How to Change the Color of Rubber
by Brock Cooper
Rubber is a popular covering and protector for many items, including cars and standard household equipment. It is supple, bendable and strong, making it unique among polymers and coverings. Due to its chemical makeup, standard latex and oil-based paints don't attach to cover rubber well. Special cleaning products and paints are used to change the color of rubber. The finished product should look like the rubber's natural color.
Step 1
Remove all the rubber from the object it's on before beginning the painting process. Tape newspaper pages to a table for a work space that is clean and won't be affected by the paint. Place the rubber pieces on the table.
Step 2
Clean all the rubber pieces with soap and water. Allow them to dry throughly. Clean the rubber pieces with a degreaser to remove all traces of oil and grease from the rubber. Allow the rubber to dry thoroughly.
Step 3
Paint the surface of the rubber pieces with a primer coating made specifically for vinyl products. The primer helps the paint adhere to the rubber surface. If the paint and rubber have colors that differ dramatically, the primer mutes the rubber's original color to reduce the coats of paint necessary. Allow the rubber to thoroughly dry.
Step 4
Paint the rubber pieces with a vinyl dye or paint. This is usually in spray-can form and is made to adhere to objects like vinyl and rubber. Spray the pieces evenly and allow them to dry. It may take several coats of paint to reach the color and thickness you desire. Vinyl dye also is made to be flexible if the rubber pieces move or bend. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before adding another coat.
References
Things You'll Need
- Tape
- Newspaper
- Soap and water
- Degreaser
- Paint brush
- Primer
- Vinyl dye or paint
Writer Bio
Brock Cooper attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill. He was a reporter for seven years with a daily in Illinois before branching out into marketing and media relations. He has experience in writing everything from press releases to features on a variety of subjects and forums. His work can be seen in NewsTribune newspaper, Chicago Parent magazine and several websites.
