acrylic paints-craft versus art?

[jrr74]

I purchased some casting resin online the other day in hopes of making floats for my baby sea ponies.  I have no idea how they are going to turn out.  My last art class was in middle school more than 2 decades ago, closer to three. But lets say the powers that be are on my side and they actually turn out ok, what kind of acrylic paint do I use on them?  Artist or craft?  Is there a particular brand that is more forgiving/easier to work with?  Should I sand and prime first?  If so, what kind of primer?  I bought an inexpensive Badger brand basic spray gun set and I am going to try to operate it with my air pump from my aquarium. 

Yeah, I know    But hey, if it works, I just saved myself a little money!  Otherwise, I will hand paint them

Any advice appreciated except for I am wasting my time using a fish pump...that it won't work.  Some things I just have to find out for myself   

Have a great week,
jrr74

[pseudomonas]

Resin tends to wind up shiny; I've not had much luck with acrylic paint on shiny surfaces, if you dilute it it beads up and won't spread (this is with brushes, airbrush might work better, but not tried that); if you brush it on thick it forms a clumpy streaky finish that is too flexible to sand down. I'd hazard a guess at "degrease and maybe sand very very lightly with very fine abrasive; a couple of thin coats of general spray primer, and then any old acrylics will work". I would very strongly advise casting some little test pieces — maybe the size of coins — and trying different techniques out to see what gives you the best finish without wasting too much time, resin, or paint.

Post Merge: January 29, 2016, 02:38:06 AM

(you could also try sanding and then acrylics, but I think that'd risk the paint flaking off at the slightest provocation)

[Wardah]

I haven't worked with resin yet but with hard plastic things I find a coat of dullcote helps things stick.

[Diamond]

Okay you need to wash the resin first, not soak it but wash it with a degreaser.  Such as Dawn dish-washing liquid.  Then lightly sand and wash again.  Then prime, then paint.  I doubt your fish tank pump is going to have enough ophm to really power your airbrush set up, not unless you thin your paint way down, in which case you shall get a runny mess.  If it does, still thin and do several light coats and you should be fine.   Artist acrylics are not meant to be thinned that much.  They make paint for airbrushes that is, so that is a better bet. 

[jrr74]

Thank you everyone for your wisdom.  Fish pump, even though it was for a large tank, did not work  .   Oh well.  My resin casts of sea pony floats have been failures too.  Not giving up though! Experiment, experiment, experiment...and learn from my mistakes.  I think I am getting closer.  Thank goodness my DH has a work shop in the basement and a lot of various tools and materials I can use.  I hope to someday be able to post a picture of a successful replica.