How to paint projector screen housing?

Chel28

Hi there

I’d like to paint outside of this manual pull, wall mount screen projector the same colour as the wall (Dulux Ecru) so that it blends in visually.

What’s the best way to go about this?

I have plenty of wall paint – can I use this? Should I apply some kind of primer and/or finish for longevity?

The screen’s housing is mostly metal, with plastic sides.

The black rod on the bottom (that you pull down on), which I also want to paint, is also plastic. And the ring that you pull down on is metal.

Also, I plan to mount the screen over my patio door, like how you would with a roller blind. Am I ok to simply mount the projector directly onto wooden door frame with the two screws it comes with (roughly 3cm long)? The screen weighs 7.5kg.

MitchellMc

Hi @Chel28,

You should be able to paint the pre-painted metal housing without too much trouble, but I'd recommend a bit more preparation than simply applying your wall paint.

Start by lightly sanding the existing finish with 240-grit sandpaper to dull the gloss and provide a good key for the primer. After removing the dust, apply a coat of https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-1l-precision-white-maximum-strength-adhesion-primer_p1400848 , which is designed to bond well to difficult surfaces like pre-painted metal.

While you could then apply your Dulux Ecru wall paint, I'd actually recommend having the colour tinted into a small pot of Dulux Aquanamel instead. Wall paint is relatively soft and is designed for plasterboard, whereas Aquanamel is much more durable and resistant to knocks, scratches and general wear. If the housing is ever bumped or rubbed, the enamel finish is far less likely to chip.

The plastic end caps and pull handle are a little trickier. Dulux Max Adhesion Primer may work, but for the best long-term adhesion, I'd suggest using a dedicated plastic primer like https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-300g-plastic-primer-spray-paint_p0782798 before applying the Aquanamel topcoat.

As for mounting the screen, if you're fixing it directly into a solid timber door frame, two 30mm screws should generally be adequate for a 7.5kg projector screen, provided they achieve a good bite into the timber. Just make sure the mounting brackets are positioned so the load is evenly distributed and the screws aren't only biting into the architrave or trim. I suspect you might be referring to the architrave as the frame. If that is the case, you will need to use 65mm screws to ensure there is enough length to penetrate through the 19mm architrave, 10mm plasterboard and into the timber behind. If you are only fixing into the architrave, you risk pulling it off the wall.

I'd love to see how it turns out once it's painted. I think matching it to the wall colour will help it blend in nicely.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell