Painting metal swingers... what do you use?

[desmobob]

I have these AR500 2" swinging disk targets lag-bolted to trees in the back yard woods at 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards.  During the winter, the black color worked pretty well but now the snow is melting and I can't see the targets when I'm shooting with open sights.

In the past, I've used white spray paint to keep them visible.  The problem is, keeping the can of spray paint from clogging between uses. If I turn it upside down and clear the nozzle each time, I usually run out of pressure before I run out of paint.  If I don't do it, the nozzle usually gets plugged long before the paint gets used up.  Cheap spray paint isn't very expensive but I hate to waste it and create hazardous waste, as well.

I'm wondering if there is some simple whitewash; maybe even something I can make at home, that would serve as a convenient way to keep my targets visible.

What do you use to keep your targets bright?

[WildCJ5]

All the new nozzles seem to be garbage.  The rust oleum farm and implement paint has the older style nozzle and does not plug up. I shoot a lot in my yard and I am constantly painting my targets. After I use it I do hold the fan upside down and spray until paint stops coming out.

[ac12]

How about a small can of latex paint and a cheap foam brush.

[maraudinglizard]

I use a cotton swab and a cheap bottle of nail polish remover to clean the spray tips on the cheap can paint.

[Back_Roads]

 Bright colored Masking tape, SWMBO is a professional painter
https://www.amazon.com/Colored-Masking-Labelling-Decoration-Supplies/dp/B07GMDCBYP/ref=asc_df_B07GMDCBYP/?

[desmobob]

I use a cotton swab and a cheap bottle of nail polish remover to clean the spray tips on the cheap can paint.

That sounds easy and convenient.

A friend told me he pops the nozzle off the spray can after use and puts it in a small jar of acetone and gives a shake.  He said that keeps the nozzle open for the life of the spray can of paint.

[desmobob]

Bright colored Masking tape, SWMBO is a professional painter
https://www.amazon.com/Colored-Masking-Labelling-Decoration-Supplies/dp/B07GMDCBYP/ref=asc_df_B07GMDCBYP/?

Cool!  I didn't know there was such a thing...

The reviews showed a bunch of folks saying it didn't stick well.  I bet if I gave my targets a shot of 3M Super 77 the tape would stay put.  I'm going to put the colored masking tape in my next Amazon order.

[desmobob]

All the new nozzles seem to be garbage.  The rust oleum farm and implement paint has the older style nozzle and does not plug up. I shoot a lot in my yard and I am constantly painting my targets. After I use it I do hold the fan upside down and spray until paint stops coming out.

That's good info, regarding the nozzle type.

These days, the manufacturers generally use a cap that needs to be removed with a screwdriver, so you can't compare the nozzle types of the cans in the store.

[Firewalker]

I'm a different cat altogether, I use Titanium Dioxide mixed with mineral oil to cover my steel targets, it remains 'wet' and can simply be brushed back over the hits.

Non-toxic, low cost in comparison to spray paint and lasts a very long time. Bell targets are often coated with this.

[desmobob]

I'm a different cat altogether, I use Titanium Dioxide mixed with mineral oil to cover my steel targets, it remains 'wet' and can simply be brushed back over the hits.

Non-toxic, low cost in comparison to spray paint and lasts a very long time. Bell targets are often coated with this.

Ah ha!  That's the kind of home-brewed whitewash I was thinking of.  Thanks for sharing that.

[avator]

I have several 1'x3'x2mm high strength steel blanks (about 30 or so ) that we stamped auto parts from when I was in the auto stamping industry. I hook up my air compressor and paint sprayer and use diluted latex paint and paint both sides of all of them in one session. I'll hit my flippers while I'm at it.
Then I just spray warm water through my sprayer to clean it out. I can get 3 gallons out of one gallon of exterior latex house paint.
I am always looking for light color 'oops' paint when at Lowes or Walmart. These are mistakes made by rookie mixers and customers refused. They are usually half price or less.
For quick flipper painting I just use cheap Dollar Store rattle cans.

[Brazos]

One thing I do is when I finish a can of spray paint and the nozzle is still good I pull it off and save it for then next can of spray paint that decides to clog up.

[Spacebus]

I'm a different cat altogether, I use Titanium Dioxide mixed with mineral oil to cover my steel targets, it remains 'wet' and can simply be brushed back over the hits.

Non-toxic, low cost in comparison to spray paint and lasts a very long time. Bell targets are often coated with this.

Recent studies indicate that TiO2 might not be so safe for the environment or humans. In your limited use it's probably fine, just don't use it as lotion or put it all over your yard 😂

[Firewalker]

I'm a different cat altogether, I use Titanium Dioxide mixed with mineral oil to cover my steel targets, it remains 'wet' and can simply be brushed back over the hits.

Non-toxic, low cost in comparison to spray paint and lasts a very long time. Bell targets are often coated with this.

Recent studies indicate that TiO2 might not be so safe for the environment or humans. In your limited use it's probably fine, just don't use it as lotion or put it all over your yard 😂

Meh, 9 million tons of it is made annually, its used in 2/3 of all pigments and is still used in food in all but the EU currently.

[desmobob]

Recent studies indicate that TiO2 might not be so safe for the environment or humans. In your limited use it's probably fine, just don't use it as lotion...

If you're using soap that's white, you are likely using all over your body every day!  The stuff is everywhere.  I'm not saying it's not somehow unsafe; just that it's ubiquitous.

[RonsPlc]

Plus "rattle can" paint is FAR from being "environment friendly".
By comparison the TiO2 is a much better choice.

But what do I know, I'm not a chemist.

[Spacebus]

Plus "rattle can" paint is FAR from being "environment friendly".
By comparison the TiO2 is a much better choice.

But what do I know, I'm not a chemist.

Rattle can paint is also not safe for humans or our skin, so a moot point. TiO2 dust can cause serious problems. So far the tape has been the most economical, safe, and environmentally friendly option.

It turns out the properties that make TiO2 so desirable in many soaps and cosmetics also makes it kill bacteria in soils. There are also studies that suggest TiO2 is carcinogenic in any application other than eating it, which is also kind of suspect.

I would never have even thought to look into any studies on TiO2 until I saw that Dave said it's safe and eco-friendly. Turns out he isn't wrong, just using dated information, which is why I said recent studies.

Something else to note, I mentioned that in Dave's application TiO2 is most likely not a problem. Keeping it wet mitigates the dust risk, and keeping it isolated to one area of shooting should mitigate and environmental problems. There's probably a lot of lead frag in the vicinity, which would be a much more significant health and environmental issue anyway.

This is all just academic anyway, there's no judgements or fingers being pointed. Just wanted to mention that there are some risks with TiO2 to folks not familiar with it.

[Firewalker]

Regretfully, the studies done have been refuted and I'm not saying to go ahead and eat it, although you DO eat it if you ever eat anything white. The opinions that it is a health risks are "maybe" and not known.

Bottom line: Don't breathe Nano particles of Titanium dioxide dust. 

Again: Meh...

Court Reverses EU Ban on Titanium Dioxide
Dec. 6, 2022
Says EU relied on flawed study; consumer group still warns against the popular food colorant.
Pan Demetrakakes

"The concern with titanium dioxide centers on its tendency to break into nanoparticles that can accumulate in the lungs and elsewhere in the body. But the court ruled that the scientific study on which the EU based its ban was unreliable, and that the danger posed by titanium dioxide was “non-intrinsic,” since it is not designed to decompose into nanoparticles and does not invariably do so."

Also: "Titanium dioxide dust, when inhaled, has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as an IARC Group 2B carcinogen, meaning it is possibly carcinogenic to humans. The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends two separate exposure limits. NIOSH recommends that fine TiO
2 particles be set at an exposure limit of 2.4 mg/m3, while ultrafine TiO
2 be set at an exposure limit of 0.3 mg/m3, as time-weighted average concentrations up to 10 hours a day for a 40-hour work week."

 "Titanium dioxide" (PDF). 93. International Agency for Research on Cancer. 2006.
 "Titanium Dioxide Classified as Possibly Carcinogenic to Humans". Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety. August 2006.
 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. "Current Intelligence Bulletin 63: Occupational Exposure to Titanium Dioxide (NIOSH Publication No. 2011-160)" (PDF). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

[splitbeing]

Star stickers like you used to get in school at dollar tree or the like.  Cheap and recreate that shoot out the red star with the m1a1 challenge from boardwalks of old.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I work at a Plastic Color Concentrate Compounder. We get TiO2 in by the 2,000+ lbs "Super Sack" and can go through 4 or 5 of those in a shift.
Just about every color has "white" on it.... even the FDA compliant ones

I have brought some home and mixed it with "Baby Oil" for my Bell Target and applied it with a small paint roller.
Got the idea from the Trap / Skeet range where the had a big steel plate with a full size paint tray and roller for guy's to check their pattern.
Works well, easy to apply, but it is messy. NEVER dry's and the TiO2 by itself is a "waxy" powder and will pack like a snow ball.

Now I just use cheap Krylon flat white, black, or blaze orange spray paint.