Painting Beads For Trout/salmon

[chasn_steels]

Alright, so I recently acquired over 3000 pieces of 8mm - 10mm clear resin/pearl beads.

I attempted to paint some of the beads, but failed miserably. So far I have burned through 300 some beads already, and I don't think that I am doing it correctly.

Here's what I have been doing, let me know if I am doing this correctly.

1. Drop beads into a bag
2. Add paint 2-3 dabs
3. Shake in 1 gallon bag
4. Pour out onto paper towel to dry
5. 2 - 3 sprays of clear coat in a box

What's happening is that after the clear coat, the paint still peels off of the bead.

Nail polish:

So than I tried painting blood streaks on the beads with a nail polish brush, and that didn't go so well. All I have is globs of red or pink every where.

I have seen some people say that you can paint clear beads to what ever hue of paint your nail polish is, but when I tried, it's globbed on.

Any help would truly be appreciated. Thanks.  

[BLT]

I am thinking the release agent they use in the injection molding of the beads is keeping the paint from sticking.

 

Maybe try soaking them in a degreaser, rinse and dry, then give it a try. Maybe a rubbing alcohol?

[fshng2]

Try dying them. I haven't done but sounds like it might work according to attached article.

https://www.ritstudio.com/techniques/materials/buttons-beads/