What paint sticks?

Ratmagiclady · 04-06-2009, 06:26 PM

Just wondering if anyone knew this... I'd like to put some white in the grooves of my K20d's metering selector (I keep forgetting to take it off spot and it'd help if the thing were more visible. ) and am wondering what sticks well to what I presume is the same polycarbonate type stuff as the body. I was thinking plain ol' hobby enamel ought to do. I figure the little grooves in there ought to hold anything a while, but I'd like to do it as nice as I can.

Just wondering if anyone'd done anything like this, and in case there's any no-nos, about it, at least to have asked around.

Damn Brit · 04-06-2009, 06:46 PM

I haven't done it on a camera but I used orange enamel paint on my dive watch but it didn't last long. I think enamel has to cure for quite a while before it hardens.

Ratmagiclady · 04-06-2009, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by Damn Brit

I haven't done it on a camera but I used orange enamel paint on my dive watch but it didn't last long. I think enamel has to cure for quite a while before it hardens.

Well, that's generally a given, paint drying and all. I've got a few model paints I've used for various touch-up and craft purposes that might serve if they're still any good. When I was young, I used to put the occasional dot of my father's gunsight paint on dials or something. (generally metal somethings) The phosphorescent stuff would glow like a watch face once upon a time.

ramshot · 04-06-2009, 07:23 PM

How about using a fine point permanent marker? They come in a variety of colors now days.

Wheatfield · 04-06-2009, 07:44 PM

Originally posted by Ratmagiclady

Just wondering if anyone knew this... I'd like to put some white in the grooves of my K20d's metering selector (I keep forgetting to take it off spot and it'd help if the thing were more visible. ) and am wondering what sticks well to what I presume is the same polycarbonate type stuff as the body. I was thinking plain ol' hobby enamel ought to do. I figure the little grooves in there ought to hold anything a while, but I'd like to do it as nice as I can.

Just wondering if anyone'd done anything like this, and in case there's any no-nos, about it, at least to have asked around.

Coloured nail polish.
Use a toothpick to apply it.

Rustyoldbug · 04-06-2009, 07:55 PM

I run into this a lot with test equipment, audio gear, & radio gear - I use whiteout. Easy to apply, and reapply if needed. Also easy to remove later to make something look original or like new.

Venturi · 04-06-2009, 10:17 PM

Automotive touch-up paint is another option. Comes in small vials similar to nail polish.

Ratmagiclady · 04-06-2009, 10:21 PM

Hrm, well, I have a hobby paint that'll hopefully flake less than whiteout might.

(I've used that, too, might be worth a try, not generaly on things that are handled directly, though. Nail polish is out, mostly because I don't have any in a color that would be useful. Also cause it can be bad on some plastics and be fumey.)

Arpe · 04-07-2009, 01:54 AM

On my rear lens caps I always use white correction fluid to nark the groove that lines up with the red dot! Stays on forever in the groove.

Damn Brit · 04-07-2009, 03:52 AM

Originally posted by Ratmagiclady

Well, that's generally a given, paint drying and all. I've got a few model paints I've used for various touch-up and craft purposes that might serve if they're still any good. When I was young, I used to put the occasional dot of my father's gunsight paint on dials or something. (generally metal somethings) The phosphorescent stuff would glow like a watch face once upon a time.

I meant "QUITE A WHILE"", longer than you would think.

Tom S. · 04-07-2009, 06:34 AM

Try a white crayon! Could it be this simple? Yes, this has been around a long time in the firearms world to highlight the lettering on barrels. I have one that was done over 35 years ago and still looks good. It's easy to remove too!

flyer · 04-07-2009, 01:58 PM

Whatever you use, just make sure you clean it well with some kind of degreaser (look in hobby shop for plastic safe degreaser) first to make sure the paint adheres properly.

poco · 04-07-2009, 02:50 PM

Originally posted by Tom S.

Try a white crayon! Could it be this simple? Yes, this has been around a long time in the firearms world to highlight the lettering on barrels. I have one that was done over 35 years ago and still looks good. It's easy to remove too!

There is a web page that has instructions for doing this and it recommends a white "China Marker".

Dixon Phano Non-Toxic China Marker

I would try rub on, white, lettering on the camera. Much less potential for auxiliary issues I think.

OregonJim · 04-07-2009, 03:30 PM

Originally posted by Rustyoldbug

I run into this a lot with test equipment, audio gear, & radio gear - I use whiteout. Easy to apply, and reapply if needed. Also easy to remove later to make something look original or like new.

We used to do this a lot on radio gear, too. It lasts longer than you would expect. Fingernail polish works too - perhaps the acrylic type would last even longer.

**rparmar** · 04-07-2009, 06:00 PM

Back in the studio we used china white. But it's not terribly particular and so might not be "spot" enough for this application.

04-06-2009, 06:26 PM	#1
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	What paint sticks? Just wondering if anyone knew this... I'd like to put some white in the grooves of my K20d's metering selector (I keep forgetting to take it off spot and it'd help if the thing were more visible. ) and am wondering what sticks well to what I presume is the same polycarbonate type stuff as the body. I was thinking plain ol' hobby enamel ought to do. I figure the little grooves in there ought to hold anything a while, but I'd like to do it as nice as I can. Just wondering if anyone'd done anything like this, and in case there's any no-nos, about it, at least to have asked around.

04-07-2009, 02:50 PM	#13
poco Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 153	Originally posted by Tom S. Try a white crayon! Could it be this simple? Yes, this has been around a long time in the firearms world to highlight the lettering on barrels. I have one that was done over 35 years ago and still looks good. It's easy to remove too! There is a web page that has instructions for doing this and it recommends a white "China Marker". Dixon Phano Non-Toxic China Marker I would try rub on, white, lettering on the camera. Much less potential for auxiliary issues I think. Last edited by poco; 04-07-2009 at 03:39 PM.

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04-06-2009, 06:46 PM	#2
Damn Brit Guest	I haven't done it on a camera but I used orange enamel paint on my dive watch but it didn't last long. I think enamel has to cure for quite a while before it hardens.

04-06-2009, 07:08 PM	#3
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563 Original Poster	Originally posted by Damn Brit I haven't done it on a camera but I used orange enamel paint on my dive watch but it didn't last long. I think enamel has to cure for quite a while before it hardens. Well, that's generally a given, paint drying and all. I've got a few model paints I've used for various touch-up and craft purposes that might serve if they're still any good. When I was young, I used to put the occasional dot of my father's gunsight paint on dials or something. (generally metal somethings) The phosphorescent stuff would glow like a watch face once upon a time.

04-06-2009, 07:23 PM	#4
ramshot Guest	How about using a fine point permanent marker? They come in a variety of colors now days.

04-06-2009, 07:44 PM	#5
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by Ratmagiclady Just wondering if anyone knew this... I'd like to put some white in the grooves of my K20d's metering selector (I keep forgetting to take it off spot and it'd help if the thing were more visible. ) and am wondering what sticks well to what I presume is the same polycarbonate type stuff as the body. I was thinking plain ol' hobby enamel ought to do. I figure the little grooves in there ought to hold anything a while, but I'd like to do it as nice as I can. Just wondering if anyone'd done anything like this, and in case there's any no-nos, about it, at least to have asked around. Coloured nail polish. Use a toothpick to apply it.

04-06-2009, 07:55 PM	#6
Rustyoldbug Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North San Diego, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 137	I run into this a lot with test equipment, audio gear, & radio gear - I use whiteout. Easy to apply, and reapply if needed. Also easy to remove later to make something look original or like new.

04-06-2009, 10:17 PM	#7
Venturi Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,636	Automotive touch-up paint is another option. Comes in small vials similar to nail polish.

04-06-2009, 10:21 PM	#8
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563 Original Poster	Hrm, well, I have a hobby paint that'll hopefully flake less than whiteout might. (I've used that, too, might be worth a try, not generaly on things that are handled directly, though. Nail polish is out, mostly because I don't have any in a color that would be useful. Also cause it can be bad on some plastics and be fumey.)

04-07-2009, 01:54 AM	#9
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	On my rear lens caps I always use white correction fluid to nark the groove that lines up with the red dot! Stays on forever in the groove.

04-07-2009, 03:52 AM	#10
Damn Brit Guest	Originally posted by Ratmagiclady Well, that's generally a given, paint drying and all. I've got a few model paints I've used for various touch-up and craft purposes that might serve if they're still any good. When I was young, I used to put the occasional dot of my father's gunsight paint on dials or something. (generally metal somethings) The phosphorescent stuff would glow like a watch face once upon a time. I meant "QUITE A WHILE"", longer than you would think.

04-07-2009, 06:34 AM	#11
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Try a white crayon! Could it be this simple? Yes, this has been around a long time in the firearms world to highlight the lettering on barrels. I have one that was done over 35 years ago and still looks good. It's easy to remove too!

04-07-2009, 01:58 PM	#12
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	Whatever you use, just make sure you clean it well with some kind of degreaser (look in hobby shop for plastic safe degreaser) first to make sure the paint adheres properly.

04-07-2009, 03:30 PM	#14
OregonJim Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon Posts: 1,327	Originally posted by Rustyoldbug I run into this a lot with test equipment, audio gear, & radio gear - I use whiteout. Easy to apply, and reapply if needed. Also easy to remove later to make something look original or like new. We used to do this a lot on radio gear, too. It lasts longer than you would expect. Fingernail polish works too - perhaps the acrylic type would last even longer.

04-07-2009, 06:00 PM	#15
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	Back in the studio we used china white. But it's not terribly particular and so might not be "spot" enough for this application.