Anyone who has been to the beach or a party lately has probably seen the latest craze: painted coolers.
Making painted coolers is something several UTM students, like sophomore Hayley Doty, have begun doing. Doty says she started doing them at first just as a birthday present, but she enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to paint several others.
“My friends are involved in Greek life and my boyfriend is as well. So, I decided to paint a cooler for a birthday present. My friends introduced me to The Cooler Connection group on Facebook for inspiration. It was all a learning experience, but it is so much fun once you learn the process,” Doty said.
In order to paint a cooler, there is a process one must go through. After purchasing the cooler, sanding is the first and most important step.
“Sanding is very important; do not just start painting. I have seen countless people have to restart a cooler because the paint began peeling off. Do not skip sanding and priming. It will save you from heartbreak,” Doty said.
Because sanding an entire cooler by hand can be a lengthy process, Doty reccomends using an electric sander. Every part of the cooler that is to be painted should first be sanded.
“You should sand the lid and everything else including the bottom, if you want to paint it. It is important to sand it properly because this helps the primer stick to it easier,” Doty said.
After sanding the cooler, a wet towel should be used to wipe away the debris. If a cooler with an engraved logo was used, fill in the logo with spackle.
“Spackling the logos will make painting the cooler so much easier. Otherwise, the paintbrush won’t cooperate when trying to paint over them. Spackle the cooler, and let it dry overnight,” Doty said.
After the spackle dries and has been sanded, the primer should be applied and allowed to dry overnight.
“I use Krylon for my primer. It has been successful for me so far, and it has not given me any problems,” Doty said. “Depending on the size of the cooler, it should take one to two cans of spray paint primer.”
Once the primer has set overnight, the painting process can begin. Any type of acrylic paint will work well for the project. Doty says one trick she has learned is to find an image online and trace it on tissue paper. Then, tape the tissue paper to the cooler and trace over it in permanent marker.
The [permanent marker] will bleed through enough to leave a perfect outline to paint. It works like a charm for those hard to freehand fonts and images,” she said.
When the paint is completely dry, modgepodge should be applied and allowed to dry. Once the top coat is dry, the last step can be completed. Applying a sealer will help prevent the paint from chipping.
“The Minwax sealer in a spray can has been a charm for me. The coolers I’ve painted have been dragged around everywhere from the beach to camping, and they have held up really well. You must absolutely do several coats of sealer,” Doty said.
Painted coolers are popular gift items and most people really enjoy getting them.
“It’s a lot of work but your friend or date will really appreciate it. It’s something that makes a statement about their personality. The surprise of seeing the person’s face after they see it is probably my favorite,” Doty said.
Inspiration for painted coolers can be found on Pinterest or on The Cooler Connection Facebook page.
Feature photo credit: Malorie Paine
