Hydro Dipping Project

My inspiration for this hydro dipping project came from various sources, especially YouTube videos of people showcasing their work. I've been fascinated by hydro dipping ever since I first learned about it. My journey began one day at a friend's house, where he had spray paint and a 5-gallon bucket. I decided to try hydro dipping for the first time, and I chose to dip an aluminum water bottle. The final result was absolutely gorgeous and precisely what I had envisioned: a beautiful marbled paint finish.

1. Spray Paint (any color just as long as you have more than 2)
2. Primer
3. Bucket of appropriate size
4. Clear coat

I already had some experience with hydro dipping, so I decided to try it on an Xbox One controller faceplate for my prototype. For this process, I used lukewarm water, spray paint, and the controller faceplate I was dipping.

First, I primed the parts I was going to dip and let them dry. Next, I took a bucket of an appropriate size and filled it with lukewarm water, which is important because the paint bonds better at this temperature. Then, I sprayed the paint into the center of the bucket, using different colors until it spread evenly to the edges.

Finally, I dipped the controller faceplate into the paint and allowed it to coat properly. Let it dry. Once dry, I applied a layer of clear coat to the surface for added protection.

I also decided to 3D print a stand for this controller. (model attached below)

https://www.printables.com/model/449970-minimalistic-xbox-controller-stand/files

After I dipped and finished the controller, I showed it off to a few friends, and they decided they really wanted to hydro dip skateboards. This was a bit more challenging than the controller.

When I was presented with this idea, I initially thought it wouldn't work. Water and spray paint mixed together do not bond to wood at all, so I didn't believe it would be possible. However, I was willing to give it a shot! We brought in three different skateboards and decided to test it on one first to avoid ruining all three in case it didn't work out.

We began by following the usual steps. First, I applied a light primer topcoat on the bottom of the skateboard and then prepared the water and spray paint while the primer dried. When we dipped the board, we immediately noticed a problem: when we pulled it out, the paint didn't stick and ended up as a gooey mess, just as I had suspected. So, we decided to try a different approach in the process.

1. Start by putting a THICK(er) layer of primer on the board.
2. Prep water and EXTRA spray paint in large container.
3. Once primer is dry dip the board and SLOWLY pull it out of the water.
4. Allow board to fully dry.
5. Apply clear coat and allow that to dry as well. (if needed use multiple coats)