Making cardboard look like enameled metal?

October 12, 2016 2:38 PM

I want to make high-density cardboard look like enamel-coated metal, even when inspected at close range, but there's no need to actually fool anyone (willing suspension of disbelief). What products/methods should I use? I have limited time to make this work, or I'd set up a series of experiments, so I'm hoping someone else has tried something similar....

Ideally, I'd also like to have the resulting surface feel, at least superficially, like enamel-coated metal (for example, I would not want the result to feel "sticky" or anything like that). My first thought was to simply use a sturdy primer, and then a decent paint plus gloss topcoat, but would it be better to use a short-strand body filler rather than the primer? The surfaces in question are slightly curved, so I'm also worried about adhesion.

posted by aramaic to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (7 answers total)

You'd have to test it to see what kind of effect it gives on cardboard, but you might try a metal spray paint.
posted by MsMolly at 2:54 PM on October 12, 2016

Paint it with a flat primer (white or whatever color works best underneath what metal you want...for gold, I use black and/or red, for silver, I'll use a grey) and then spray paint it with metallic colors. The metallic generally is glossy enough to look like metal. I've made a gazillion "metal" things onstage that are just cardboard, and it's not that hard to fool people with it.
posted by xingcat at 2:57 PM on October 12, 2016

slightly curved

This is likely gonna be your killer here. Our eyes are just SO good at spotting things being "off" in this way.

If the metal in question is to be akin to cast iron, a spray-on rubberizer (flex-seal etc) will give you the right surface. If you want something like sheet steal i'd go with a hard surface paint like automotive touch up paint. You'll want flat paint here.

Then you can then coat with a satin-gloss paint. You could then cover that with a clear coat to give you more depth and shine. I'd recommend spray paint for all of these.

One thing to be aware of, glossier is going to show more imperfections, especially on a curve.

I would take time to do this slowly if you want to avoid things feeling "sticky". Very Thin coats will let the paint dry, harden and not compromise the cardboard. You don't want it to saturate into the material with thick coats.
posted by French Fry at 2:59 PM on October 12, 2016

Can you use a plastic instead? The corrugations will telegraph through whatever paint you use, but if you glue a thin (but not too thing) piece of plastic over it already curved, it should be smooth enough. Or maybe a layer or two of poster board over the top will be thin, then paint? Or just get thin metal and spray glue over the cardboard?
posted by flimflam at 3:16 PM on October 12, 2016

I know Rust-Oleum has some metal finish spray paints that have served me well ( practice with them to get the best effect)...dunno if any of them work for what you want. I've used both Chrome and Hammered Pewter and have been very satisfied. As a bonus, they are relatively cheap, and available at most hardware stores.
posted by lobstah at 7:05 PM on October 12, 2016

Came in to suggest that Rustoleum hammered metal stuff. I used it to turn red plastic into bronze, and it looked spooky good.
posted by ottereroticist at 12:03 AM on October 13, 2016

Do I understand that you are looking for a high gloss solid color finish? Kind of looking of an household appliance.

I would think coating the the cardboard with a sealer or polyurethane then a top coat of high-gloss enamel would do the trick. I think getting the base as smooth as possible will be key.
posted by tman99 at 9:51 AM on October 13, 2016