Anyone use that special spraypaint for plastic?

[frugal.lass]

I have a few large plastic buckets (the kind that restaurants throw out) and thought I would use them to try my hand at container gardening this summer. If it was my backyard I wouldn't care about the looks but I'm borrowing a corner of my landlord's backyard and am hoping to alter their appearance somehow so they look a bit better. They don't have to look pretty but I would like to at least make them look a bit less like giant prepared food buckets so that my landlord's nicely landscaped yard doesn't take too much of a "hit" from my improvised planters.

Does that spraypaint designed for use on plastic really adhere? Will it be okay if left outside for the summer? TIA!

[YankeeMom]

We used the spray paint for plastics on an old plastic mailbox. You will have to scuff up the shiny plastic, but it holds really well. I think we used Krylon?

[Pemberleyan]

I used it for updating a plastic flower pot and was pleased. Sand the buckets a little first.

[onencgirl]

I used it for a chair with good results.

[Thevail]

the sanding is the key..high number on the sandpaper grit and get every bit of the surface, especially where there will be "heavy wear" like the edges of things.

First chair I did looked bad and held up worse, but I sanded the second one and it's great.

I found using it with a simple stencil produced amazing results. That might work well on a bucket.

[fixer]

Prep is very important. A light sanding will provide a surface that will allow the paint to adhere well. Apply several light coats. When I painted some outdoor furniture, I was amazed at how easy it was to get drips and runs. It should do a fine job if these steps are taken.

[StaceyS]

Thanks so much for everyone who answered this! I was thinking about doing various buckets and flower pots so they all match. Does anyone know about how much one paint can will do? I guess it's pretty relative, but thought I'd ask anyway :-)

[fixer]

Thanks so much for everyone who answered this! I was thinking about doing various buckets and flower pots so they all match. Does anyone know about how much one paint can will do? I guess it's pretty relative, but thought I'd ask anyway :-)

My best recollection is two cans did four chairs and a table. There was some left but not much.

[StaceyS]

My best recollection is two cans did four chairs and a table. There was some left but not much.

Awesome! Then 2 cans will be plenty for me I bet. Thanks!

[Pemberleyan]

The Krylon paint for plastic is called Fusion. Rustoleum has a new type of spray paint -- I think it's called Universal or something, that works on plastic, wood, etc.