------------------------------------------------------------------------ *[neriverrunners] Lego Paint* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * riverken4 * * Tue, Sep 14, 2010 at 11:02 AM * List: neriverrunners yahoogroups list Thanks to everyone who responded to my earlier posts for advice on lego paint. I've just finished applying it to my green boat and I must say the results are visually impressive. We'll see how it holds up. This is what I did: I got some lego from a kid across the street who I am sure thinks I'm an idiot for paying ten bucks for a bucket of used up lego. I know his Mom thinks so. I needed green so I picked out blue and yellow ones (and a few green, but there weren't many) and dropped them into acetone in a glass jar with a metal top. Through trial and error I got a color not too far off that of the boat, and a consistency like oil based paint, that is, not runny. I didn't grind up the lego; it was not necessary. Two days in the acetone melted it all down. The question arises--how much lego and how much acetone? I took a jar that originally contained jam (apricot, I think, although other flavors should work just as well) put in about two inches of acetone and then dropped in lego, only enough that the acetone would cover it. That gave me a good consistency when I stirred it up two days later, so I added more lego and more acetone until I had half a jar full. That was enough to cover all the bare spots on my boat, one coat. That should give you at least a starting point. Then I took the canoe outside, washed it down and dried it. I put on gloves, stirred the paint well one last time and painted the worn places using a cheap bristle brush, as Craig recommended. The stuff went on like a good paint and dried quickly. I put in on a bit thicker than paint, but not much. Time will tell whether I laid it on thick enough. I was lucky; I had made just about as much as I needed. When it dries it effectively goes back to being plastic. That is so cool! It is hard and shiny and filled in some of the gouges. Based on what I've seen of Norm's boat the stuff should hold up pretty well. I'll post again when I have some experience. This is a project anybody can do. Acetone, brushes and gloves are available at any hardware store and lego can be found a yard sales or on ebay. Glass jars can be found around the house, and you might want to plan ahead and save some as you empty them. You only get one use out of a jar. It's cheap and easy, if you have a little patience. The application of the paint should be done outside because the acetone is bad to breathe, notwithstanding that it is the main ingredient of nail polish remover.