Can you paint or stain flex PVC?
- Thread starter Steveb
- Start date
uncleof6
Active member
In this case, black flex pvc should not be that hard to find. I think it is simply a search term problem. The term is 'spa flex.' Flex PVC is a company name, and a few websites are named thusly as well.
https://www.google.com/search?q=black+spa+flex+hose&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.
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Steveb
Premium Member
If I go that route I will paint it in place or close to it with minimal flexing...
Steveb
Premium Member
I happened to find an old piece of 1" spa flex in my plumbing odds & ends box shortly after I started this thread and painted it with krylon fusion, about 2 hours ago now. Its still very sticky. I will wait until in the morning but I think the warning about painting it appears to be correct.
What about the PVC dye from Narad Corp that you mix with MEK. Anyone have any experience?
What about the PVC dye from Narad Corp that you mix with MEK. Anyone have any experience?
jamie1981
New member
. I have no help for you about using the dye.
jamie1981
New member
I'm sure it will dry with more time but I still think it will crack.
uncleof6
Active member
I told you why this would happen in your other thread: solvent. There is a chemical imcompatibility. Both rigid pvc pipe and spa flex have what is called plasticizers in the chemical composition. The best way to think of it, is as a solvent, that takes 10 years to evaporate rather than a few seconds.
Spa flex has a great deal more plasticizer that rigid pvc pipe. You can use say krylon fusion on rigid pvc, but not on spa flex. The solvents in the paint melt the surface of spa flex more, and it just becomes a sticky mess.
Since very few paints will actually stick to plastic from the word go, it is harder to get them to stick to heavily plasiticized plastic.
Steveb
Premium Member
Which is in line with what I have read, I suspected it was the additional plasticizer but wasn't sure, and have now proven via experiment (painting spa flex with solvent based paint == no no)...
So I am assuming MEK and a stain will result in the same failure at this point.
So is there a way to color white spa flex Red or Blue?
uncleof6
Active member
I think that is a safe assumption. Of course, folks that have never done this, will encourage you to do so...
Folks wanting to 'color' spa flex, although most consider it a waste of time, wrap the spa flex tightly with tape, and paint the tape... hint hint....
ArmanS
Active member
Have you checked out the PVC Tubing @ US Plastics? They have some that is colored in various colors. Not sure if it will work but worth a look at,
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23110&catid=511
&
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/default.aspx?catid=511
Edit, nvm max size is 1/2"
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23110&catid=511
&
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/default.aspx?catid=511
Edit, nvm max size is 1/2"
Kyuss
Megistered Rember
If you can keep the coloring above any water lines, maybe a vinyl wrap? I'm not sure how well it would stick (it's pretty sticky stuff) but if it doesn't just double wrap it. Even if you go with a quality cast vinyl, it should be relatively cheap ($30-$50) depending on how much spa flex you're trying to color.
