Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Paint a mural on a polyethylene water tank

I am planning to paint a mural on an exposed polyethylene water tank in the Bahamas on an exposed hill. It's about 400 cubic feet in size. I am wondering which paint will work best. Should I start by sanding? Then apply Krylon and top that with Latex paint? I would prefer to use a brush paint because a spray will fly in the brisk wind here. I need to use the Latex for the mural so I can get the colors needed by mixing and using a water solvent. Should I also plan on some kind of glossy, clear, top coat? Any help appreciated.

Larisa Lynn Danforth
Artist - Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas
2006

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Paint sticks poorly to polyethylene. Search the site for testimonials to Bulldog Tie Coat [affil links], Krylon Fusion [on eBay or Amazon] paint, and other approaches. But it might be a good idea to immediately brush on a little paint of any color to get a feel for what you will be up against.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006

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Hi Larissa,

As Ted pointed out, paint sticks poorly to Polyethylene (or to PP, for that matter).

But if you can get some 'flexible' paint, then paint around the WHOLE tank so that the paint will adhere to itself.... mind you, a spot of sanding will help matters.

Then having made a good underlay with the flexible paint, goest thou and paint thy mural on the top of it. OK?

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).
2006

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2006

Hi Larisa,

This is a follow up to my last comments on painting Pe.

Firstly, why don't you go to GOOGLE and just type in the words "painting Polyethylene" .... I did that and got somewhat educated. You'll find MUCH more data there. Much more than I could give you.

Then I phoned up a local large mfg of rotational moulded Pe products ... and they make buoys in two colours and prepaint them, apparently very successfully, too.

Try GOOGLE. Prepare the surface. Use a flexible paint.

Ars langae, vita brevis.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).

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When people type 'painting polyethylene' into google as you suggest, Freeman, the 2nd & 3rd hits send them here -- which is probably how Larisa got here. We always appreciate your suggestions & helpfulness, including offering promising search terms, but please try to avoid phrasing that might be misinterpreted as giving our welcome and hard-won visitors the bum's rush :-)

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006

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First of two simultaneous responses --

Hey Freeman, does Arse langae, vita brevis mean "the site administrator about to open a can of whip-a** on me?" Har, Har

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
2006

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

Ted,

I seem to recall your comments to many a student ... of searching the internet FIRST OF ALL .... which is what I did because many seem to think that fin.com is better/more knowledgeable than dear ole Google.

I'm not trying to give anyone the Bum's Rush, as you so poignantly put it but I'm sure, I'm positive that, as you have pointed out many a time, people are lazy ... especially students, and want an answer IN A RUSH.

Keep up the good work !

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).
2006

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Dear Sheldon,

You can SURE misspell things ... I'm gonna get me gun !

Ars (not Arse) langae, vitae brevis ... I think that it means ART lives LONG, but LIFE IS SHORT.

I just said that Pro Bono Publikum ... damn it, I forgot that Ted said that you were from the Ozarks. Sorry. I'll try to use basic English in future so that yew kan unnerstan' me better. OK?

Freeman Newton
- White Rock, B.C. Canada
2006

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I'm easy to find, I have an orange car with a confederate flag on the top......yahoooooo

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
2006

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2006

Flaming at Finishing.com. give me a break. "you can't spell"

"yeah well my latin is better than yours"

Kids. And to think I actually took the time to post in this thread.. oh yeah, I have an answer to the original question.

I had the same issue and I called Sherwin Williams, (a huge painting company in the USA) they told me it was impossible... Nothing is impossible I say here's what I did with success..

I acquired some primer that was designed to be applied to plastics I sanded the Polypro to a rough finish. (800 grit paper.)

I then bought some 2 part epoxy paint, and laid it on super thick. The second coat took the roughness out of the texture but what I was left with was an "orange peel" texture that has held up to the constant flexing of 2 mixing tanks in my waste treatment area at work for the past 4 months with no problems.

I hope you find what you are looking for.

Ryan Cook
Toccoa, Georgia

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Ed. note: Thanks for the answers for Ryan! But Freeman and Sheldon are just joshing :-)
A bit of silliness is fine on this site which tries to be "The most fun you can have in metal finishing" :-)