Force pike build problem HELP!

[cjfrancese79]

Hey everybody,
I have almost completed the forcepike for my guard and I'm on the painting stage and I ran into an issue. The grips I used are a flexible hard rubber plumbing tube. I sanded, cleaned, and primed them before painting black BUT after 2 days they are still really tacky. I moved them in from the garage last night and still the same. Anybody have any advice or suggestions?

[Danielandre77]

What products did you use?

[stripes]

I'd hate to say it but if it's still tacky after 2 days of drying the paint has not cured properly.

As for product, I haven't seen much that will actually bond to flex pipe as it isn't your typical plastic compound. I personally gave up on the painting route and went with aluminum tape for the body and electricians tape for the grips. Makes for simple repairs, and never rubs off or leaves a residue behind.

[cjfrancese79]

HUZZAH! finished product

[Darth Skellington]

If it is a rubbery material...it may never dry. I've heard that priming it with paint for plastics is the route to go...but I can't confirm that. On my pikes, I've used a grease gun tip for the tip of the pole. It has a rounded rubber tip, and it took mine upwards of 6-10 months to get to a mostly "dry" state.

On the other hand, silver sharpie stick to it great, and is good for touch ups as it matches my matte aluminum paint scheme of the rest of my pike.