Has anyone painted skis?

N

NutsToRail

Member
I'm getting married in October and my fiancée and I want to use skis as a guest book.

The plan is to paint the tops of some skis white and have people sign over that, then clearcoat after so it preserves it.

Definitely won't be skiing these, they'll likely just go on a wall in the garage long term.

Would there be anything to keep in mind as far as paint choice or prepping the surface ahead of time? Will certain paint types be less likely to adhear to the topsheet and have the potential of peeling off over time?

**This thread was edited on Jul 28th 2024 at 2:15:07pm
 
just did this to a retired pair of nomad 105s.

With icelantic the biggest issue was getting that topsheet texture off (i couldve probably used a different ski, but i thought it would be better to use the pair i was on when my fiance and i met)

grab an orbital sander and a multipack of sand discs (like $9 on amazon)

Get the stickers off, plug your holes, and get sanding. Start with 80 grit until everything is smooth to touch then step up to 120, 200, 500, 1000.

because i had the texture to deal with i also taped the sidewalls and hit them with some automotive filler primer out of a rattlecan between the 80 and 120 grit.

Then grab matte or satin white paint and a roller and give them a few coats.

You can hit them with some clear coat before or just be super careful with them before the wedding then throw some light coats of matte clearcoat on after everyone signs it.

Wish i had pictures but im also getting the tips laser engraved with a graphic i made for the wedding.

Hope this helps and congrats!

EDIT: forgot to mention, grab a small tube of wood filler in case you lose a plug while sanding. happened to me. fill the hole, compress it in there with a pencil then cover it up. let it dry then sand it with the rest of the ski. itll be like it was never there.

**This post was edited on Jul 29th 2024 at 10:58:11am

**This post was edited on Jul 29th 2024 at 11:00:04am
 
i paint on most of my skis, current process is -

sketch rough design with pencil, use masking tape to isolate the section i want to paint, sand it down with like 200 grit paper, make the art using paint pens (since the paint in pens is mostly liquid, it flows well and dries mostly flat - wouldn’t do it with paintbrush and regular acrylic because the paint has too much body/viscosity - but maybe some sort of automotive fineliner paint or nice sign paint and brushes would work well). then after it dries i’ll add a couple layers of clearcoat spray paint to seal it before i take off the masking tape. it almost always wears off in some way but it’s nice. i have found adding something that compliments the original graphic looks better than trying to cover up the original, if you do a coverup it will chip off and look weird with the previous topsheet wearing through the custom one.

1095251.jpeg

1095252.jpeg

1095253.jpeg

1095254.jpeg

1095255.jpeg

these last ones were done with regular and metallic sharpies, the old jskis topsheet texture was perfect for drawing on. but usually sharpies don’t work well on most topsheet materials, need something more opaque.

1095256.jpeg
 
14620844:gravel said:
i paint on most of my skis, current process is -

sketch rough design with pencil, use masking tape to isolate the section i want to paint, sand it down with like 200 grit paper, make the art using paint pens (since the paint in pens is mostly liquid, it flows well and dries mostly flat - wouldn’t do it with paintbrush and regular acrylic because the paint has too much body/viscosity - but maybe some sort of automotive fineliner paint or nice sign paint and brushes would work well). then after it dries i’ll add a couple layers of clearcoat spray paint to seal it before i take off the masking tape. it almost always wears off in some way but it’s nice. i have found adding something that compliments the original graphic looks better than trying to cover up the original, if you do a coverup it will chip off and look weird with the previous topsheet wearing through the custom one.

View attachment 1095251

View attachment 1095252

View attachment 1095253

View attachment 1095254

View attachment 1095255

these last ones were done with regular and metallic sharpies, the old jskis topsheet texture was perfect for drawing on. but usually sharpies don’t work well on most topsheet materials, need something more opaque.

View attachment 1095256
Click to expand...

both of those Salomon’s are so sick dude good fucking job
 
14620844:gravel said:
i paint on most of my skis, current process is -

sketch rough design with pencil, use masking tape to isolate the section i want to paint, sand it down with like 200 grit paper, make the art using paint pens (since the paint in pens is mostly liquid, it flows well and dries mostly flat - wouldn’t do it with paintbrush and regular acrylic because the paint has too much body/viscosity - but maybe some sort of automotive fineliner paint or nice sign paint and brushes would work well). then after it dries i’ll add a couple layers of clearcoat spray paint to seal it before i take off the masking tape. it almost always wears off in some way but it’s nice. i have found adding something that compliments the original graphic looks better than trying to cover up the original, if you do a coverup it will chip off and look weird with the previous topsheet wearing through the custom one.

View attachment 1095251

View attachment 1095252

View attachment 1095253

View attachment 1095254

View attachment 1095255

these last ones were done with regular and metallic sharpies, the old jskis topsheet texture was perfect for drawing on. but usually sharpies don’t work well on most topsheet materials, need something more opaque.

View attachment 1095256
Click to expand...

Dude you nailed this!! WOW
 
I think I just busted. Those are so good. Love that you are adding instead of just replacing. Full custom topsheets are cool and all but making something that looks like it belongs is too cool.

14620844:gravel said:
i paint on most of my skis, current process is -

sketch rough design with pencil, use masking tape to isolate the section i want to paint, sand it down with like 200 grit paper, make the art using paint pens (since the paint in pens is mostly liquid, it flows well and dries mostly flat - wouldn’t do it with paintbrush and regular acrylic because the paint has too much body/viscosity - but maybe some sort of automotive fineliner paint or nice sign paint and brushes would work well). then after it dries i’ll add a couple layers of clearcoat spray paint to seal it before i take off the masking tape. it almost always wears off in some way but it’s nice. i have found adding something that compliments the original graphic looks better than trying to cover up the original, if you do a coverup it will chip off and look weird with the previous topsheet wearing through the custom one.

View attachment 1095251

View attachment 1095252

View attachment 1095253

View attachment 1095254

View attachment 1095255

these last ones were done with regular and metallic sharpies, the old jskis topsheet texture was perfect for drawing on. but usually sharpies don’t work well on most topsheet materials, need something more opaque.

View attachment 1095256
Click to expand...
 
Make sure you use some sort of paint pen when the skis are signed. Sharpies can run or bleed when mixed with a clear top coat on a smooth surface.
 
14620844:gravel said:
i paint on most of my skis, current process is -

sketch rough design with pencil, use masking tape to isolate the section i want to paint, sand it down with like 200 grit paper, make the art using paint pens (since the paint in pens is mostly liquid, it flows well and dries mostly flat - wouldn’t do it with paintbrush and regular acrylic because the paint has too much body/viscosity - but maybe some sort of automotive fineliner paint or nice sign paint and brushes would work well). then after it dries i’ll add a couple layers of clearcoat spray paint to seal it before i take off the masking tape. it almost always wears off in some way but it’s nice. i have found adding something that compliments the original graphic looks better than trying to cover up the original, if you do a coverup it will chip off and look weird with the previous topsheet wearing through the custom one.

View attachment 1095251

View attachment 1095252

View attachment 1095253

View attachment 1095254

View attachment 1095255

these last ones were done with regular and metallic sharpies, the old jskis topsheet texture was perfect for drawing on. but usually sharpies don’t work well on most topsheet materials, need something more opaque.

View attachment 1095256
Click to expand...

Damn I gotta start painting my skis, those are all dope af
 
14620844:gravel said:
i paint on most of my skis, current process is -

sketch rough design with pencil, use masking tape to isolate the section i want to paint, sand it down with like 200 grit paper, make the art using paint pens (since the paint in pens is mostly liquid, it flows well and dries mostly flat - wouldn’t do it with paintbrush and regular acrylic because the paint has too much body/viscosity - but maybe some sort of automotive fineliner paint or nice sign paint and brushes would work well). then after it dries i’ll add a couple layers of clearcoat spray paint to seal it before i take off the masking tape. it almost always wears off in some way but it’s nice. i have found adding something that compliments the original graphic looks better than trying to cover up the original, if you do a coverup it will chip off and look weird with the previous topsheet wearing through the custom one.

View attachment 1095251

View attachment 1095252

View attachment 1095253

View attachment 1095254

View attachment 1095255

these last ones were done with regular and metallic sharpies, the old jskis topsheet texture was perfect for drawing on. but usually sharpies don’t work well on most topsheet materials, need something more opaque.

View attachment 1095256
Click to expand...

Really hope Salomon starts lettin you design some graphics, all of those are so sick
 
I also did this with nomads in college, don’t worry about sanding prep etc. tape the sidewalls and base, run 3+ coats of white over the topsheets. Sign, then 2 coats of clear and you’re money
 
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