What paint is best to use on latex rubber mask?

Question

Trying to paint a rubber latex mask. Spray paint and standard acrylics cause cracking/chipping when the mask is stretched. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Best bet is to use Rubber Cement, the kind you get for arts and crafts, mix it with a solvent called Naphtha and add a couple of drops of acrylic enamel paint (the spraycan kind or even modeler's paint), just enough to give it color. Use a 50/50 mix of Rubber Cement and Naphtha. Rubber Cement on it's own is very stick, but takes for ever to dry. Cutting it with a solvent will allow for a fast dry time while remaining sticky. Using just a few drops of pigment should not make the coloring of latex mask rigid either. It's a win-win situation.

Answer 2

What did you use for spray paint? If it was regular 'aerosal paint can' chances are it is enamel or solvent based...and is reacting with the latex, which may be waterbased or ammonia based. I have made maskes, face molds, prosthetics, etc. for local theater and halloween-and the 'rule of thumb' is if you can put it on your own face, it will stick to latex. If it is a latex mask you BOUGHT premade and adding to for effect, it probably has a 'sealer' or clear coat on it-and your spray paint is reacting against that. Heat lamp could shrink or even destroy the latex mask, blow dryer is best bet. Do not concentrate on it-don't let it get too hot to touch with a finger. Also, try setting it out in direct sunlight-that will help warm it up and might cure the ink. What you may be feeling is not wet paint but if the mask is a VINYL based 'latex' (can't always trust the labels) then you are feeling the compound of the vinyl dissolving in your paint and I"m sorry-that will never dry or cure-it is destroyed. Been there, done that! If you can get some-try 'invisible' or 'clear' face powder from the costume/theatrical supplier-that may 'dry' it and not show.

Answer 3

Spray Latex Rubber