Painting acrylic/perspex question

paulnb57

How does a chap paint the back of a clear acrylic/perspex Scratchplate? Thinking of using car type aerosol, degrease and spray?, obviously can't prime, or feasibly scuff with sandpaper, is it just a case of spraying the paint straight on? Will the paint melt the plastic?

Ive seen someone on here do it, can't remember who, was it you @WezV ;

poopot

Is it for a scratchplate?

use coloured or patterned paper that way you can change it when the mood takes!!!!

paulnb57

poopot said:

Is it for a scratchplate?

use coloured or patterned paper that way you can change it when the mood takes!!!!

I admit I had considered that!

poopot

If not... acrylic spray will do it.

paulnb57

I'd like to paint the back of the scratchplate the same colour as I will spray the guitar, I guess it could be slightly different shade due to the acrylic, but thats the plan.....dont want to make/order a custom plate to have it either not work or melt!

poopot

Try a scrap first

Corvus

Clean & spray, it won't be a high traffic area so the fairly weak adhesion won't be a problem. I've done a few inc a reverse silver flake, with logo. Bonus was come sale time it all came off nice & easy.
Some plastics don't take well to solvent (polycarb) so worth misting on the first coat or two before having at it.

If it's like a Strat or Tele where it sits flat on the body I'd put a quick coat of wax on it when dry, just to help it not stick/grip & scratch when it's nailed down.

CasperCaster

I remember years ago Yamaha did a series of Strats (RGX?) with transparent pickguards. The idea was that you personalised them by putting pictures/artwork/wallpaper behind. 
Anyway, I've sprayed Rustoleum Metallic Pink (from Wilko) directly onto acrylic. It works fine and is a decent match for an Allparts Pink Paisley body.
My Fender Japan Paisley pickguard had a white coloured paint sprayed over the back of the pink metallic, presumably to seal it or make it more opaque and better hide the pickup rout. 

paulnb57

Thanks folks! There's a clear scratchplate in the mail...wish me luck!