensive than other paint options.

Best Golf Cart Roof Paint When looking for the best golf cart roof paint, we recommend that you opt for a permanent, water-based paint. It’s best to use a water-based paint with a dark color when painting the top of a golf cart, as a dark color will hide imperfections and make your cart’s roof look better. Check out our top pick for the best golf cart roof paint: KILZ: 4K Lacquer Roof Paint KILZ 4K Lacquer Roof Paint is a durable, water-based paint that is ideal for use on a golf cart roof . It comes in dark colors and is easy to apply and remove.

Best paint for fiberglass golf carts

If you are looking for the best fiberglass golf cart body paint, consider durable paint. The best paint for fiberglass golf cart bodywork is a water-based paint that will withstand the elements. It is best to use water-based paint with a dark color.

Check out our top pick for the best paint for fiberglass golf carts:

KILZ: 4K paint body color

KILZ 4K Lacquer Body Paint is a durable, water-based paint ideal for use on a fiberglass golf cart. It is a durable color because it lasts longer and protects your shopping cart from scratches.

Best paint for painting golf carts

If you are looking for the best color to paint your golf cart, we recommend going for a dark color. It is a long lasting paint as it lasts longer and protects your car from scratches and dents. Choosing a light color can also be a good choice as it blends in with your golf course. Check out our top golf cart spray paint color recommendations:

1. Satin Black

Satin Black Golf Cart Paint is a dark color designed to conceal imperfections on your golf cart. It is ideal for a dark color golf cart.

2. Satin Silver

Satin Silver Golf Cart Paint is a dark color designed to conceal imperfections on your golf cart. It is ideal for a dark color golf cart.

How to paint a dark golf cart

If you are painting a dark colored golf cart, you will need to apply two coats of primer. Then you can apply a clear coat to the body of your golf cart. After the first layer you need to apply the second. Then you need to use a good primer. Typically, a paint spray kit costs between $400 and $700. Two coats of primer are sufficient for a light-colored car.

The best paint for golf carts is acrylic, but it’s important to remember that if you’re painting a darker color, you’ll need to prime the body first. This is because acrylic paints adhere better to plastic surfaces. You only need a single bottle of paint for your golf cart. And because it’s acrylic, you’ll need a thinner coat of primer. You can also use a primer if you’re painting a dark color.

Conclusion

Received my package, the rolled up vinyl was slightly bent in several places inside the box but looked well packaged. The color of the vinyl was pretty vibrant, but unfortunately it was the wrong shade for me (I needed Pittsburgh Steelers Yellow). So I have to keep looking. It could get expensive, it’s difficult to judge colors due to the variations in the photo and monitor used. Lighting etc. Pray I’ll be lucky and order the right color next time, no returns or refunds.

We independently research, test, review and recommend the best products – learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may receive a commission.

The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

Because not all paints will adhere to plastic, it’s important to choose a paint that’s specifically formulated for use on this type of surface to avoid the disappointment of peeling or blistering. Whether you’re looking to refresh plastic furniture, breathe new life into a toy, or brighten up plastic fences or other outdoor decorations, the Krylon Fusion All-in-One offers the performance, color, and coverage you want. We rated paints for plastics based on their adhesion, color and finish range, smoothness of application, and ease of use. Here are our favorite colors for plastic.

Sometimes the roof of your golf cart needs a good paint job.

While this is something you can have a local golf cart shop do for you, completing it on your own is not a challenging project.

Painting a golf cart roof requires a few simple steps and some prep work.

We’ve put together all the steps necessary to paint a golf cart roof so you can get started on this project today.

How to paint a golf cart roof

Step One: Prepare an area to be painted

The roof or top of a golf cart needs to be spray painted.

You need to set up an area where you can do this.

If you have a workbench in a garage, this is the ideal setting.

You won’t want to finish this project inside because the spray paint you need to use will not have adequate ventilation.

Make sure you protect the floor and the area where you plan to paint.

Doing this in your driveway is a great spot, but make sure you put a tarp or something underneath.

Painting a golf cart roof is a relatively quick project, but the drying process takes time.

Wherever you choose to do this, make sure you also have an area where the golf cart roof can sit and dry for a few days.

Step Two: Gather supplies

You must have a few things before you start this process.

Although your needs may vary depending on the type of car roof to be painted and the finish you want, these are the most important materials.

Dropcloth or tarp to put the roof on

sandpaper

spray paint

Proper personal protective equipment

Screwdrivers and other small tools

Step three: remove the roof, prepare for paint

As part of our offerings list, we mentioned that you would need a screwdriver.

This is to help you remove and reinstall the roof of your golf cart.

You don’t want to paint the golf cart roof without first removing it from your golf cart.

Not only will you potentially ruin other parts of your golf cart, but you won’t be able to do a perfect job with the top on.

There will be spots where you’ll end up missing, and the areas that need the most sanding and prep won’t get what they need with the top still in place.

Most of the time, a roof can be easily detached from the golf cart.

You should need some basic tools and the help of a friend to help you open the roof from the top of the wagon.

Step four: loops

Now that you have the car roof in your work area, you can start preparing it for painting.

They take sandpaper and start sanding the entire car roof.

This is not necessary with an electric grinder. Holding a piece of sandpaper works well.

Make sure you roughen all areas, but especially the areas that will be used the most.

The handles are where you need to make sure you’re sanding well.

If you don’t sand down the handles, the paint will come off pretty quickly once people start using them.

You don’t want to have to repeat this process.

Don’t worry about scratching the car roof. It can go a little less smooth, but it won’t damage the roof itself and will give it a nice textured look.

When you’re done sanding the car, you can wipe it down with a microfiber cloth to make sure it’s clean and dust-free before you start painting.

Step Five: Spraying

Next you can start spray painting the golf cart.

You should use heavy duty outdoor spray paint.

There is a product that is designed to spray the bed of a pickup truck.

This is also a good quality for the golf cart roof.

It’s a thick spray paint and it covers quite well.

You will need about five cans of spray paint to paint the top of a standard wagon.

The first two do the first coat, the second two do the second coat and the last one is good to keep for touching up.

Make sure you cover every area of ​​the golf cart roof and both sides of it as well.

Step Six: Drying

The paint should only take about four hours to dry.

The problem isn’t how long it takes to dry, but how long it takes to set.

You need to leave the color on for about three days.

Don’t plan to drive your golf cart around during this time.

We recommend that after letting the coat dry for about four hours, you put the cart roof somewhere for the next few days.

If you know you won’t be taking your wagon out at all, you can lay the top right on the wagon to dry.

Step 7: Reinstall

Do not attempt to reassemble the roof onto the golf cart before allowing everything to dry.

If you start this process sooner, the paint could chip or peel while you reassemble the cart.

This will be a terrible waste of your time and effort. It’s worth waiting a few days before reinstalling.

What kind of paint do you need to use on a golf cart roof?

If you are painting a golf cart roof, you must use an acrylic spray paint.

Any other type of paint will not stick to the golf cart for a long period of time.

The good news about acrylic spray paints is that they are very easy to find at a local hardware store or hardware store.

They also come in different colors and types.

There’s no question that you can find the paint you need in an acrylic spray paint.

We recommend using something thicker that’s meant for outdoor use.

The last thing you want to see is paint running down the side of the golf cart when you first take it out in the rain.

Even if the thicker paint leaves a texture on the car roof, that’s not a bad thing.

You will hardly notice the texture, but it will be more resistant to the elements.

Why would you paint a golf cart roof?

There are a variety of reasons you may need to paint a golf cart roof.

The first reason is that the roof of your golf cart is starting to deteriorate or has stains on it.

Sometimes people encounter this problem when they have installed a golf cart cover for a long time.

When you remove the cover, there may be rust spots from zippers or stains that are very difficult to remove.

Sometimes a fresh coat of white paint can make the golf cart look like new again.

Another reason you may need to paint a golf cart roof is if you are replacing or adding the roof.

Not all golf carts come with a roof.

If you want to add one to your cart, you can look for a used option.

If your car is black with red detailing and you put a tan top on it, the car probably won’t look good.

With a quick spray, you’ll end up looking like you have a brand new golf cart straight from the factory.

Some people are painting their golf cart tops to blend in with their surroundings as well.

If you use your cart for hunting or off-road driving, you might not want it to stand out with a glossy white top.

Here you can paint the top black or even make a camouflage pattern on it if you like.

Can you paint a golf cart roof with a brush?

This question is often asked because they don’t like working with spray paint.

Painting the roof of your golf cart with a brush and liquid paint is not a good idea.

There will be a lot of brush marks and you won’t get a nice even coat like the spray paint will.

Another reason you’re better off using spray paint to cover the roof of the car is that it’s a lot quicker.

The entire process of spray painting the top of your shopping cart should take less than an hour.

It’s not a large surface to cover, and the spray paint does it very quickly.

Can you touch up the paint on a golf cart roof?

If you’d rather not get involved with the whole painting process and touch up a few spots, you might be able to.

If you’ve spraypainted your golf cart in the past, chances are you have the paint you used and this will be even easier for you.

If you’ve never spraypainted your car before, you’ll need to find an exact paint color match, and that will be a challenge.

One way to do this is to contact the golf manufacturer and see if they sell touch up paint.

If you want to fix a small mark or stain you could probably use a small can of touch up paint.

This is a time when using the brush instead of the spray would be acceptable.

Most of the time you need to replace the entire top of the cart.

This is the most common and the only way to ensure the shopping cart fits and looks the way it should.

Since this is not an expensive project and only takes a few hours, it is worth giving the entire roof a new coat of paint.

Conclusion

Hopefully our step-by-step guide to painting a golf cart roof has helped you realize that this is a process you can handle.

While it’s possible to take your car and have this done, it will likely cost a few hundred dollars.

You can grab a few cans of spray paint, spend a few hours over the weekend, and have this project done for less than $50.00.

When it comes to selling your golf cart, one of the things buyers care about most is aesthetics.

If your shopping cart’s roof is looking dated, don’t be afraid to give it a fresh coat of paint.

What is a primer and do you need it? A primer is a primer you use to prepare a surface for paint. Primers create a foundation on a surface that evens out imperfections, creates an even undertone, and helps overlay paint adhere to the surface. A good primer also prevents paint colors from peeling and chipping off a model.

I use many brands of miniature paints in my work e.g. B. Scalecolor 75, Citadel, Master Reaper Series, P3, Badger Colors, Vallejo Model Air and Game Color but only have a few types of primers on hand. When comparing different primers for painting miniatures and models, you may be wondering why you need a primer.

Vallejo Surface Primer – A great primer for almost any miniature painting project. You can apply this primer with a brush or an airbrush.

It doesn’t matter if you’re painting plastic, metal, or resin miniatures, a primer provides a universal surface to work on. One of the most visible ways primers do this is to smooth out the texture of a surface. Almost all primers have a matte finish when dry, which gives the overlying paint a texture to which it will cling. This prevents peeling, chipping and improves the durability of your paintwork.

Finally, a primer works collectively to give you more control over how paint flows and behaves on a miniature’s surface. Whether you’re using acrylic or oil paints on a miniature, a primer provides the foundation for your best work.

Vallejo Surface Primer – versatile and easy to use (brush-on or airbrush)

The “Acrylic Paint Sandwich”: Why You Need to Prime Your Models Primers are not formulated like miniature paints, which are generally water-based acrylic polymer media. Unlike acrylic paint, primers do not absorb water after drying. This makes primers a key element for a permanent finish on any model or miniature.

The best method for painting a miniature is to “sandwich” your acrylic paint between primer and varnish. An acrylic paint coat can absorb moisture, which can cause the paint to warp and stretch slightly. As such, you should also use a good paint sealer to protect your models once you’re done painting (read more on best use of paints and my thoughts here). A good primer forms the basis of the protective acrylic lacquer “sandwich”. A varnish forms the protective outer seal.

The best method for painting a miniature is to “sandwich” your acrylic paint between primer and varnish. In this scenario, your paintwork is protected from being absorbed by the model’s surface (if it is porous, e.g. some resins) and from external influences from the environment, e.g. B. if your hand touches the model during normal handling or tabletop play.

Best primer for plastic miniatures? The best primers for 28-35mm scale plastic miniatures are spray primers. These include aerosol or rattle can primers, e.g. B. when you shake a rattle spray can, stirrer beads will make a “rattle” sound inside the metal container. You’ll know you’ve shaken the primer spray can vigorously and long enough when you hear the rattling sound for at least 30-60 seconds.

Note that the application tips for using primer on plastic models also apply to resin miniatures. For larger miniatures, you can use almost any type of primer, even auto-primers, as you’ll see below. Ultimately, the purpose of a primer is to provide a thin, even surface in preparation for painting. READ MORE: BEST HOBBY PAINT CARRIERS AND MIXERS You want to avoid obscuring detail when applying foundation. This means that the first coats of primer should be super thin. Each layer of primer you apply to a plastic miniature will slowly build up in the indentations. Be careful when choosing a primer that you can apply thinly to your plastic miniatures.

A spray primer is your best bet as spraying is the easiest way to apply thin coats to a model. Spraying also prevents bubbles from forming on the surface of your models.

For example, Tamiya makes a rattle box primer for miniatures that is very popular with professional and competitive miniature painters. Vallejo makes a great surface primer (my favorite) that you can either apply or use with an airbrush.

Note that there are times when you may want a brush-on primer (more on that below). For example, if you have limited space for a spray booth, indoors in a confined space, or at a public gathering where spraying may not be appropriate. Aerosol or rattle can primers also pose a problem because of odors and potentially harmful fumes. These should generally be used outdoors (for best results in low humidity!)

Best primer for metal miniatures? Similar to primers for plastic miniatures, the best primers are the ones you apply with a spray application. This will give you the thinnest and most even layers on your models. The same applies to brush-on primers: brush-on primers make sense depending on the situation, but in my opinion they are secondary to spray-on primers.

There are two reasons you may have major problems priming metal and resin: Metal and resin miniatures can have a greasy mold release substance that prevents the primer and paint from adhering. Metal and, to a lesser extent, resin models are prone to scratches and deeper impacts because their surfaces aren’t as flexible.

1. Metal and tin miniatures are cast in molds with lubricants (oily substance). This means that metal, tin or even resin models are coated with a lubricant or mold release substance. That greasy, normally invisible mold release layer that helps miniatures pop out of molds. However, this mold release agent repels primer and paint. In addition, the lube also repels adhesives (read more about solving problems with adhesives here). So that may even be why you are having trouble assembling tin models. The adhesive does not adhere well to this mold release residue.

The solution here is to wash your metal and resin miniatures with soap and warm water. If I have a lot of models or miniatures to wash this way, I personally use an ultrasonic cleaner filled with soapy water (see my article on cool ultrasonic cleaners, which I also happen to use to clean my airbrushes). You should only apply a primer after washing and drying your models.

2. Paint and primer on metal miniatures tend to get scratched This seems obvious since metal miniatures have a much harder surface. Metal and resin models are not as flexible as hard plastic models. The best primers for plastic miniatures, like those from Games Workshop’s Citadel miniature lines, may not be the best for metal surfaces. For metal miniatures, you want a primer that will cure and, for lack of better words, “better” adhere to the metal or resin surface. That means you’ll probably want an enamel-based primer. Enamel is a much harder substance than the polyurethane material of many rattle-free can primers.

The best enamel-based primers are those in rattle spray cans (aerosol-based primers). Some of the best primers for metal models include Tamiya Surface Primer and Testor’s Enamel Primer. To my knowledge I don’t know if there is an airbrush ready enamel based primer designed for miniatures. The best airbrush primers for miniatures are water soluble polyurethane solutions.

An alternative to enamel-based spray primers is Gesso Gesso is particularly useful for metal or resin miniatures. Here’s why: Gesso is a hard compound, usually plaster or glue-based, traditionally used on canvas or stone and ceramic sculpture prior to painting. It effectively forms a hardened surface with the model you are working on. Gesso forms a durable surface for paint. Gesso is affordable, covers a wide range of models, and also works well on large models, 3D prints, and terrain pieces.

In some cases, gesso has a rougher texture or “tooth” that is useful for some characterful styles of miniature painting. If you paint models or miniatures with oil paints, you will find gesso particularly useful.

Should You Use Gesso to Prime Miniatures? Gesso is inexpensive, provides a protective surface for applying paint, and evens out surface imperfections. Gesso comes in many forms, but they are all brush-type primers. Many miniaturists use plaster of paris to prime miniatures and models. Liquitex Gray Gesso is my go-to gesso medium for priming larger models and terrain pieces. Not only is it inexpensive, it is scratch resistant and will expand on models as it dries, creating a very smooth and comfortable surface to work with.

Finally, if you use oil paints, a good reason to use gesso as a primer for painting miniatures is. Gesso creates a more absorbent surface than traditional primers, which is helpful for toning the model’s surface and allowing the first “lean” layers of oil to adhere. Read more about painting miniatures with oil paints here.

Image Product Useful Info Liquitex Basics Acrylic Gesso As a ready-to-use painting base, Liquitex Gesso can be used with any type of paint. It covers in one coat and remains bright white, flexible and tear-resistant. Gesso provides the perfect “tooth” and adhesion to a variety of substrates and surfaces. Golden Acrylic Gesso Golden Gesso is a ready-to-use liquid primer formulated for use with acrylic paints on all common painting surfaces. They are flexible and can be applied in thin coats to conform to a variety of textured surfaces without cracking. Liquitex Acrylic Gesso As a ready-to-use painting surface, Liquitex Gray Gesso can be used with any type of paint. It covers in one coat and remains brilliant grey, flexible and tear-resistant. Winsor & Newton Artists’ Acrylic Gesso Use Winsor & Newton Artists’ Acrylic Gesso to prime surfaces and ensure good adhesion of acrylic and oil paints. This gesso offers balanced absorbency and dries completely clear.

Best Cheap Primers for Large Scale Miniatures and 3D Printing For cheap primers for miniatures, you can use generic household or auto primers. I’ve tried regular spray primers for painting patio furniture like Krylon and Rust-Oleum primers. They’re less expensive and come with a lot more primer for your money. Be warned, however, that these cheaper primers will not coat as thinly as dedicated hobby model-making primers. Excessive use can obscure fine details on your miniatures. My suggestion when using cheap primers is to start spraying farther away from your models and apply several thin coats to preserve surface texture and detail.

I’ve had good results with cheaper terrain piece primers. Cheap spray primers are especially useful for MDF terrain, laser cut parts and terrain pieces, game boards and 3D printed parts e.g. B. PLA or resin 3D printed parts that are larger than smaller models. 3D printed resin miniature with white primer

The beauty of automotive primers is that they are specifically formulated to smooth out imperfections on surfaces. To smooth the construction lines in 3D printed models, you can use a 2-in-1 sandable primer and filler. A primer and filler are great for 3D prints and large models. After these primers have dried, you can sand the car primer to level the surface in preparation for painting.

Used in conjunction with gap fillers (click here for more information on gap fillers), an auto primer can make a model or miniature resistant to damage because it is “sticky” or sticky to the surface. Automotive Primer is tough and durable

Be careful with cheap primers A word of caution when using cheap primers that are not designed for miniature and model building work. Cheaper primers, e.g. B. primers for automobiles or garden furniture are formulated in such a way that they quickly cover the surface. This means these primers are designed to be sprayed on in thick layers. RELATED: THE 3 MOST COMMON HOBBY PRIMER MISTAKES AND HOW TO FIX THEM A single coat of automotive or wood furniture primer, especially aerosol primers, will quickly obscure fine detail on a scale model or wargaming miniature.

Although I mentioned that this is an attribute of cheaper primers, it’s beneficial for 3D prints (that have fine layer lines that you want to hide) or large terrain pieces; For miniatures with small details, including high resolution 3D resin prints, I would suggest that you do not use hobby grade primers for miniature painting.

When painting miniatures, choose a primer that you can apply in thin layers. Applying primer thinly not only helps you avoid covering up fine details, these modeling primers also give you a lot of control over how much you want to apply at once.

You may want to hide fine scratches, bubbles, or imperfections on your models. Other times you want the finest mist of foundation to keep all those beautiful facial lines and wrinkles intact on that 75mm resin bust.

Your call. When in doubt, thin your primer (just like you would with your paints).

Can you use colored primers to paint models? Yes! Some game companies make colored primers that you can use as a base coat color. For example, you can use a “skin” primer if most of your model is skin. All you want to do is a wash or layering technique to add contrast. But other than that, a base color primer will do most of the miniature painting for you. Paint the details, add wet decals, and you’re done! Army Painter Barbarian Flesh colored primer doubles as a primer and base color.

READ MORE: HOW TO SPEED UP MINIATURES

You can certainly save a lot of time with a colored primer. Just make sure you plan ahead of time the type and quality of miniature painting you want.

Some Citadel and Army Painter spray primers have colors from the most popular model finishes. For example, if you are painting a company of Warhammer 40k Space Marines in the Ultramarines chapter, there is a perfectly matched Citadel Blue primer that allows you to prime and paint your base colors in a single spray. Modeling companies such as Vallejo or Tamiya have also engaged in the manufacture of color primers specially formulated for their model kit products.

Are color primers worth it? yes but it depends There are two main benefits of a color primer. First, they speed up your paint job by allowing you to base your main color and primer in a single application. After spraying your foundation, all you have to do is add any detail you want. This can be quick or meticulous. Second, a colored primer gives you a jump start on an even, smooth surface to work on. For best results in miniature painting, you always want smooth coverage with your main primer. Because you’re spraying on a colored primer, you’ll have a much easier time getting the perfect first coat. Need to paint a lot of purple models like this one? A colored primer can help!

A caveat with colored primers is that they tend to cost more and you have to commit to a single color for many models. If you only have a few models that you want to paint a single main color, the cost of priming may not be worth the time you save.

With a colored primer, you still need to paint the other elements of the model for a decent finish. This means that part of the base color is covered by overlying color. This would eliminate much of the time-saving benefit of a colored primer.

Ultimately, you should plan ahead to see if a colored primer will help you. If you paint many models with the same base color, using a colored base will increase your productivity. If you only paint a few models or the miniatures are not the main color, a colored primer is not a good investment.

Best primer paint for miniatures?

Gray primer is the best overall color. A mix of black and white, Gray Primer gives you a medium base shade to work on when painting models. You don’t have to plan too much in advance which models to paint or how many. Instead, gray gives you a versatile undertone color to paint on. There’s a reason gray color palettes (paper or glass) are popular with traditional painters and artists. Gray gives you the ability to see an accurate paint color on a surface while maintaining good contrast (a black primer undertone obscures detail). A gray undertone makes it easier to see colors and details compared to a black surface.

Consider a Collection of Black, White, and Gray Primers For a complete primer kit, I recommend having the three neutral colors available on your workbench: black, white, and gray primer. The reason I’m suggesting this is that black and white primers have their place to help you paint miniatures using different techniques. Application of zenithal highlighting technique with black and white foundation.

For example, you can combine black and white foundation in the zenith technique. Here you prime black first, then spray white primer onto the model from above. This simulates an imaginary light source, giving you a quick way to show how light and shadow appear on your miniature’s 3D surface. It’s great for achieving a high-contrast finish with glazes or as a way to navigate through seeing detail.

If you want to quickly paint your miniature collection, board game or horde army, a black primer will help you paint quickly. When you want to paint fast, maintaining contrast is key. Using a black primer fills in all of a model’s shadows for you. All you have to do is paint in the midtones and highlights. This usually means you can use quick, brutal painting techniques like drybrushing or airbrushing to quickly get your colors onto the model.

RELATED: WHAT DOES AN AWARD-WINNING PRO MINIATURE PAINTER THINK ABOUT THE BEST PRIMER PAINT?

As mentioned above, using zenithal emphasis with a white or even another color over black is a very quick way to add contrast. Glazing a color over it allows you to achieve a color-saturated and high-contrast model without painting a lot of precise details.

For a higher quality finish where small details matter, consider using a white primer. White primer helps you see detail on the surface of an unpainted model. The white base color shows shadows created by textures and details on a model’s surface. If you shoot a model under a good hobby light, you can see where the natural light and shadows fall. Glazing or using off-the-shelf contrasting colors over a white primer also gives you a predictable way to add color saturation to a model.

Need to thin primers for miniature painting? Most hobby surface primers, like Vallejo surface primer, do not need to be thinned to work well on miniatures. In fact, over dilution can make the primer difficult or weaken the primer’s ability to adhere to the surface of a model and the paint above it. For best results, all you need to do is ensure the primer bottle is shaken well and the primer is free of floating residue. If you decide to thin your foundation, try this with water first. Almost all surface primers are water-based and retain their adhesive properties when diluted with water. Finally, if you must use other liquids to thin your foundation, do so sparingly. I would only recommend using water soluble liquids like isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to thin the surface primer.

Tips for Using an Airbrush with Primers Airbrushing a primer is a quick way to apply firm, even coats to your models. The easiest way to airbrush a primer is to use an airbrush-ready primer such as Simply add a few drops of primer to your airbrush, set your air pressure to around 25-30 PSI and start spraying. READ MORE: 6 GREAT PRIMING HACKS YOU WANT TO KNOW

AK Interactive Primer and Microfiller is a great airbrush primer. You may want to thin it down a bit with water or airbrush medium for a smoother coat. I love the gray color for most general purpose hobby model work. Note that when using an airbrush with a nozzle size of 0.3mm (or smaller) you may want to thin your primers with water or special thinners. The best practice when airbrushing is to dilute your paint or primer to the consistency of whole milk. You may need to apply several thin coats to properly and evenly coat your models this way.

Vallejo Airbrush Thinner – ideal for thinning surface primers for airbrushing. Use approximately 1:1 (thinner to Vallejo Surface Primer) for low pressure airbrushing at 25 PSI. Add more thinner if using 0.3mm nozzle or smaller. If you don’t have an airbrush-ready primer, you can dilute any brush-on primer with the appropriate solvent. In most cases the right diluent is simply water (ratio 1:1-3 for my needs).

However, if you are having trouble thinning your primer with water, you can use an airbrush thinning medium. The one I use to thin water based polyurethane surface primer is made by Vallejo. The Vallejo Airbrush Thinner is super versatile, because it is also suitable for thinning model colors and acts as a flow improver (read here).

Vallejo Airbrush Thinner is one of the best methods for thinning surface primer mediums (bottled ones, not aerosol ones). Useful for airbrush or brush on primer.

Remember not to apply too many coats of primer. Each layer slightly removes detail from the miniatures. A good rule for spraying primers is to spray in bursts with the nozzle well away from the model. Move the spray nozzle back and forth to avoid applying the primer to a single area of ​​the model over a long period of time.

Aerosol Primer Tips You can follow the same primer application tips as airbrush primer applications. Spray your rattle can primer in short bursts by sweeping the nozzle back and forth across your model(s). This prevents the primer from pooling on the miniature’s surface and helps preserve detail. Hold the nozzle about 6-12″ away from the miniature while you spray. You want to create a primer “mist” that settles on the model.

Work in layers for maximum impact without losing model detail when priming. Allow each coat of primer to dry before applying another coat. Video showing you how to prime miniatures with an aerosol spray primer. Note that the best temperature for priming miniatures with an aerosol rattle can is around room temperature (75°F or 24°C). If it’s too cold or too hot, the aerosol formulation in aerosol cans won’t mix properly. Also, if the humidity or temperature varies too much, the primer may not dry or a primer that creates a textured, clumpy finish, e.g. B. Orange peel bumps.

To avoid problems with your aerosol spray primer, do not prime models in ambient weather that feels too cold or too hot to wear light clothing that you would normally wear indoors. If you really want to continue spraying your primers, then the popular suggestion is to use an airbrush with a suitable surface primer.

Brush Priming Tips For brush priming, all you have to remember is to be patient! Bubbles can form if you try to apply thick coats of primer. Use a large, flat-headed brush and apply in thin layers. I use a cheap synthetic brush for priming and priming models. Allow each coat to dry before applying another coat. Sometimes a model needs 2-3 coats of primer to paint on. It’s okay if you can still see the bare surface of your model under a brush primer.

Remember that the primer simply coats the surface to prevent your acrylic paint from absorbing into the surface. It also smoothes the surface. Use a large, flat-headed brush (plastic tipped) to apply the primer – you don’t need expensive brushes to prime your models.

How much primer should I apply to a miniature? You only need a thin coat of primer on miniatures to properly prepare a surface for painting. A good primer is there for the paint to adhere. Your color won’t chip with light coats of primer. The cause of the paint chipping is primarily due to the quality of the primer and paint used. If you apply too much primer, fine surface detail can be lost as the primer fills it in.

It takes a bit of skill to properly apply the brush to a surface primer, which is why I suggest the best miniature primers are ones that you can spray paint onto your models. Overall, you should take your time when applying a brush-on foundation.

The 10 Best Primers for Painting Miniatures and Models Below are my recommended 10 best primers for painting plastic, metal and resin miniatures. Although some primers come in more than one color, I recommended which color to start with first because it works so well. 1. Citadel Model Base

The Citadel Model Primer costs around $21-23 per can. Quite expensive at first glance, but a good choice if you’re looking for a ready-to-spray primer for plastic miniatures. My experience with this primer for metal miniatures is also good. As an affordable alternative, I would also recommend Rust-Oleum Flat Black Surface Primer (also shown below).

Make sure you shake this can thoroughly before use. Und für beste Ergebnisse versuchen Sie, diese Rasseldosengrundierung bei relativ niedriger Luftfeuchtigkeit bei Raumtemperatur (25 ° C oder 70 ° F) zu sprühen.

Beachten Sie, dass es viele Farben von Citadel Primer gibt. Wie oben erwähnt, hat jeder einen Zweck. Die schwarze Grundierung ist meiner Meinung nach die beste Qualität der Grundierungsoberfläche. Es ist auch für die meisten von uns nützlich, die versuchen, viele Miniaturen in unserer Citadel-Modellsammlung zu bemalen. Weißer Citadel Primer kann problematisch sein, da er meiner Erfahrung nach oft zu einer unebenen, pudrigen Oberfläche führt.

Vorteile Der Citadel Model Primer ist ein Primer, der für Plastik- und Metallminiaturen nützlich ist. Es wurde für Games-Workshop-Kits formuliert, kann aber auf fast jedem Oberflächenmaterial verwendet werden, aus dem Miniaturen und Modelle bestehen. Aufgrund seines Brandings ist diese Grundierung normalerweise in den meisten Hobby- oder lokalen Spieleläden zu finden.

Nachteile Es ist eine Rasseldosengrundierung. Das bedeutet, dass es sich um ein Spray auf Aerosolbasis handelt, das in einem gut belüfteten Bereich verwendet werden sollte. Aus Umweltgründen sind Aerosole auch nicht so toll. Da die Dose unter Druck steht, sollten Sie sich bewusst sein, dass die Aufbewahrung an einem sicheren Ort, fern von Hitze, wichtig ist. Als Spray werden Sie auch feststellen, dass ein Großteil der Grundierung verschwendet wird, wenn Sie nicht darauf achten, sie auf eine ziemlich große Oberfläche eines Modells zu richten. Ich schlage vor, mehr als ein einzelnes Modell gleichzeitig zu sprühen, um diese Grundierung optimal zu nutzen. Kaufen Sie Citadel Model Primer

Das Citadel Paint Contrast Spray kostet online etwa 25 US-Dollar und mehr im Handel. Es handelt sich um eine neue Formulierung, die zur Verwendung zusammen mit der Citadel Contrast Paint-Linie entwickelt wurde. Sie tragen dies einfach als Grundierung auf ein Modell auf. Die weiße Farbe dient als Grundierung zum Auftragen der Kontrastfarbe darüber; Beschleunigen Sie den Malprozess mit Modellfarben von Games Workshop.

Als Grundierung funktioniert es gut und bietet eine sehr glatte Oberfläche zum Auftragen von darüber liegenden Modellfarben. Es ist ziemlich teuer für eine Grundierung, kann aber für die Kontrastlacktechnik von „einer dicken Schicht“ wertvoll sein. Als Alternative zu Grey Seer habe ich festgestellt, dass Vallejo Grey Surface Primer gut mit Citadel Contrast Paints funktioniert. Sie können meine vollständige Rezension von Vallejo Surface Primers für Miniaturen sehen.

Vorteile Alle Vorteile der regulären Citadel-Grundierung plus den zusätzlichen Bonus der Kombination mit der Citadel-Kontrastfarbe. Die helle Farbe kann auch zum Malen von traditionell schwer zu malenden Farben wie Gelb oder Orange nützlich sein – Farben, die im Allgemeinen eine schlechte Deckkraft haben. Eine hellere Basislack-Grundierung kann dazu beitragen, diese Farbsättigungen mit weniger Aufwand schneller zu erreichen.

Nachteile Teuer als Grundierung. Wie oben, handelt es sich um eine Sprühgrundierung auf Aerosolbasis, die für eine sichere Verwendung eine angemessene Belüftung erfordert. Eine Atemschutzmaske (für organische Dämpfe P95 wie folgt eingestuft) oder eine Spritzkabine könnte hilfreich sein, wenn Sie in geschlosseneren Bereichen sprühen. Kaufen Sie Citadel Contrast Spray: Grey Seer

Der Krylon Ultraflat Primer ist ein sehr vielseitiger Sprühprimer, der für 10 US-Dollar verkauft wird. Es kommt in vielen verschiedenen Farben. Ich würde neutrales Grau als Farbe für die meisten Grundierungen empfehlen, wenn ich mir nicht sicher bin, mit welchen Farben ich meine Miniaturen bemalen möchte.

Krylon-Grundierung ist beliebt und eignet sich sowohl für Plastik- als auch für Metallminiaturen sehr gut. Es eignet sich sogar gut für Modelle aus Holz oder Kartonoberflächen (z. B. MDF-Gelände), da es mit einer festen Schicht versiegelt, poröse Oberflächen füllt und abdichtet. Sie können es sogar in mehreren Farben kaufen.

Als ich anfing, Miniaturen zu bemalen, begann ich mit Grundierung, die Sie in Baumärkten finden können. Krylon-Grundierungen sind in örtlichen Baumärkten leicht zu finden, und ich nehme oft eine Dose, um große Projekte zu grundieren, wie mein DIY-Wargaming-Gelände oder große Modellgebäude.

Da es sich um eine Grundierung für den Innen- und Außenbereich handelt, ist es widerstandsfähig gegen viele Einflüsse aus der Umgebung. Die Krylon-Grundierung kann daher eine solide Grundierung für jedes Miniatur-Malprojekt bieten. Die Ultraflat-Version dieser Grundierung ist ein Schlüsselmerkmal, da sie Ihrer Acrylfarbe eine gewisse Struktur verleiht, damit sie haftet. Dies erhöht die Haltbarkeit Ihrer Lackierung. Es gibt jedoch einige Einschränkungen bei dieser Grundierung (siehe unten).

Vorteile Vielseitig für viele Oberflächen und widerstandsfähig gegen Umwelteinflüsse. Die Ultraflat-Version bietet Haltbarkeit für darüberliegende Acrylfarben, indem sie Ihren Farbschichten mehr Oberfläche verleiht. Als Grundierung für Miniaturen und Modelle ist Krylon Sprühgrundierung zudem preiswert! Für die Kosten dieser Rasseldosengrundierung können Sie eine große Fläche abdecken. Ist das die beste Grundierung, die man für Miniaturen verwenden kann? Maybe. Wie Sie unten sehen, gibt es einige Einschränkungen. Im Allgemeinen würde ich dies sehr empfehlen für größere Modelle und für MDF, lasergeschnittene Geländestücke (die von Natur aus porös sind).

Nachteile Obwohl diese Krylon-Grundierung haltbar, vielseitig für viele Oberflächen und kostengünstig ist, lässt sie sich ziemlich dick aufsprühen. Das bedeutet, dass Sie diese Grundierung leicht übersprühen und Details auf Miniaturen verdecken können. Das geht schnell, wenn man nicht aufpasst. Wenn Sie dies also in kleinen Miniaturen (Maßstab 29-35 mm) verwenden, seien Sie sich dessen bewusst und sprühen Sie aus größerer Entfernung. Kaufen Sie Krylon Ultraflat Primer

Das Liquitex Neutral Grey Gesso ist eine Gesso-Verbindung, die für 10-15 $ verkauft wird. Gesso ist die perfekte Alternative zu normalen Grundierungen für Miniaturen. Gesso ist eine ziemlich harte Verbindung, die mit Gips oder einer Art klebstoffähnlicher Substanz formuliert ist. Traditionell wird Gesso auf Leinwand als Grundierung vor dem Malen (mit Öl- oder Acrylfarben) oder auf Stein- oder Keramikskulpturen verwendet.

Gesso dichtet poröse Oberflächen effektiv ab und bildet eine solide Grundlage zum Auftragen von Farbe. In der Miniatur- und Modellmalerei eignet sich Gesso aufgrund seiner Haltbarkeit besonders gut für Metall oder Resin. Liquitex makes an easy-to-dispense bottle of this Gray colored gesso. Other colors are available.

Pros Great for pewter and resin miniatures. Provides a strong, durable surface. Fairly inexpensive for the amount and how much surface area can be coated. Gesso is versatile. If you’re a traditional painter as well as miniature artist, you can use this for all sorts of projects. Gesso will help make nearly any surface into a paintable-one with most art mediums (oil- or water-based). Liquitex provides this gesso in one of the thinner viscosity forms. Other brands make gesso that is almost paste-like. The thinner viscosity of the Liquitex version of gesso makes it amiable for preserving the fine details on miniatures.

Cons Gesso can often be thick. It is best applied with a brush in layers. This means you need to be careful when you want to preserve details on a miniature. Applying gesso can also be difficult because it is prone to making bubbles in the surface. Gesso application requires some patience as it will take a little longer to dry than other primers. I’ve often left gesso on my models to dry for up to 24 hours. Buy Liquitex Neutral Gray Gesso

The Army Painter Primer sells for $15-20. In general, this is similar to the Citadel primer (shown above). Army Painter is a modeling company that makes a lot of different products for the miniature hobby. This primer is no exception. It is formulated for all types of miniatures, including those made of plastic and metal.

For most hobbyist, this is the best primer because of its accessibility and ease of use: just shake-the-can, hold back a few inches (6-12″), and spray in quick bursts.

Many colors are available from Army Painter for this primer. However, the black colored primer has the best reviews. The white primer seems to cause some individuals some problems with the quality of the final surface. Some of this is due the environmental conditions in which the primer is sprayed. In general, it is best to use rattle can primers in lower humidity and normal room temperatures.

Pros Easy to find at local hobby shops or game stores. It comes in many colors and functions easily as a spray on primer. It applies thinly when sprayed from a proper distance from the model. In terms of price, it is on par with other competitor products, e.g., Citadel. Overall, it’s a toss up between Army Painter and Citadel branded primers. As an enamel-based primer it is very useful for a variety of surfaces, forming a durable undercoat layer for subsequent painting. The multiple available colors also make it the best choice for those who want to paint fast, skipping the base coat layers.

Cons As with other aerosol sprays, it requires a ventilated area for safe use. Aerosols aren’t great for the environment. In general, rattle cans have more limited use than compared with polyurethane-based primers, which come in larger volume bottle for less cost. Buy Army Painter Primer

The Vallejo Surface Primer sells for $16-20 and worth every penny! This is my favorite primer for most miniature and modeling jobs. I use this as both a brush-on primer or thinned out with water (usually) for use in an airbrush. Here’s in my full in-depth review of the Vallejo Surface Primer applied with an airbrush or a regular brush.

For the price, a single bottle has lasted me hundreds of models. In earnest. As an airbrush-able primer it sprays really well in thin coats. It dries fast and auto-smooths on the surface of both plastic and pewter miniatures. Because of how thin I’m able to apply this primer, it helps retain details while also smoothing out small imperfections.

In some cases, I’ve used this as a brush-on primer for 3D printed pieces. Using this with a brush allows me to apply thicker coats that are useful for hiding print lines in 3D prints.

Most of the models you see on this site were first primed with Vallejo Surface Primer. Vallejo makes this surface primer in many colors, but as with most primers, I prefer to default to gray.

Pros Works well as both a brush-on or airbrush primer. Auto-smooths as it dries on any surface, including plastic and metal models. I love this stuff. It has easily replaced multiple aerosol spray primer because of how well it coats. A single bottle has lasted me a few months, and I paint a lot! This Vallejo Surface Primer thins nicely with pure water or Vallejo’s airbrush thinner. Get this primer and give it a try, even if you don’t airbrush it. I’m recommending Gray, but any of the Surface Primer colors are great undercoats.

Cons The cap dispensing system clogs easily. That’s the only problem I have with this primer: the bottle cap. Other than that, I actually can’t find a weakness in the actual primer itself. Buy Vallejo Surface Primer

The Tamiya Surface Primer Spray sells for around $10-15 and is highly-prized by professional and competitive miniature painters. Tamiya fine surface primer provides a very thin mist that finely coats your models, preserving all the small details. This is especially important for gunpla models, where you need to preserve panel line and rivet details.

Some heavier primers can easily cover these details. As an enamel based primer, it is also durable for plastic and metal miniatures. I’ve recommended the gray color primer as it is the most versatile of the primer colors. But, if you prefer Tamiya makes other colored primers as well, including black and pure white.

Pros This is the key primer for most miniature artists who take the hobby seriously. The quality of the final undercoat with Tamiya surface primer is top-notch. It sticks nicely to any metal or plastic surface. Details stay put and remain easy to resolve even after a few layers of this primer (shake the can vigorously for best results, and spray in a low humid environment). I should note that the can is small, which is useful for portability. It will fit into most side bags, or model cases with little trouble. If it wasn’t for the fact that I don’t have much ventilated space for using aerosols (I work in a basement), I would definitely be using this primer more. I really like the neutral gray color!

Cons There aren’t too many cons with Tamiya’s surface primer. It’s well regarded by the miniature and modeling community. If there’s a knock to this product, it’s the premium price. It’s a small can, and priced at close to the same as the other premium modeling primers out there. Also, as with any aerosols, you need a good space to safely spray this an avoid the harmful vapors. The warnings about this are all over the can. But, if you want the best primer for miniatures, you should strongly consider Tamiya’s Surface Primer. Buy Tamiya Surface Primer Spray

The Testors Enamel Primer can sells for $10-15. Testors is a direct competitor of Tamiya’s product. Both are similarly priced with a similar kind of enamel-based formulation for undercoating highly-detailed miniatures and scale models. Everything I said for Tamiya’s primer holds true for Testor’s version.

They are similar on almost every level that I can investigate through online research. For me, Testors is more available in local art supply stores than Tamiya’s product (which is billed as more specialized).

Pros This is a great spray primer. Useful for any surface and is the best primer for plastic, metal, or resin miniatures. As an enamel-based primer, it forms a solid, smooth undercoat in preparation for modeling paint application. I also like the small can. It makes it easy for me to travel with my painting kit and always have primer with me. Make sure you shake the can vigorously to mix the primer with the aerosol contents for a proper fine spray. Keep the can more than 6-12 inches away from your working surface of the model. Thin coats should be applied in several layers, waiting for each layer to dry before applying the next. This should only take a few minutes, as this stuff dries fast!

Cons It stinks literally. Harmful vapors are not friendly to painting in a basement or enclosed area with poor ventilation. Testors enamel primer is a premium product for modeling, and is priced as such. In my opinion, though, Testors spray primer is a solid product (just make sure you shake it well and spray in a preferably cool, low humidity environment). Buy Testors Enamel Primer

The Badger Airbrush Primer (Stynlrez) is about $8-12 per primer bottle or $23-27 for a set of 3 colors (black, gray, and white). It is probably the best deal in terms of volume of primer. But, also note that these are airbrush-ready primers formulated as an acrylic-polyurethane undercoat. This means that they form a tight, non-porous and auto-smoothing layer directly on the unpainted surface of your models.

This is great, and perhaps this is one of the most under-rated, largely ignored primers on the market. And, I’m not sure why except that maybe these primers are not advertised as much as the others and are fairly new on the market.

Badger is a US based company with a great reputation for their line of airbrushes and accessories.

Pros Airbrushing primer is the most cost-effective way to applying primer. These make it easy to apply very thin layers of primer easily. Because these are already thinned for your airbrush, you don’t need to do anything except drop them into your airbrush reservoir cup. For the price, these are also the most inexpensive of the modeling primers available right now. Given their price and the reputation of the Badger company, I would recommend them as the best airbrush ready primer for miniatures. Because of how thin they are, they could also be useful when applied as as a touch-up primer using a brush.

Cons I’m not a fan of the bottle caps on these Badger paints and primers. The caps tend to clog up, and little drops of liquid dry on the edges of the opening, which makes them hard to close. The Stynlylrez are a somewhat new brand compared to some of the other primers on the list and less well known. So, it may be harder to find more established miniature painters from recommending them. Buy Badger Airbrush Primer (Stynylrez)

The Rust-Oleum Automotive Primer sells for around $5-10 per can, which makes this the cheapest aerosol spray primer on this list. I’ve used this automotive primer to great effect on 3D printed parts and larger terrain pieces made of MDF or plastic.

The advantage of an automotive primer is that it is strong. It cures into a very durable surface over which you can paint confidently. Because it also has a subtle gap-filling component, it also helps smooth out layering imperfections, which are a hallmark of fused-deposition modeling (FDM) 3D prints.

Rustoleum primer is also known to protect against environmental exposure, blocking out ambient moisture. This is what gives this primer its anti-rust capability.

For us, this is useful for sealing, protecting, and priming surfaces made of wood, cardboard, or medium density fiber (MDF) pieces. When you paint over this with water-based acrylic paint, you can be sure the paint stays where you put it.

Pros Super cheap aerosol primer. This is the perfect primer for MDF pieces, such as laser-cut terrain pieces. It seals and protects porous surfaces. For miniatures, automotive primer is perfect for smoothing out imperfections and filling tiny gaps in models or 3D prints. It is also possible to use wet or dry sanding methods to further smooth and prepare a surface for paint. Because it’s a spray can, you can coat very large surfaces quickly and so this is great for larger models. It’ll work on plastic and metal equally well. My recommendation would be keep the spray can some distance away to ensure you don’t over coat a model and lose details.

Cons You can easily lose details on small models with an automotive primer like this. It’ll easily obscure things like panel lines, rivets, and small folds in sculpts that are in the 28mm scale. I would only suggest the use of this primer on large models. As with any aerosol, there is also the need for good ventilation. Buy Rust-Oleum Automotive Primer

Many miniature painters attest to the wonder that is the AK Interactive Primer. This primer did not make the main list, however, because it can be difficult to find in local stores or online (at least in my local areas that I’ve searched for).

This primer auto-levels as it dries evening out any small bumps in your model surface. It also sticks really well to any model surface, including plastic, metal, or resin. It can be painted on any surface with a brush or with an airbrush. AK Interactive recommends that you use their thinner.

In general, although hard to find in some countries, and usually with long delivery times, the AK Interactive Primer has some of the best features of my personal favorite Vallejo Surface Primer. Though, I would be careful because it does have a strong odor. If you decide to airbrush AK Interactive primer, I suggest using a filtered spray booth.

Pros This is a highly recommended all purpose primer. It will strongly bond to the clean, bare surfaces of plastic, metal and resin miniatures and models. AK Interactive is one of the best primers for those looking for a no-nonsense acrylic primer. Due to its formulation, the primer applies easily with a brush or airbrush and creates a smooth and even surface for model paint color.

Cons As with any primer with filling properties, be careful you don’t over-coat your model. It doesn’t take much primer to effectively cover your model. As mentioned, AK Interactive primer is a little hard to find in the United States. But, if you’re willing to wait for an overseas delivery this may be a great primer for any model you’re preparing to paint. Buy AK Interactive Primer

Summary Table Image Product Feature Check Price Citadel Model Primer Games Workshop spray primer designed for plastic or metal. Good utility and versatile. Many colors. Check Price Citadel Model Primer Works similarly to regular Citadel Primer, with added smoothness and brightness for Citadel Contrast Paint. Check Price Krylon Ultraflat Primer Versatile, cost-effective, and easy to use. Check Price Liquitex Neutral Gray Gesso Gesso is a durable compound that is easily applied with a brush and seals all types of surfaces in preparation for paint, e.g., wood, MDF, plastic, metal. Check Price Army Painter Primer The less expensive alternative to Citadel primer, and arguably just as good. Check Price Vallejo Surface Primer This is my favorite primer, hands down. It works on everything I’ve thrown it at, except large MDF terrain. Use a gesso or enamel-based primer instead. Check Price Tamiya Surface Primer Spray A perfect spray enamel primer for all your modeling needs. Check Price Testors Enamel Primer This is essentially the same as the Tamiya Surface Primer. You can’t go wrong with either of these primers. Check Price Badger Airbrush Primer (Stynlrez) A cost-effective and airbrush-ready primer for miniatures and models. Check Price Rust-Oleum Automotive Primer Perfect for large models and 3D prints. Gap filling properties. Wet or dry sand. Inexpensive. check price

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) What is a primer? A primer is basically a layer of paint that acts as the first layer on the model or miniature. The primer provides a surface for you to apply your second, third and fourth coats of paint. You can directly apply acrylic or oil paints directly on top of any hobby primer coat on your miniatures. Primers also help to create a surface that the paints bond stronger to rather than just sit on top of the model or miniature. It is not uncommon to prime a miniature twice, especially for metallic paints.

How long does it take for a primer to dry? It depends on the ambient environment you’re priming your models. Under normal conditions, you can expect most hobby primers to dry completely within 10-30 minutes. For best results, allow your primer to dry before applying any paint. You can use a hair dryer with a low heat setting to speed up the drying process.

What paints work best with primers? For painting miniatures, you can apply any paint medium on top of a primer coat. Some primers, like gesso, will have a rougher texture which will can help you blend some types of paint, e.g., oils. They also have absorbent qualities that can speed up paint dry time. In general, most miniature painters will use acrylic model paint and apply it directly over a even coat of primer. There are a lot of great brands of acrylic paints that will work well with a hobby primer, including those from Games Workshop/Citadel, Vallejo, The Army Painter, and other hobby game companies.

Do primers work on all kinds of miniature materials? Miniatures and scale models are often made of plastic, metal, or resin. In some scale model kits, wood is also a part of the construction. The best primers for miniatures are all-purpose primers and will work great on multiple material surfaces. Just keep in mind that you may need to apply multiple coats of your primer depending on the material of your model. For example, you may need additional layers of primer on resin miniatures for a solid coat as compared with metal miniatures where a single primer coat would suffice.

Conclusion I hope you found these primer tips and review helpful. If you’re a miniature painter, you’re probably always looking for the best tools and supplies to help you improve your work. Well, what is the best primer for painting miniatures? The ideal miniature primers are spray or brush-on primers that smooth surface imperfections, prevent paint chipping and peeling, and apply easily over your models. This review highlighted the 10 best primers for plastic, metal, and resin miniatures. But, as any hobbyist knows, there is always more than one way to skin a cat. If I missed any favorites, please let me know! Happy painting (and priming)!

Enjoying your visit? Join Tangible Day Leave this field empty if you’re human: Free newsletter with monthly updates (no spam) Leave a comment below! Follow on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Grab your FREE photo backdrop bundle for miniature photography in the shop.

We independently research, test, review and recommend the best products – learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may receive a commission.

The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

Because not all paints will adhere to plastic, it’s important to choose a paint that’s specifically formulated for use on this type of surface to avoid the disappointment of peeling or blistering. Whether you’re looking to refresh plastic furniture, breathe new life into a toy, or brighten up plastic fences or other outdoor decorations, the Krylon Fusion All-in-One offers the performance, color, and coverage you want. We rated paints for plastics based on their adhesion, color and finish range, smoothness of application, and ease of use. Here are our favorite colors for plastic.

A golf cart can start to look a little faded after being in the sun for a while. If you want to spice up your golf cart, you can give it a new coat of paint. You can even make your golf cart stand out by painting the body any color you want. Painting a golf cart body is not too difficult and can be completed in an afternoon.

If your plastic items are dull, outdated or just plain unsightly, painting them with fresh colors and smooth surfaces will make them look new again. Painting your plastic items keeps them out of the landfill and helps you preserve your favorite items. Painting plastic is a quick project with long-lasting results.

before you start

Set up a work area for painting your plastic items that is protected from other areas as spray paint can carry overspray.

Work on old cardboard instead of plastic wrap. Ink penetrates cardboard but tends to smear on plastic wrap.

safety aspects

When painting plastic and using mineral spirits, be sure to work in a ventilated area, avoid breathing the fumes, stay away from heat sources, and do not eat or drink in the area. The cap should be tightly closed when the can is not in use.

If you come into contact with the mineral spirits, wash your hands immediately with soap and warm water.

Sometimes the roof of your golf cart needs a good paint job.

While this is something you can have a local golf cart shop do for you, completing it on your own is not a challenging project.

Painting a golf cart roof requires a few simple steps and some prep work.

We’ve put together all the steps necessary to paint a golf cart roof so you can get started on this project today.

How to paint a golf cart roof

Step One: Prepare an area to be painted

The roof or top of a golf cart needs to be spray painted.

You need to set up an area where you can do this.

If you have a workbench in a garage, this is the ideal setting.

You won’t want to finish this project inside because the spray paint you need to use will not have adequate ventilation.

Make sure you protect the floor and the area where you plan to paint.

Doing this in your driveway is a great spot, but make sure you put a tarp or something underneath.

Painting a golf cart roof is a relatively quick project, but the drying process takes time.

Wherever you choose to do this, make sure you also have an area where the golf cart roof can sit and dry for a few days.

Step Two: Gather supplies

You must have a few things before you start this process.

Although your needs may vary depending on the type of car roof to be painted and the finish you want, these are the most important materials.

Dropcloth or tarp to put the roof on

sandpaper

spray paint

Proper personal protective equipment

Screwdrivers and other small tools

Step three: remove the roof, prepare for paint

As part of our offerings list, we mentioned that you would need a screwdriver.

This is to help you remove and reinstall the roof of your golf cart.

You don’t want to paint the golf cart roof without first removing it from your golf cart.

Not only will you potentially ruin other parts of your golf cart, but you won’t be able to do a perfect job with the top on.

There will be spots where you’ll end up missing, and the areas that need the most sanding and prep won’t get what they need with the top still in place.

Most of the time, a roof can be easily detached from the golf cart.

You should need some basic tools and the help of a friend to help you open the roof from the top of the wagon.

Step four: loops

Now that you have the car roof in your work area, you can start preparing it for painting.

They take sandpaper and start sanding the entire car roof.

This is not necessary with an electric grinder. Holding a piece of sandpaper works well.

Make sure you roughen all areas, but especially the areas that will be used the most.

The handles are where you need to make sure you’re sanding well.

If you don’t sand down the handles, the paint will come off pretty quickly once people start using them.

You don’t want to have to repeat this process.

Don’t worry about scratching the car roof. It can go a little less smooth, but it won’t damage the roof itself and will give it a nice textured look.

When you’re done sanding the car, you can wipe it down with a microfiber cloth to make sure it’s clean and dust-free before you start painting.

Step Five: Spraying

Next you can start spray painting the golf cart.

You should use heavy duty outdoor spray paint.

There is a product that is designed to spray the bed of a pickup truck.

This is also a good quality for the golf cart roof.

It’s a thick spray paint and it covers quite well.

You will need about five cans of spray paint to paint the top of a standard wagon.

The first two do the first coat, the second two do the second coat and the last one is good to keep for touching up.

Make sure you cover every area of ​​the golf cart roof and both sides of it as well.

Step Six: Drying

The paint should only take about four hours to dry.

The problem isn’t how long it takes to dry, but how long it takes to set.

You need to leave the color on for about three days.

Don’t plan to drive your golf cart around during this time.

We recommend that after letting the coat dry for about four hours, you put the cart roof somewhere for the next few days.

If you know you won’t be taking your wagon out at all, you can lay the top right on the wagon to dry.

Step 7: Reinstall

Do not attempt to reassemble the roof onto the golf cart before allowing everything to dry.

If you start this process sooner, the paint could chip or peel while you reassemble the cart.

This will be a terrible waste of your time and effort. It’s worth waiting a few days before reinstalling.

What kind of paint do you need to use on a golf cart roof?

If you are painting a golf cart roof, you must use an acrylic spray paint.

Any other type of paint will not stick to the golf cart for a long period of time.

The good news about acrylic spray paints is that they are very easy to find at a local hardware store or hardware store.

They also come in different colors and types.

There’s no question that you can find the paint you need in an acrylic spray paint.

We recommend using something thicker that’s meant for outdoor use.

The last thing you want to see is paint running down the side of the golf cart when you first take it out in the rain.

Even if the thicker paint leaves a texture on the car roof, that’s not a bad thing.

You will hardly notice the texture, but it will be more resistant to the elements.

Why would you paint a golf cart roof?

There are a variety of reasons you may need to paint a golf cart roof.

The first reason is that the roof of your golf cart is starting to deteriorate or has stains on it.

Sometimes people encounter this problem when they have installed a golf cart cover for a long time.

When you remove the cover, there may be rust spots from zippers or stains that are very difficult to remove.

Sometimes a fresh coat of white paint can make the golf cart look like new again.

Another reason you may need to paint a golf cart roof is if you are replacing or adding the roof.

Not all golf carts come with a roof.

If you want to add one to your cart, you can look for a used option.

If your car is black with red detailing and you put a tan top on it, the car probably won’t look good.

With a quick spray, you’ll end up looking like you have a brand new golf cart straight from the factory.

Some people are painting their golf cart tops to blend in with their surroundings as well.

If you use your cart for hunting or off-road driving, you might not want it to stand out with a glossy white top.

Here you can paint the top black or even make a camouflage pattern on it if you like.

Can you paint a golf cart roof with a brush?

This question is often asked because they don’t like working with spray paint.

Painting the roof of your golf cart with a brush and liquid paint is not a good idea.

There will be a lot of brush marks and you won’t get a nice even coat like the spray paint will.

Another reason you’re better off using spray paint to cover the roof of the car is that it’s a lot quicker.

The entire process of spray painting the top of your shopping cart should take less than an hour.

It’s not a large surface to cover, and the spray paint does it very quickly.

Can you touch up the paint on a golf cart roof?

If you’d rather not get involved with the whole painting process and touch up a few spots, you might be able to.

If you’ve spraypainted your golf cart in the past, chances are you have the paint you used and this will be even easier for you.

If you’ve never spraypainted your car before, you’ll need to find an exact paint color match, and that will be a challenge.

One way to do this is to contact the golf manufacturer and see if they sell touch up paint.

If you want to fix a small mark or stain you could probably use a small can of touch up paint.

This is a time when using the brush instead of the spray would be acceptable.

Most of the time you need to replace the entire top of the cart.

This is the most common and the only way to ensure the shopping cart fits and looks the way it should.

Since this is not an expensive project and only takes a few hours, it is worth giving the entire roof a new coat of paint.

Conclusion

Hopefully our step-by-step guide to painting a golf cart roof has helped you realize that this is a process you can handle.

While it’s possible to take your car and have this done, it will likely cost a few hundred dollars.

You can grab a few cans of spray paint, spend a few hours over the weekend, and have this project done for less than $50.00.

When it comes to selling your golf cart, one of the things buyers care about most is aesthetics.

If your shopping cart’s roof is looking dated, don’t be afraid to give it a fresh coat of paint.