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Spray paint an EPS diffusor

Color applied : Metallic Gray

Here I tell you about how to spray paint an EPS wall panel. (EPS = extruded polystyrene, Diffusor = breaking, scattering a soundwave)

Starting point

The starting point is a white – uncolored – wall panel, non-colored from production. As EPS doesn’t stand against any form of alcohols, a primer has to be applied. Otherwise, the spray propellant will eat away on the surface. The primer is water based, and propellant other than alcohol based.

Safety

Always wear eye-protection and preferable a breathing mask as well as gloves. Have a well-ventilated work(shop) area.

The Painting procedure

My target was to create a metallic – shiny – surface, if possible somewhat reflective – like a mirror.

In this case, one(1) piece of 60×60 cm panel was painted. The deepest well-to-tower difference is 13 cm. ( in e-shop : 2 pcs, black, grey or white : € 149,60 )

In order for the prime / paint not to collect to drops (and start to run) one has to keep a minimum of 25 cm distance as well as keep quite a smooth movement back and forth – always in a new route.

(Further below, the specific details can be found of how to apply the primer and final color layers.)

Applying Primer

It is an advantage to mount the panel in a slightly slanted position. This way, it is easy to rotate the panel between the application of layers.

Spraying the Paint

After having laid primer on 3 occasions – with 24 hours drying in between – it was time for the Grey spray paint. With alcoholic propellant.

Final result

In these photos the day-light is quite limited – the lighting is done by LED lighting and flash photography.


Details of applying primer and final color layers

Amount of spray cans :
  • For every 2 pcs panels, you need to use 1 can primer + 1 can paint
How to Prime / paint (if 6 pcs) :
  • Line up the panels side-by-side with only a 4 cm gap, as a 3×2 set-up.
  • If no other means of inclination, the panels can lie with backs on ground.
Primer application :
  • Spray at an slight angle, keep the same angle across the whole setup.
  • Wait 5 minutes before next layer,
  • then spray the next layer from a 90 different compass direction (think of panels as the face if the earth)
  • Wait 24 hours before the next primer layers.
  • Then wait 24hours before applying paint.
Painting :
  • Spray paint the same way as with the primer.
  • Do not move too slow; the paint may build up fast and drops may form / start to run.

About the author

Martin R.C. Andersson started out as a mechanical engineer, slowly developing a soft spot for project management – in which he has worked 10 years as a project manager.

Although having resigned from a corporate career within project management (2015), the soft spot he keeps alive through a keen interest in room environment treatment. By control of sound and light, looking to tweak for that noise-free listening… which should be a norm.
Values silence, and now and then solitude.
Thinks Mindfulness is a ‘state of being’ when work really gets done.
When thoughts flow – without disruption – to reach either a creative state or finish what’s at hand.

When the outside world is tuned out, performance is tuned in.
Feels best when Minimalism, Functionalism and Art come together, crossing paths.

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