Painting screw heads

[Packard]

I just assumed everyone knew this trick, but yesterday I caught my friend patiently hand painting screw heads with a tiny paint brush.

This is what I showed him:

We found a discarded corrugated carton. 
We used an awl to poke several holes about 1” apart.
We inserted the screws up to the head in the cardboard.
Using a rattle can, we sprayed the cardboard where the screws were inserted.
Wait for the paint to dry.

Some additional notes:

Rust oleum cut its corporate teeth producing enamel for metal.  It makes a good choice.

If it is strictly cosmetic, go straight to paint.

If it is exterior and the screws are zinc plated, a self-etching primer is a good idea.

Follow directions on the can.

I like to let the paint fully cure before using.  Multiple coats can fill the screw head and make it difficult to use.

I place the screws about 3/4” to 1” apart.  Keep them fairly close together and you use less paint.  Large bolts require more space between.

I assume most people know this, but judging from my friend’s painting, a few might not.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I use a foam sheet (some 35mm insulation offcut) when I need to spray screwheads, I find it easier to push them in than cardboard, especially when there's a large quantity.

 

[Packard]

I will try that.  Inserting the screws is the only tedious part.  I poke holes in advance with an awl.  Trying to push the screws into the corrugated, is a losing proposition. 

The advantage of corrugated is that I always seem to have some around.  I will save some of the larger pieces of packing materials when I get something fragile next. 

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Screw them in rather than pushing, plus it stops the extra step of the awl.
Personally, I don't like painting screws, they always seem to get damaged during install and look worse.
Plating, anodizing, or even chemical blackening solutions have better staying power. Limits options though.

 

[Packard]

Using a self-etching primer will help to minimize the flaking.  It makes the surface a bit rougher for better adhesion of the primer to the metal. 

Typically, my painted screw heads survive the first use.  They tend to chip if I have to remove them and re-install. 

Despite everything on the labels, I’ve read it takes about 200 hours (about 8 - 9 days) for a full cure on almost all finishes.  It seems like an over-broad statement, but it is probably true of many finishes.  I try to allow a week before I put things to use just to allow a better cure.

 

[mino]

Screw them in rather than pushing, plus it stops the extra step of the awl.
Personally, I don't like painting screws, they always seem to get damaged during install and look worse.
Plating, anodizing, or even chemical blackening solutions have better staying power. Limits options though.

Or just use the stainless/brass variety with an appropriate shape. The only exception being where blackened screws are needed by the design for contrast.

Always felt that screws that are visible by necessity *and* try to hide themselves by color just scream cheap/kitsch. If a screw is needed to be visible, then its quality should match the quality of the whole piece. No "hiding in plain sight" needed then.

My 2c.