Roller skating is an awesome hobby and sport, and decorating roller skates has been increasingly popular now a days. If you roller skate frequently, it has probably crossed your mind to paint your skates in a way that expresses your individuality, or just to change up the color a bit.
So, can you use acrylic paint on roller skates? Yes! Painting roller skates is a great way to make them stand out and represent you. To do so, you will need to use proper paint. Acrylic paint is a perfect option for painting roller skates because it is durable, dries quickly, and sticks to just about any surface effectively.
Before painting your roller skates, you should be aware of the process. There are several steps that you need to take to prepare the skates for painting before you can start. The end result is well worth the work that needs to put in as the skates will be adorable. In this article we go over everything you need to know to successfully paint your skates with acrylic paint. Let’s read on!
How to Paint Roller Skates with Acrylic Paint
The very first thing you need to do is prepare the roller skates. Clean them off with dish soap and warm water. If you feel like they need a better clean than that, you can use an all-purpose cleaner. When you are done cleaning, let the surface of the skate dry completely before you start painting.
My favorite and top pick is always Arteza Acrylic Paints. They have so many different colors, and the quality is amazing! I usually use Arteza Paints for all my projects.
It will also be beneficial to stuff your skate before you start painting. This will make it seem like your foot is in the skate, preventing the paint from stretching when you put your foot in it the first time when the paint is dry.
Make sure to avoid over-stuffing your skate as well. This will create an uneven texture with the painting that can result in a strange look when you take the stuffing out. You also don’t want to put too little stuffing as this can also cause the paint to stretch when you put your foot back in the first time.
When your roller skates are clean and prepared, prepare your paints and get your brushes ready. Place the acrylic paint on a palette or paper plate and do not put it directly on the skate. This will result in an uneven texture, which you are trying to avoid.
I like to use this Nylon Acrylic Paint Brush Set on skates, because it’s gives it a nice smooth brush stroke, and it comes with tons of different sizes for all the details you may need.
To create a smooth finish on your skates, you will need to use thin, consistent brush strokes. This means they all need to be running in the same direction. You can alternate the brush strokes if you are adding more than one layer. For example, if the first layer is vertical, the next can be horizontal.
If you want to paint a design on the skate, it will be beneficial to create a rough outline on the skate as a guide. You can use chalk or a colored pencil for this job, whichever you have handy will work. You can then fill in the design with the colors you want.
It’s also important to let the roller skates dry enough before you un-stuff them and try them on. You should leave them to dry for at least 24 hours, but you can let them dry for longer if you feel that isn’t sufficient. When you feel like they are completely dry, you can try them out! The next step would be sealing your skates, but we will talk about
Can You Use Acrylic Paint on Ice Skates?
Just like roller skates, you can use acrylic paint on ice skates to add your own personal style. First, you will want to take the laces out, so you don’t get any paint on them. Cover the wooden part of the bottom and the heel with tape to protect them from the paint.
To make your life easier, grab a couple lids of old shoeboxes and cut a slit for the blade of your ice skates to sit in. This will help keep your ice skates upright while you paint so you don’t have to wait for one side to dry before you can start the other.
Stuff the inside of the skate to help it keep the proper shape while you are painting. Doing this will keep the pressure you put with the paintbrush from creating dents in the boot of your skate. You can use newspaper, tissue paper, or paper towels.
If you want to paint the ice skate one solid color, you can use an acrylic spray paint to cut down the time it takes you to finish the project. Each layer of spray paint will dry within thirty or forty-five minutes, and you can add another layer.
You can also paint the ice skate with a paint brush if you want to add designs. Using a paintbrush will help you with the fine lines and details of a design that makes you happy. When you are finished, give the skates plenty of time to dry before you try them on.
Can You Spray Paint Roller Skates?
If you want to paint your roller skate one solid color or have a solid base color, you can use an acrylic spray paint. This will allow you to finish your solid coat at a much faster rate than using a brush-on acrylic paint. Spray paint dries faster because it goes on thinner, so you can have two layers finished in about an hour.
My top pick would be Liquitex Acrylic Spray Paint. It offers great coverage and it’s a very well known brand. They also have tons of different colors to choose form.
When you use spray paint, you will want to take extra caution and cover any parts of the skate that you don’t want to get paint on with tape. Remove the laces and wheels if you can, then tape the bottom of the skate to keep paint off.
You should use spray paint outside because the fumes can be dangerous and irritating to your respiratory system. If you have a well-ventilated space inside, that works too. However, with the fresh air and breeze you get outside, it is much safer.
I also recommend wearing a face covering or mask if you are sensitive to fumes. The fumes from the spray paint can trigger a headache for some people.
How to Seal Acrylic Paint on Roller Skates
Roller skates are scuff magnets, so you will need to protect your design the best you can. It isn’t possible to protect them completely, but you can always touch them up or change the design down the road if the scuffs get too bad.
You will want to use an acrylic sealer to protect the painting on your roller skates. One great option to consider is Mod Podge. There are so many different finishes of Mod Podge: spray, glitter, glossy, matte. You can choose a finish that works best for you and protect your design for as long as you can.
Mod Podge also comes in a spray-on option if you don’t want to brush on your sealer. It really depends on your preference, but they both offer amazing coverage and paint protection.
The best thing about Mod Podge is you can remove it easily when it comes time to touch-up or change the design. All you need to do is use some water and wait for the Mod Podge to soften back up. You can then remove it and start over!
You can also use Krylon Acrylic Sealer Spray on your skates. It’s a spray on sealer that can cover every angle on your skates, and come in a glossy, matte and even colorful finish.
Final Thoughts
If you want to personalize your roller skates with acrylic paint, you can. It is an incredibly easy process, but you need to make sure that you follow the steps. This will ensure that you get the best results possible, and you are happy with the end product.
You can also paint ice skates with acrylic paint. Even better, you can use acrylic spray paint for both skates to make the painting process even easier. When you are finished painting, you will need to seal your design to protect it from damage the best you can.
Make sure to follow all my tips and recommended products to ensure your acrylic painted roller skates turn out amazing. Also, don’t forget to check out my other articles for all your painting Q&A’s. Happy painting!
