Hydro dipping is a fun way of decorating items using various colors by submerging them in water. With hydro dipping, you can decorate items such as sunglasses, skateboards, shoes, and much more. For this craft, you do not require experience or a lot of equipment. All you need is a big enough container that can easily fit the item you need to drip and spray paints of your choice. Some companies also provide complete hydro dipping kits where you get everything in one go.
How to Hydro Dip
When hydro dipping, you will need a large container of water and acrylic spray paint. The process is quick, but you will need a few hours to clean your item from oil stains, sand, or other impurities. Clean and dry the object for about 2 – 3 hours. After drying the object, fill your large container with lukewarm water to about 3/4 full. Then spray the colors on the surface of the water. Different Colors will create a color pattern on the water surface.
Keep in mind that the thickness of the paint as too thin will dry fast and not be perfect for hydro dripping. You can also stir the colors with a stick to create the desired pattern. Wearing latex gloves, take the item and wipe off any remaining dust using the tack cloth provided. The next step is to apply an appropriate base coat to the object and leave it for an hour to dry.
Then you slowly deep the item into the water and slowly take it out. This process will transfer the water surface paint to the object’s surface with a beautiful color pattern. After the hydro dipping, put the object to dry, and you can now apply a clear fining.
What Material Can You Hydro Dip?
Most materials such as rubber, glass, wood, metal, ceramics, and plastic can be hydra dripped, making this craft more fun.
Type of Spray paint Used In Hydro Dripping.
When Hydro dipping, you can use the regular acrylic spray paint. No special spray paint is needed.
What time does it take to dry?
On a regular day, the object should dry in about 20minites to 1hour. But this will also depend on the humidity of that particular day. Also, keep in mind the initial process of cleaning and drying the object should take about 2-3 hours before dipping and should not pass 8 hours before dripping. Keep in mind the drying time after hydro dripping also depends on the material of the object.
Quick reference hydro dripping list
Pick the appropriate size bucket that can fit your item, then fill it with water to about 3/4 full.
In a well-ventilated area, spray your paint on the surface of the water. Maintain a level distance between your hand and the water. The thickness of the layer of color should be thick enough and to coat the whole object, but keep in mind the thicker, the paint the longer it will take to dry. For better coating results, spray contrasting colors close to each other on the water.
Swirl the paint with a stick to create t color design. If the layers of color spread effortlessly, implying that the layer is too thin and has started to dry up. An adequate amount of paint will cover your whole object but takes some time to dry.
Once you are OK with the design formed, you can dip the object in the water slowly. Make sure no bubbles form between the surface of the item and the water.
Before removing the object from the water, remove any excess paint left on the surface of the water. If not removed, the paint main will stick to the object’s surface and damage the color pattern formed.
Conclusion
Hydro Dripping is an ideal outdoor activity and an industrial activity for decorating objects and adding value. Proper preparation of the item will produce good results and prevent disappointment.
