Have you ever painted your shoes and after struggling with painting session you see the shoes cracking? To avoid this, several steps have to be taken while preparing the shoes before painting them. This covers such areas as washing them and drying to ensure that there is no debris as well as involving the proper use of superior quality acrylic shoe paint, with thin successive coats used at most instances. Also, one has to paint in the natural direction that the shoe flexes and to apply a coat of varnish once the paint has dried.

This articles contains the following advice on avoiding cracks in painted shoes, what mistakes should be avoided at all costs, and how to avoid paint from chipping off shoes. You will also receive responses to other queries that you may have, including whether shoes that have been painted require the application of a sealant and how to apply protection to painted shoes. If you follow these procedures, your painted shoes will have a good appearance and will also last long.

Steps for Preventing Cracking Paint on Shoes

If you want to paint your shoes and give them an individual look that will not be possible for anyone else to emulate, then you need to know how to produce a long-lasting paint job. When painting shoes, the greatest problem is to avoid the acrylic paint to shrink and to form cracks. But by adhering to the following steps, it would be possible to avoid this occurrence.

Properly Prepare Your Shoes

It is also essential to clean and prepare your sneakers before painting them. Whether it’s leather, material, synthetic or any other kind of shoe material, you have to ensure that the shoes are clean. This will ensure that paint will stick to the material used in making of the shoes appropriately. Before painting shoes, wash them using a shoe cleaner or simply with soap and water and let the shoes air dry in the meantime.

Use Quality Shoe Paint

When painting your shoes ensure that you use good quality acrylic shoe paint so that you don’t find yourself regretting the fact that your shoes have developed cracks. In order to avoid the paint cracking it is recommended to use the same brand throughout the shoe painting. It’s dangerous to mix brands because every paint company has a formulation mix that they use in making their paint. 

Apply The Paint In Thin Layers

Nevertheless when painting your shoes, you might be tempted to apply thick layers of paint in order to avoid cracking. Unfortunately, this is not the best approach. Thus, use thin layers of acrylic paint to do the job, and it is more appropriate to paint in layers. This way, you will only need to apply two or three layers of the paint onto your shoes to avoid paint from cracking. Apply one coat first before allowing it to dry before applying the next coat.

Pay Attention to the Areas That Will Move on Your Shoes

The toe cap of your shoes is the one that undergoes most displacement when walking. This is where the acrylic shoe paint is most likely to crack given that this part of the shoe flexes the most. When it comes to this part of your shoes, you have to paint slowly, painting just within the natural grain of the shoe so that cracking is minimized as much as possible.

Apply a Sealant

After you are done painting with acrylic paint, let it dry and once you are done with the right color saturation, applying the sealant to the acrylic paint is appropriate. This is an important step because with the sealant your paint especially if it is on the shoe will last longer and look good. There are two points here that you have to be very careful with, first you have to ensure that the acrylic sealant is thoroughly dry before you wear your shoes. Angelus Acrylic Finisher is a good paint sealer to be used as it becomes flexible when totally set. This is the flexibility that you need rather than go for a hard finish that cracks at the slightest movement. Instead of using Dullcoat you might use Mod Podge or alternatively you might use ScotchGard Water Seal. Both of these products will provide adequate coverage to your shoes and are good to go particularly in the event that you have the two on hand.

How To Keep Paint From Peeling Off Shoes

If you want to prevent paint from peeling off your shoes, you should take some precautions. Here are some tips to help you keep your shoes looking good:

• Never expose your shoes to direct sunlight or heat and if you are not wearing them store them in a cool and dry place. Heat and sun’s rays affect the paint, which literally flakes off faster.
• For the case of wet shoes, ensure that you do not put your shoes near heater that is or any form of heat to dry. This can affect the quality of the paint in that it comes off in form of blisters. Ideally, the shoes should be left in an open area with adequate ventilation and, in no way, should be exposed to direct sunlight.
• It is also helpful to utilize some protective spray or sealant which will help you to prevent Paints peeling off your shoes. Be keen when applying the product and start with an inconspicuous area just in case you may mess up the shoe.

By following these simple steps, you can help keep your shoes looking great and prevent paint from peeling off.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

When painting your shoes with acrylic paint, there are a few common mistakes you should avoid to ensure the best results. Here are some tips to help you avoid these mistakes:

• Avoid using heat to speed up the drying time of the paint. Do not put the paints under heat in order to reduce their drying time. It is advised that the paint be allowed to dry on its own, the normal way. Instead of getting rid of cracks, using heat can make the crack even more apparent since it causes the paint crack as well.

• Never mix different brands of paint. Do not use paint from different manufacturers in one coating. Due to the poor compatibility, any paint purchased from another company will cause the paints to crack faster when mixed.

• Make sure your shoes are completely dry before painting them. In case you are painting the shoes, ensure they are very dry before you start painting them. It should also be noted that for paint to stick well to shoes, they should not be wet when the painting is being done, so that the paint absorbs properly. If your shoes are wet the time that you are painting they will dilute the paint meaning you will have to apply paint on shoes many times to achieve the best results.

• Use the right paint for the material of your shoes. The type of paint you use is supposed to depend on the material of your shoes. Correct paint selection improves adhesion of the paint to the material, and reduce freedom for the paint to crack.

• Invest in quality acrylic shoe paint. Make sure that you use good quality acrylic shoe paint. Cheaper paints lack the elasticity of movement with the shoe as it is expected; this makes them crack a lot earlier than with the quality paints.

By following these tips, you can avoid common mistakes and achieve the best results when painting your shoes with acrylic paint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Painted Shoes Need Sealant?

When you paint your shoes yourself, it is recommended that you apply sealant to protect the paint from external factors like sunlight and heat. Sealant also helps prevent cracking and ensures that your shoes look great for a long time. Applying sealant is an easy process and can be done using a brush or spray.

What's the Best Way To Weatherproof Painted Shoes?

For protection of the painted shoes from weather conditions, it is advisable to use ScotchGard waterproofing spray. After the sealant has dried use the waterproofing spray on your shoes so that they are protected from the harsh weather and dust. Also it is necessary to emphasize that the waterproofing spray is to be applied only after total drying of the sealant. Also, when washing your painted shoes ensure that you do not use chemicals or rough materials because they are likely to remove the paint.

Conclusion

Preventing acrylic paint from cracking on your shoes is a simple process that can help maintain the appearance of your shoes. By following the steps outlined in the sources provided, you can ensure that your shoes remain crack-free and looking their best. Some of the key steps include properly preparing the surface of the shoes, using the right type of paint and sealant, and allowing ample drying time between coats. Taking the time to follow these steps will ensure that your shoes look great for years to come.