Swirling truss rod cover + pickup switch knob...

[Artist]

OK I have decided that just for fun I'm going to swirl my pickup switch knob, and maybe my truss rod cover for my vsbl, surprise surprise white and blue.
But anyone give me a few tips from doing this? I have read the swirling guide but I mean do I have to sand and prime these or will the paint stick to the plastic straight off?
I have heard the use of plastic paints (paints specifically made to stick to plastic) to be adviseable but will these work?
Do I have to coat these afterwards?

[Timanator]

Originally Posted by Artist

But anyone give me a few tips from doing this?

Try to learn it with some scrap pieces. Do not try to swirl an object more than ocne without sanding the previouse dip off and re prep the surface.

Pay attention to how much paint is used(Too thin it dries real quick, too thick it will coat over the swirls.)

Originally Posted by Artist

I have read the swirling guide but I mean do I have to sand and prime these or will the paint stick to the plastic straight off?

Yes, you need to prep the piece, and primer and sand again to make sure it will stick.

Originally Posted by Artist

I have heard the use of plastic paints (paints specifically made to stick to plastic) to be adviseable but will these work?
Do I have to coat these afterwards?

Never tried any "Plastic" paint. I use Automotive paint, which are pretty expensive.

[Rockstar]

I tried to swirl paint last weekend, and I failed miserably. But I only spent about $13 in materials and the learning experience was kinda fun.
I had read an old post and got the idea's on how to do it. I stole one of the storage bins from the back hallway (girlfriend was pissed), filled it up with water and 1 cup of Borax. Mixed it up and poured in 3 different colors of "Plasti-Kote" paint. Then started dipping anything I could find, and then sanded down an old piece of junk guitar body for a practice run.
RUN was a good word to use there, because one of the colors was just too thick and it ran over the swirls. Bubbles, unpainted area's, it was awful. There were a few spots on the guitar which looked fairly cool, but for the most part it was awful. I will keep trying and therefore keep learning but it's not as easy as it sounds. Good luck and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!!