Cache painting - Paint that keeps on keeping on... :)

Team Stargazer · Post by **Team Stargazer** » 10 September 03 2:58 am

I'm curious on what kind/brand of paints one uses to paint/camouflage their caches with? I've tried a couple of cheap cans of spray paint but I've found the results they give me is easy to scratch off even with the lightest knock/scratch.

riblit · Post by **riblit** » 10 September 03 9:39 am

The surface probably has something to do with it as well. I have used a cheap paint from Bunnings and an expensive paint from Kmart. Both resist bending of the cache. I have one hanging in my workshop that I painted with the Bunnings paint. I can bend the cache without the paint cracking and it appears resistant to scratching.

the odlids · Post by **the odlids** » 10 September 03 10:42 am

The key is surface preparation, I use the cheapest of cheap spray paint from Bunnings (sometimes on special as low as $1.99 a can).

I use about 200 grit wetndry "sandpaper" and rough up all the surfaces that need painting.

I'll normally start with a coat of fairly light cream colour, and then add a variety of different colours (black, red, green, brown) in a mottled effect depending upon what the cache has to blend in with. All this is done very quickly so that the previous coat does not have time to dry.

I let the whole mess air dry for a couple of hours, then "bake" it in the oven (at low temperature approx 50Ã‚Â° to 60Ã‚Â° C) for another hour.

The resulting paint adheres reasonably well, but will crack off if handled too roughly.

The paint seems to have the added benefit of tasting lousy, which seems to partially deter critters.

Regards
Odlid Dave

Papa Bear_Left · Post by **Papa Bear_Left** » 10 September 03 11:47 am

I'll ask this question in the Kiwi forum, as just about _every_ cache seems to be camo painted!

I'm sure there's some serious expertise to draw on...

Papa Bear_Left · Post by **Papa Bear_Left** » 10 September 03 11:53 am

On a related topic, this is a template that a Kiwi cacher made available for camo painting.

http://www.automata.co.nz/misc/DPM.pdf

I gather that one prints these out, then laminates them, then cuts out the markings and paints them onto a prepainted background colour on the cache container.

Papa Bear_Left · Post by **Papa Bear_Left** » 10 September 03 1:16 pm

From the secondary site lists:

camo painting

Gunn Parker · Post by **Gunn Parker** » 11 September 03 2:03 pm

the odlids wrote: I let the whole mess air dry for a couple of hours, then "bake" it in the oven (at low temperature approx 50Ã‚Â° to 60Ã‚Â° C) for another hour.

Do you put a plastic container in the oven?

the odlids · Post by **the odlids** » 11 September 03 4:32 pm

Yep!! Sure do..!!!!! Just make sure that the oven is not to hot.

The containers we use are dishwasher and microwave safe!

Cheers

Odlid Dave

Papa Bear_Left · Post by **Papa Bear_Left** » 12 September 03 8:11 am

There's been a couple of pages of discussion on the Kiwi site and one comment in particular interested me.

Apparently, the accepted method of removing the wax from Tupperware-style containers before printing on them is to pass a yellow flame over them. Don't hold the flame in one spot!
(It does give the box a nice, natural, easy-to-hide shape, but the lid's a bit hard to get back on!)
A local pyromaniac here is going to try it this weekend and report back. Watch this (blackened?) space!

the odlids · Post by **the odlids** » 12 September 03 4:31 pm

We look forward to the pictures..!!!!

Cheers
Odlid Dave

SNIFTER · Post by **SNIFTER** » 12 September 03 9:57 pm

The spay stone stuff is what we use for our disguise on some of our containers. I have used it on plastic and on metal. Looks great and it really does blend in with the surroundings. I have also used the beaten metal stuff as well.

Team Stargazer · Post by **Team Stargazer** » 13 September 03 12:58 am

SNIFTER wrote:The spay stone stuff is what we use for our disguise on some of our containers. I have used it on plastic and on metal. Looks great and it really does blend in with the surroundings. I have also used the beaten metal stuff as well.

Sounds like just the thing. Where is this product available from? Cost?

swampgecko · Post by **swampgecko** » 13 September 03 7:38 am

The stuff I use is by Plasti-kote, called fleck stone spray paint, comes in a range of "colours" from gray to green. it is found at all hardwares and most of the big variety stores that carry paint. Also the hammer tone paints that Snifter refered to before can be found at most of the same locations. Price well that can vary but anywhere from $7 to $14 is the price range that I have seen around my area.

SNIFTER · Post by **SNIFTER** » 13 September 03 8:43 pm

Yes Plastikote is the one and also Galmet and White knight. I think that I pay around the $14 mark as well.