Pen's & Pencils

By admin 　http://therockcolumbia.com/staedtler-lumocolor/

Staedtler Lumocolor
How to keep Permanent Marker on plastic?

Generally people ask how to get permanent marker off surfaces but I have found that Permanent Markers rub off to easily if they come into contact with oil or oily surfaces such as fingers. I am wondering if there is a type of marker that I can buy that will stay on a frequently touched plastic item?

Hi,

If you have HARD plastic, you have several options:

- Use a clear coat, like Krylon’s Crystal Clear or equivalent::

http://www.dickblick.com/zz217/03/

http://www.dickblick.com/zz217/03c/

http://www.dickblick.com/zz217/03a/

You can find this at Michael’s, an art supply store, or a hobby shop. There are others, like Testors Glosscoat or Dullcoat. Test it somewhere inconspicuous first, and start off with light misting sprays to avoid smudging or dissolving your permanent marker marks. You can lay it on thick after the base coat has dried.

- Use Future Floor Wax to put a tough acrylic clear coat over it. Again, test it first.

- If the surface is flat, you can use clear laminate sticker sheets (like contact paper or shelf liners) over the markings.

- Along the same lines, if your writing/art/markings are small enough, you can use clear packing tape to protect it. This stuff is great! It’s clear, cheap, and really, really tough, and you can cut it to shape. I personally love doing this.

- If your plastic is SOFT & pliable, your Staedtlers or Sharpies should soak through & be relatively permanent. Should, that is… I don’t know of any flexible clear coats

One last thing, clean & de-grease your plastic surface with alcohol or Windex before using your markers. It’ll stick better. THEN coat it with one or more of the methods above. and if the protective coating wears thin, remark your stuff and re-apply the protective coating as needed. Good luck & have fun!