How to Paint Snow Shovels
Snow shovels are regularly scraped against concrete, rock and asphalt in extreme conditions. The blade of the shovel may begin to show wear and tear. The paint may chip, or the blade may become scratched. Painting the blade of a snow shovel helps protect it from further damage, and it also makes the shovel look like new again.
What You'll Need:
- Degreaser
- Shop towels
- Large wire brush
- Sandpaper
- Masking Tape
- Cardboard
- Spray paint
- Clean the snow shovel with the degreaser to remove any oil, dirt or grease. Use the shop towels to rub the degreasing cleaner over the entire surface of the shovel. Vigorously scrub with the shop towels until all traces of grime are gone. Over time, a snow shovel will come into contact with greasy surfaces, such as driveways and roads. It is necessary to remove any oils to make sure that a fresh coat of paint properly adheres to the shovel.
- Scrape off any loose paint with the large wire brush. For stubborn paint chips, sandpaper should be used instead. Choose coarse grit sandpaper for shovels constructed of aluminum, steel or polycarbonate. Plastics shovels can scratch easily, so fine grit is the best option for this material.
- Set a large piece of cardboard down on the ground to protect surrounding surfaces from paint. Wrap a piece of masking tape around the neck of the shovel, where the blade meets this handle. This will keep the handle from being painted. Lay the snow shovel flat on the cardboard.
- Choose the desired color of spray paint. Make sure the spray paint is designed for the material of the blade. Shake the can for 30 seconds. Hold the spray paint 8 to 10 inches away from the snow shovel. Paint one side of the blade using long, even strokes. Allow the paint to dry for 30 minutes. Apply a second coat, and allow an hour to finish drying.
- Flip the shovel over, and paint the other side. It will also take two coats of paint to cover completely. Make sure to paint the outside edges of the blade as well. Give the snow shovel 24 hours to dry before using.