How To Paint A Paintball Mask? | 2023 Guide

As a professional paintballer, I always loved to customize my paintball masks with my favorite designs and art by painting on them. This took me to perfectionism and I took it as my business. I started to paint paintball masks for others and sold them. Since I am a professional in painting paintball masks, I often get inquired about how to paint a paintball mask so that it is distinguishable from other masks while playing the game.

Although the procedure is very easy to do, you still have to make sure that you are reading the following guidelines carefully and attentively, if you want to get the best possible results of painting the paintball. The following piece of writing tells you about four steps involving the collection of materials, preparation of the mask, painting, and putting the mask back together. You have to make sure that you are not only reading but also understanding the guide on custom-painted paintball masks so that you can have the best results in painting the paintball mask. Well guys, let us now start with painting, without any delay.

How To Customize Your Own Paintball Masks

The following detail tells you about four easy step-by-step processes that involve the material collection, mask preparation, priming, painting, and putting back the mask together. All four steps are described below with the relevant details so you can learn and understand the procedure thoroughly.

• Collecting The Materials
• Preparation of The mask
• Painting
• Joining Back The Mask

1. Collecting Materials

You have to make sure that you have all the necessary materials before starting the procedure. Since the process is easy to do it means you do not have to spend time collecting lots of materials. There are two ways of painting the paintball mask.

If you just want to change the base color it is incredibly effortless to do. What you have to do is to get the specific type of paint that can stick to the plastic of the mask and the painter’s tape that is used for covering the areas where you just don’t want your paint to touch.

On the other hand, if you want to paint the paintball mask in a unique and customizable way and want to make it look appealing and attractive, go with the use of stencils. This involves the addition of the art on the paintball mask after the base paint is applied. For this, you need to have some extra essential gear. And this involves an X-Acto blade and a stencil.

In case you don’t have these you can also go with a pre-made vinyl stencil that is ready to use. I prefer going with a pre-made stencil because it is comparatively easy to use and does not demand cropping or cutting with the blade. This was the general overview of the necessary items that you will need for the painting of the paintball mask. I am going to elaborate on the details of these supplies so that you can get the best possible gear for the best possible results.

Types Of Paint

Since there are so many types of available paints it does not mean that every paint is compatible with plastic. While keeping in mind the usage you have to specify the type of paint according to the need. Keep in mind the material you are going to paint on. I am going to elaborate on 3 of the best compatible paints that are ideal for sticking on plastic. They give you the best results with the best outlook.

• This includes,
• Acrylic paints
• Primer and spray paints
• Plastic spray paints.

Acrylic Paints

There are so many types of acrylic paints available but not every painting is for every plastic. You have to read the details mentioned on the paint firsthand, to get knowledge about the paint and its compatibility with the plastic of the paintball mask. One thing that you have to keep in mind is that acrylic paints are not admirable for painting on paintball masks. They are not durable and are prone to chipping. But you can go with them, in case you have no other option available to you.

Primer And Spray Paint

Keep in mind that you can’t go with regular spray paints and primers to paint the mask. In case you have regular spray paint with you, what you have to do is to apply the compatible primer before applying the paint on the paintball mask. Make sure to apply the primer properly and attentively. After applying the primer you have to apply the layers of spray paint to get the best results. These few coats of regular spray paint will give you the best results in painting.

Plastic Spray Paint

Plastic spray paint is the new type of paint that is now available in many brands. The most common brands that are manufacturing plastic spray paints are Krylon Fusion and Valpar. These paints are made for sticking on plastic. So that you don’t have to worry about chipping off the paint or applying the primer before painting the mask.

I will recommend you go with plastic spray paints that are made specifically for painting on plastic. This is because they are compatible with plastic and stick there for longer times. They are durable and strong enough to hold the plastic without chipping or fading.

Painter’s Tape

Painter’s tape is one of the most important things that you must have before initiating the process of painting the paintball mask. This is important because the tape covers specific areas where you don’t want the paint to go on. It ensures that certain areas are away from the paint. Of course, no one wants to get paint on the padding areas or goggles of the mask. To avoid them, you have to cover them so that the paint doesn’t go there. Otherwise, you will end up having a messy and sloppy paint job.

X-Acto Blade

This is important when you are using stencils to paint the paintball mask. These blades are used for accurate cutting of the stencils so that the design stays exactly the way it is on the stencil. If you want sleekness and precision in your painting, I will recommend you go with an X-Acto blade for having the best and cleanest process of painting.

Stencils

Stencils are optional but they are recommended when you want a more precise, unique, and sophisticated design on the mask. Well, you have two options when it comes to stencils. Either go with printing your design and cutting it with an X-Acto blade or go with purchasing the vinyl stencils that are pre-made and pre-cut, so that you don’t have to spend time making, printing, and cutting the design.

Moreover, if you think that you will not cut the stencil neatly then I will recommend you to go with the online purchase of the stencils. The online collection gives you so many options of stencils to purchase and get your paintball mask painted, the right way.

2. Preparation Of The Mask

In the second step, we have the preparation of the mask. This is an important step that involves the procedure to prepare your paintball mask for painting. Some of the important things come in preparation for the mask. These includes,

• Setting up the space
• Taking the mask apart
• Cleaning the mask
• Application of the printer’s tape

Setting Up The Space

Before directly looking at and performing the steps to prepare the mask, the first thing that you have to do is to set up the workspace. For this what you have to do is to ensure that the area where you are going to paint the mask will keep the paint away from falling on the floor. Make sure the paint will not spread on the wall or other items that are present in the surroundings of that area.

Related Post: Why Do Paintball Masks Get Fogged?

Setting up the location where you are going to paint the mask is of utmost importance because spray paint is prone to spread. You have to make sure that you are using safety gear like goggles and gloves. Ensure the clothes and shoes you are wearing are old and not new.

One of the last things that I recommend you to check while setting up the space is to make sure that the area where you are going to paint the paintball mask is properly ventilated so that the chemicals and fumes present in the spray just do not harm you or just don’t get extremely powerful to hurt you in any way.

Separating The Pieces Of Mask

If you want to get the best results in the painting you have to make sure that you are painting on every inch of the mask leaving behind no area where you want to paint. Although this step is optional, I will recommend you not paint the mask while it is intact. This is because the mask that is not in the pieces has more chance of getting the paint on the goggles and other areas where you don’t want the paint to touch.

While taking the mask apart make sure that you are not forcing or getting hard with the mask. This is because the mask will either break into pieces or will get damaged. It ultimately makes the mask useless. So make sure to go with a soft touch and easy effort, instead of forcing things.

I will recommend you remove the goggles portion first and then go with the removal of other parts. Go with the online search or look at the owner’s manual to learn the exact way of separating the paintball mask pieces, you have. This will help you in separating the pieces of the mask fully and easily.

Cleaning Your Mask

Now is the time to clean your mask before painting it. I am going to tell you about the step-by-step procedure to clean the mask. Read the details so you can follow the procedure easily. What you have to do is to take a paper towel or a small cloth and put it into a little water. Make sure you are not using extra water or soap or any other chemical liquid.

Rub it against the surface of the mask and remove any dust or dirt present there. Look for any residue that, if not removed, can affect the stickiness of the paint on the mask. Ensure to remove all kinds of dirt and debris including dust, leftover paint, or any other thing present on the mask’s surface. Now dry the mask by putting it into the air, and by rubbing it with the use of dry clothes.

Application Of The Painter’s Tape

After you have properly cleaned your mask, now is the time to put the tape on the mask to the areas where you don’t want the paint to get on. Ensure to put the tape specifically around the edges and goggles area so that you can get the results of paint as clean as possible. If there is a need you can also use any blade, a scissor, or a knife for the cutting of the tape. Now leave the tape as it is for around half an hour, to let it set naturally. Now your mask is ready to paint.

3. Painting

Painting involves two steps, one is the painting of the base paint and the second is the painting of the design on the top of the base paint. The following details tell you about both of the steps so that you can follow and get the best results from painting

Painting Of The Base Paint

If you want to get the best results of painting and want to minimize the chances of chipping and fading, I will recommend you go with at least 2 to 3 coats of base paint. There are two different ways of painting the base paint on the paintball mask. Whether to go with the application of primer and spray paint or go with plastic spray paint.

Primer And Spray Paint

When you are using primer and spray paint for painting the base paint, you have to apply the primary first hand. This is important because without it your paint will not stick the way you want on the plastic. Without the application of primer, there is a high chance of paint chipping and fading quickly. You have to apply at least a single layer of primer to the mask before applying the base paint.

Now leave it for around 30 to 45 minutes. Wait until the primer dries fully. In case you notice that the primer is not right, leave it for a couple of hours. After making sure that the primer is completely dried up, now you have to apply the spray paint on the mask. Make sure that you are holding the paint for around 7-9 inches away from the mask. Now spray on the areas where you want to spray and leave them for a while.

Wait until it dries. I will recommend you leave the mask on for around 1 hour so that it completely dries. Now the application of the second layer of spray paint depends totally on your choice. If you think there is a need you can go with that. Otherwise, if you think that one coat is enough and it will not fade or chip easily. Leave it as it is. Your mask has now got the base paint and is ready for a detailed painting procedure.

Plastic Spray Paint

Spraying the plastic spray paint is the easiest way to paint the mask. This is because this type of paint is made specifically for plastic painting. You can skip the whole priming procedure and can go with simply applying the paint directly onto the mask. I will recommend the same way of painting that we have described above.

Since it is spray paint you have to spray the paint on the surface of the mask. Ensure to spray from 7 to 9 inches away. Leave it and let it dry. I will recommend you to go with the application of 2 or 3 coats to get the best durable and long-lasting painting results. Now as you are done with base painting now is the time to get the detailed painting using the stencils.

Painting Via Stencils

The following description will tell you the exact and step-by-step procedure of painting the stencil on the paintball mask, to achieve the best unique, different, and attractive design. The first thing that you have to keep in check is that the base layer is dried. Always make sure that the base layer and the spray paint that you have painted your mask with, in the previous step, are already fully dried.

Keep in mind to choose a color different from the base color. It will give you a nice color contrast and will make your mask truly unique and different from others. Now select the proper location of the stencil where you are going to put the stencil on the mask. Make sure that you are selecting a location where there is a flat area so that there are no open spaces or leftover areas.

Moreover, if your stencil is adaptive to curving, you can go with the selection of the curve area. After selecting the paint color and stencil location, now is the time to take the stencil to that specific location you have selected. Now use the painter’s tape again and stick the stencil on the mask with it. Ensure that it is as flat as it can be. This is because if the stencil is not flat there is a high chance that the paint may leak and create a mess by ruining your design and your artwork.

It is the last step where you have to spray paint the stencil. Make sure that you are applying the paint evenly and not applying it too much. This is because the over-spraying of the paint results in leakage that ultimately will cause a mess and will ruin the whole mask.

4. Joining Back The Mask

This is the fourth step that involves putting the mask back together. For this, the first thing that you have to do is to remove the painter’s tape that you have stuck on the areas where you were not wanting the paint to go. Make sure that you are removing the tape slowly and not hard. This is because in case you are harshly dealing with the removal of the tape, it can cause peeling off. After careful removal of the tape, now is the time to put back the mask together.

We can go with the online help or the manual guide to learn how to put back the mask together. One thing that you have to keep in mind is that you can use the X-Acto blade to cut the tape and remove it easily. Similarly, I will recommend you wait until the paint is completely dried for the removal of the tape and putting the mask back together. Otherwise, it will create an uncontrollable mess that will affect your design and will make the mask look more poor and bad.

Final Thoughts

Painting the paintball mask is not a tough method, instead, it is an easy and quick procedure. If you want your mask to stand out among others you can paint the paintball mask just the way you want. This above-mentioned article tells you about all the details related to the painting procedure and what gears are essential for you to have before initiating the painting procedure. I will recommend you learn the paintball mask painting procedure beforehand so that you can get the best results painting.

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