Help needed: How do you paint a ball?

[sycor]

Seriousy? How do you paint a ball to get good even coverage? I'm not familiar with painting as it is, but the stuff I typically paint are more flat or block shaped. So you can paint a side and then move on to another side. But how do you paint a ball without getting uneven coverage from having to rotate it?

And to make matters worse, the ball is around 1.5 inch in diameter so it's small.

 

[jackdoud]

Does it have to be covered 360 or will it be sitting/attached on/to something? If it is then you can mount it at the same point on a stick and use that. If it has to be 360* then multiple light coats is pretty much the only option.

 

[hydin]

Bingo.

If you have a section that is going to be covered (meaning by a display base or something) you can always go the "fishing line and superglue" trick, where you tie the fishing line off to a little "hangman scaffold" you can make outta virtually anything, and glue one end to the ball and let it hang while you paint. Pops off pretty easy and only leaves a tiny mark if you don't slather the glue on.

Chris

 

[rollerboi]

Try shaving it first.

 

[Jaded Monk]

I've driven three large nails through a board converging on a point for just this purpose. You'll have to do multiple coats, or some touch ups, but I find it's the easiest solution.

 

[EyeofSauron]

a ball like a soccer ball to blow up or a solid ball?

because a inflatable ball is easy, you build a stand with a blow up needle for the ball on top and mount the ball on that

voila 360° paintable

 

[Garthok]

Try shaving it first.

lol...sorry, nothing to add, especially after that comment

 

[Shylaah]

Okay, I've actually done this before to a small wooden ball!!
If it can be spray painted.......

I cut the sides off a small cardboard box to about 2 inches high.
Tossed the ball in and started tilting and moving the box around
to make the ball roll all over.

I started spraying the paint, chasing the ball around the box as I
continued to spray, then stopped spraying and let it roll to a stop.
A light coat of spray paint dries so fast the ball is dry enough when
it stops rolling not to stick in the spot......

I put on three light coats sanded between each, and a final polish.....

Shylaah

 

[exoray]

This is how I would do it, make a simple jig that uses two fine points (needles, pin, nail) to suspend the ball, you get 360° of access and only have 2 very small areas that can easily be spot touched afterwords... If you use needles or pins the area is so small it's nearly painless to touch up...

 

[sycor]

Thanks for the ideas guys.

 

[Delmustator]

Just spin it on your finger like a basketball player and rattle can paint it as it spins. Keep it spinning and take a heat gun to it before it stop spinning... There.. all done and perfect paint job..


;-)

 

[sycor]

Just spin it on your finger like a basketball player and rattle can paint it as it spins. Keep it spinning and take a heat gun to it before it stop spinning... There.. all done and perfect paint job..


;-)

But then how to I get the section that's balancing on my finger? :confused :lol