Your dartboard is constantly being worn down by the constant impact of darts. Whether you want to fix up your old dartboard or repurpose it for another use, many ask, “can you paint a dartboard?”
Yes, you can. But it takes more than slapping a brush over it. The first thing you have to determine is what materials comprise the dartboard in question. Once you have figured out what type of dartboard you have and it’s components, you will then need to pick the correct paint.
Using the wrong type of paint for your dartboard can be very detrimental. Not only can the wrong type of paint be bad for the material of your dartboard, but it can also make it unusable.
What Kind of Paint Is Used on a Dartboard?
The most common type of paint used on a dartboard is acrylic latex paint. This acrylic latex paint on Amazon has excellent coverage, color, and quality.
Acrylic latex paint is a water-based paint that is 100 percent acrylic latex. Acrylic latex paint is known by most as the best-quality latex paint.
The material and components of your dartboard also play an important role when deciding what paint to use.
Types of Dartboards
If your dartboard contains cork, you can’t just put plain old acrylic paint on it. You’ll want to exercise a bit of caution with any paint you choose if the dartboard is plastic. Boards made of wood, paper or animal bristles will also have special considerations.
Classic Cork Dartboards
Cork is a very porous material and most paint will harden the surface. You can use acrylic, latex and oil paints, but you will have to use a primer before hand. Not only will you want to preserve the original surface and texture but you will also want darts to clear the surface.
Paint alone will fill the holes of the cork, which means losing its softness. The darts will end up bouncing off the thing, which negates the purpose of playing darts in the first place.
Although you can use a brush to apply paint, consider using an airbrushing system or a can of spray paint. Use masking or painter’s tape to section off areas where you don’t want color.
Many people also attest to using food coloring or clothing dye instead of paint. This removes the need for a primer because these kinds of dyes are for porous materials inherent in their design. An extra bonus is that it removes the need for a well-ventilated area and is less risky to pets and children.
Once again though, you’ll want to be careful and meticulous in applying it. Masking off sections you don’t want affected by any amount of color will be tantamount. You may also have to apply several coats to get the opacity you desire.
Plastic Dartboards
It should be easier and simpler to paint plastics as the holes for the darts are already in place. But you can’t plop paint over it without a little foresight. The holes can fill up if you’re too careless.
An airbrush or a can of spray paint will remove the risk of clogging dart holes. Begin by masking off necessary sections and be sure to put something like newspaper or an old bedsheet to catch the excess as you spray. Make sure your catch covers a much wider area that the dartboard itself to avoid messes and staining.
Of course, you can use a regular brush with acrylic or latex paint, but this might take longer than you want it to. Avoid using oil paints because it will bead up and won’t attach well. That is unless you’re going for a paint-splattered -splotchy look.
Your brush should be small and narrow with a fine tip. You will have to pay an astute attention to detail if you choose to go this route. If you have a problem with patience or time is an issue, go with a spray type instead.
Wooden and Paper Dartboards
Paint adheres well to wood or paper but acrylic, oil or latex paints could harden or glaze over the surface. Again, primer usage is going to be key.
When you apply the primer, you may have to do several sweeping coats with a bit of sanding between each layer. This is all going to come down to personal preference and how much texture you want the board to have.
Primer leaves behind a roughness once set and dry, which may or may not be what you seek.
Bristle Dartboards
Like cork, dartboards made of bristle are going to be porous and hardened by acrylic, latex, or oil paints. Most bristle dartboards are either made of sisal fibres or hemp, and not even primer will be able to help.
The best choice for coloring a bristle dartboard will be food or fabric dyes.
Final Thoughts
If you have a worn out or old dartboard, you may be wanting to make it look new again by painting it. Acrylic latex paint is the most common type of paint used on a dartboard.
Again, this mostly boils down to the type of dartboard you will be painting. Choosing the type of paint you use will depend on the material your dartboard is made out of.
Using the wrong type of paint could potentially ruin your dartboard altogether. If your dartboard hardens due to the wrong paint used, it’s time to scrap the project and purchase a new dartboard.