A clear coat to go over a sharpie?

[Fordiesel69]

Im not really sure where to post this. But I had a piece of plastic autographed with a silver sharpie. Yes I know I can google it and get a bazillion results. But with you guys being detailers, im interested in what you have persoanlly used that worked.

Remeber it has to cover the silver sharpie without bleeding, but it also needs to adhere to plastic.

 

[RooflessVW]

Texture or smooth?

 

[Fordiesel69]

smooth.

 

[RooflessVW]

smooth.

I'd use PPF.

 

[atikovi]

Maybe do a test first if it's something valuable. Coatings over plastic can often peel off soon after, taking the autograph with it. Get a similar piece of plastic, write on it with the same pen and coat it. Wait a few weeks to see if anything happens.

 

[Kira]

If it's flat, maybe frame it?
If it's worth autographing and saving you probably don't want people handling it directly with or without a coating so a frame may be optimal.
Describe it's dimensions, please.
Silver Sharpie is a different animal. Any vehicle in a spray can, except CO2, will likely dissolve the autograph.
Frames can really add to the look / impact of a piece. Reaching for a spray can might be "too easy".
+1 on testing....this goes for everything in the arts and crafts world.
Weigh the cost of repeatedly testing materials against the cost of framing it once.
Also, framing allows for the inclusion of ephemera. These associated pieces, which on their own have no value, can explain and/or selectively highlight a piece.
Ex 1: The ticket stub from a concert can make a piece of broken drumstick look better.
Ex 2: A vignette (small photo) of a race car driver's face set into an expanse of empty sky or black road can enhance a picture taken at a race.
Consider the positivity of framing against the uncertainty of some coating yellowing, peeling and becoming sticky.
Ask me how I know.

 

[SatinSilver]

Contact Sharpie and see what they say. A picture frame with glass should do it and won’t smudge or otherwise alter it.

 

[Barkleymut]

I have several NFL helmets that are autographed. All are displayed in a Plastic cube. There are a lot of options out there, the last thing I would do is have some type of film or whatever touching the sharpie.

 

[atikovi]

I would be helpful to know what this thing is from the get go. Piece of plastic could be most anything.

 

[kschachn]

I have several NFL helmets that are autographed. All are displayed in a Plastic cube. There are a lot of options out there, the last thing I would do is have some type of film or whatever touching the sharpie.

Yes if there is any sort of adhesive on the film that will cause the Sharpie ink to migrate over time. Eventually you'll get an unreadable gray blob.

 

[tasch72]

I would encase it. If you try to use something like an automotive paint, I fear the paint thinner could cause the signature to run because Sharpies are alcohol-based.

 

[Blinker]

I would probably encase it too, although we don’t know what type of plastic it is. Could be a car bumper for all we know.

Clear coating plastic can create a problem. The plastic can create off gases that get trapped under the clear coat. The clear coat can then bubble up or fail in other ways, and you’re left with a bigger issue trying to preserve the autograph.

 

[K-Man]

Get it out of direct light, meaning don't put it on display. Keep it stored in the dark as much as possible. Many pen and marker inks will eventually fade to nothing in light, even black ink. If you don't do this, trying to protect it with a film or other means won't work.

 

[Barkleymut]

Get it out of direct light, meaning don't put it on display. Keep it stored in the dark as much as possible. Many pen and marker inks will eventually fade to nothing in light, even black ink. If you don't do this, trying to protect it with a film or other means won't work.

No use in having a cool collectible if you cannot display it. All of my sports autographs are on the wall in my sons room, I bought window film that rejects 99% of UV. Was easy to apply to the windows.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Its a plastic housing of a piece of outdoor power equipment. It will need to be used and it will be taken care of. Its a piece that will be kept until it can no longer be repaired.