Make my wall metallic please.

November 3, 2008 9:38 AM

Can I use metallic paint on my wall to make a metallic surface which I then can use magnets to stick things on?

Basically, I want to create a wall sized magnet board, to put up posters, notes, current photographs and so on. What I don't want to do, is use tacks or tape or anything like that. I want to use neodymium magnets. I need a metallic surface. I googled for "metallic paint" but it mostly seems to refer to pain that has metallic finish. Would that work? Any other suggestions?

posted by aeighty to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (14 answers total)

Best answer: According to this product page, you can totally do this.
posted by jessamyn at 9:42 AM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Maybe the magnetic paint with a top coat of something metallic?
posted by fiercecupcake at 9:47 AM on November 3, 2008

You will need magnetic paint. I don't believe any metallic paint will do.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:47 AM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Magnetic paint. That's what I was looking for, thanks!
posted by aeighty at 9:49 AM on November 3, 2008

Not all metals are magnetic, or even the kind of magnetic you want (which I won't get into). Basically, use the stuff jessamyn found. Shiny flecked aluminum paint won't cut it. And don't expect anything too heavy to stick to it. It seems you have reasonable expectations in this regard.

If you used a nice neodymium magnet, I could easily see you ripping the paint off of the wall. I have entirely too many of them and they can be ... charmingly destructive. Try it on a test patch. You may want a nice latex layer over the magnetic paint to bind it. Also, the magnetic paint is usually best with several coats.
posted by adipocere at 9:51 AM on November 3, 2008

Data point: we have a wall of this at home and I have a 2"x1" neodymium block magnet that hasn't destroyed it (yet).
posted by katrielalex at 9:56 AM on November 3, 2008

Response by poster: Cool. I was hoping to attach a small dry-erase surface to it as well. Possibilities are endless.
posted by aeighty at 10:16 AM on November 3, 2008

I have actually made a small whiteboard howto for this.
posted by jessamyn at 10:18 AM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

I think my issues with the magnetic paint stem from using too high a concentration of the material and not enough filler. The result can be powdery and fragile. Go wild, throw some glow in the dark paint on top of it, then you can stick things to it and make silhouettes.
posted by adipocere at 10:24 AM on November 3, 2008

Did you know there's whiteboard paint, too?
posted by weebil at 10:26 AM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

Data point: Use more than they say you should use! I got a small can which did three coats on one medium-sized wall, and it is not nearly magnetic enough. The brand I had said do more light coats rather than one heavy coat, so be prepared for many layers. Also, it spatters, so put down protective material.
posted by marginaliana at 11:15 AM on November 3, 2008

I worked in an office years ago that had one wall covered in sheet metal, then wallpapered over. It was great for hanging things via magnets. Now today I would do the same thing except paint it with whiteboard paint.
posted by trinity8-director at 2:30 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

Does anyone know if you can do whiteboard paint OVER magnetic paint? whoa.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 5:20 PM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

Does anyone know if you can do whiteboard paint OVER magnetic paint? whoa.

I'm sure you can, friends of mine painted a large section of their kitchen wall with magnetic paint, and then went over the top of that with blackboard paint. It was bloody brilliant.
posted by The Monkey at 10:23 PM on November 4, 2008