Do you want to give your paintball gun a new look? Are you bored with the standard black or camouflage design? Whatever your reason may be, spray paint can be a great way to add some personality and your unique style to the paintball marker.
This guide will walk you through all three painting ways, and the steps involved. We’ll also provide some tips on how to get the best results. So grab your spray paint and let’s get started!
Although there are three ways to give a new cooler look to your paintball gun: anodizing, powder coating, and spray painting.
Types of Painting for Paintball Gun
Anodize Painting
Anodizing is one of the ways to give a fresh look to paintball markers. This method is mostly used on aluminum based most paintball guns. It is the process of dying the metal instead of painting it. Anodizing gives the most finished look because the paint thickness is only about .0005 to .0001.
There are a wide variety of colors and color combinations that you can choose for the marker. Anodizing is the most durable and reliable method and does not chip easily.
The only drawback with anodizing is it’s pretty expensive. It’s going to cost you around $200 only for a single color and $250 for color combinations. The customization option starts at $300 and the price ranges according to the style or design you came up with.
Other than this, you can’t do it yourself. If you want then you first have to learn from a professional and get the essential tools. It’s a pretty hassle just painting one paintball marker.
Another thing that we like to shed some light upon is that anodizing best works on aluminum material. If your paintball marker is made of other base materials like metal and nylon then we suggest going for other painting methods like spray painting or powder coating.
Powder Coating
Let’s bake! Powder coating is putting plastic powder paint onto the body of the paintball marker and then putting it in the oven for a nice bake. The heat distributes the paint evenly and gives a fine smooth finished look.
Even though powder coating is considered to be one of the methods of painting paintball markers but it is more suited for car parts or other heavy industrial equipment. It is reliable but not as durable as anodizing.
Many players also complained that their paint on the paintball marker didn’t turn out to be good. It’s a 50/50 chance of paint turning out to be good or bad.
Metallic, texture, river, and wrinkle are all part of powder coating’s wide range of colors. We tried a few options from here if you would like to give it a look.
Spray Painting
It is a painting process in which paint is sprayed onto the surface through the pressure of air compressed in the cans. You will find a huge variety of colors in spray cans. This method is the cheapest one and the easiest one to learn and apply.
Things required for Spray Paint Your Paintball Guns
Since spray paint is the cheapest and most accessible method of painting the paintball marker. Many players prefer to do it.
To start painting you might need the following things to get started:
- Regular Spray Paint of your choice
- Sand Paper preferably 200-300 Grit
- Steel brush
- Painter or Masking Tape
- Exacto Knife
- Dish Soap & Water
- Paper & Pencil
- Matte Finish Spray (Clear Coat) (Optional)
After gathering all these essentials, it’s time to spray paint.
Steps to Spray Paint Your Paintball Gun
Just follow through our following simple step-to-step guide to get a paint job well done the right way! So grab your spray paint and let’s get started!
Remove Parts You Don’t Want to Spray
The first thing you’ll need to do is remove any parts that you don’t want to paint and take the paintball marker apart with the help of the tool kit until you are left with only the parts you want to paint. We recommend putting the major components in a sealed plastic bag so you won’t misplace anything.
This includes the hopper, air tank, and any other accessories. If you’re not sure how to do this, consult your gun’s manual or look up a tutorial online.
Once everything is removed, give your entire gun a good cleaning with soap and water. Or wipe down all surfaces with a degreaser or alcohol wipe. This will help the paint to adhere better and have even coats of paint later.
Thoroughly Clean the Paintball Marker Parts
After disassembling the paintball marker, wash each part thoroughly with dish soap and water. After rinsing, dry the parts with a dry cloth. Make sure all the parts are fully dried up before you start sanding off the old paint.
Sand Off the Old Paint
If your paintball gun is already painted, you’ll need to sand off the old paint before applying the new one. This will help the new paint to adhere better and give you a smoother realistic finish over the sanded textured surface. The steel brush works like a wonder and the paint comes off easily.
You can use sandpaper afterward to get the residue. To ensure the neatness in the final look of your masterpiece, perfectly clean the marker again with a cloth to get rid of any residue particles.
Cover Paintball Gun Areas You Don’t Want to Spray
Next, you’ll need to mask off any areas that you don’t want to paint. This includes the sights, triggers, and anything else that you want to keep the original color. Once everything is masked off, it’s time to start painting! Use painter’s tape or newspaper to protect areas like the barrel, sights, and grip
You need to be very precise in this specific step. Because if you get spray paint inside of your paintball marker it could affect the performance of the paintball marker. So take your time with masking and don’t rush.
Design a Stencil (Optional)
This step is for more advanced design. If you want to get creative with your marker with designs like leafy patterns, like most players prefer then you need to make a stencil for it.
Draw your design on the paper first and then cut out your stencil with the help of the Exacto knife.
Coating of Paint
Tip: Do a test coat on a piece of paper to know how much you need to put pressure on the nozzle. And how far the spray can need to be? That will minimize the chances of messing up on the actual piece.
Apply a base clear coat of primer spray paint. Choose a light color so that the final color will be more vibrant. Spray thin layer of coats so that the paint doesn’t run or drip or else the finish will be ruined.
Apply the paint with even and steady strokes, holding the can about 12 inches away from the surface. Let the base coat dry completely before moving on to the next coat.
If you want to add additional patterns on your paintball marker then place your stencil over the paintball gun where you want the design to be. After that apply another coat of spray paint. Hold your stencil very still for a few seconds before removing it so that paint can easily settle down.
Use Light Even Strokes
When painting, it’s important to use light even strokes. Heavy coats of paint can run and drip, which will ruin the finish. Start with the paintball gun upside down and work your way up. Apply the paint in thin layers, allowing each one to dry before adding the next one.
Don’t Forget to Paint the Barrel
One common mistake people make when spraying paint on their paintball gun is to forget to paint the barrel. Be sure to remove the masking tape from the barrel and give it a few coats of paint.
Dry the Spray Paint
Let each coat of paint dry for at least 30 minutes or an hour before applying the next one. Depending on the type of spray paint you’re using, you may need to apply several coats before you’re happy with the results.
Once you’re satisfied with the paint job, you can even use a clear coat if you want to on the paintball marker to get that nice finish look. Our favorite is the clear matte finish. Let the gun dry for at least 24-48 hours before reassembling it. If you are in a hurry, use a fan or heat lamp, or dryer to speed up the process.
Take Off the Masking Tape
Once the paintball marker is fully dried up, peel off all the masking tape from it. But be sure the paintball gun dried up before you take off the masking or painter tape.
Putting Back The Paintball Marker
After the gun is dried and free from all the masking tape, it’s time to put it back together for action. And that’s it! You’ve now got a unique and stylish paintball gun that is sure to turn heads on the field.
Is Spray Paint Enough?
To answer the first query, spray paint is good enough because it is an economical option but paintball players do go for anodizing or powder coating for their expensive markers to avoid painting guns over and over again.
Even though spray paint is an easy and cheap method but it is the least reliable and durable method. Over time the paint will start to chip or peel away. Still, many players do prefer this technique despite all of that.
Should You Spray Paint Your Paintball Marker?
Now for the second query, we won’t recommend you do any painting if you have thoughts of reselling your paintball marker. So before you custom paint your marker be sure that you won’t be reselling it. Because spray painting or other painting methods will lower its selling value.
If you are certain to keep your paintball marker as your battle companion for a long time then go for it. But you also need to remember that spray paint wears off with time. You eventually have to redo the paint job after a while once the paint starts to flake off.
We won’t recommend you spray paint if your paintball marker is expensive. For expensive markers go for anodizing or powder coating methods. These two will give far better results in terms of reliability, durability, and finish the look.
Spray painting is more for a moderate or less expensive paintball marker or guns. Since it’s sensible not to spend too much money on just paint only for normal paintball markers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you spray paint a paintball marker?
Yes, you definitely can protect the paintball marker from corrosion and wears. It is also a simple way to customize your gun according to your style and liking.
Because you won’t find much of a color range in the online market. It also gives you the room of going crazy with the camouflage designs.
Is it safe to spray paint a paintball gun?
It is safe to spray paint the paintball gun. However, you need to be extra careful with the masking tape step as mentioned in the article for better results.
Although spray paint is not a long-term solution. The paint will start to wear off after some time and you have to redo it again with all the proper steps to avoid any complications.
Is it okay to spray paint a pistol?
It is perfectly fine to spray paint any firearm as long as you follow the instructions and precautions carefully.
Spray painting is an easy way of renovating your firearm, in this case, a pistol or paintball gun, according to your choice of style & color.
Can you spray paint a paintball barrel?
Yes, you can spray paint the paintball barrel. The procedure to spray paint a barrel is the same as spray painting a paintball gun.
Many users often forget or don’t paint the barrel. However, you certainly can spray paint a barrel if you want to.
Can you Hydro dip a paintball gun?
You can also paint your gun with Hydro Dip as long as those aren’t inside chamber parts of the paintball marker gun.
Since this technique is done with water be extra sure with the masking so your paintball marker remains safe and functions properly after the paint makeover.
For those who don’t know Hydro Dip, it is a painting technique in which you use water and spray paints. You spray paint on top of the water filled in the bucket.
Then you submerge the thing you want to paint in the water. Paint gets stuck to the thing and then you get it out from the water. This technique is used to create mesmerizing and unique patterns with different color options.
Conclusion
Spray painting is the simplest way to learn to paint the paintball gun. Even though anodizing and powder coating is far more reliable, these methods are expensive.
And you have got to pay for these or either learn from professionals and need a lot of tools and equipment for the finished look.
Among the three painting ways, anodizing is the best and provides more protection against corrosion & wear. Second, in line is powder coating and at last, is spray painting. However, the cheapest, simple to learn & easiest method among them is spray painting.
Now that you know how to spray paint your paintball gun, go out and experiment with different colors and designs. Have fun!
