How can I eliminate static electricity when spray-painting on acrylic sheet plastic?

Hi, I'm trying to spray-paint one side of a sheet of acrylic (plexiglass) and it all goes fairly well except that I can't get the colour to go on evenly. The sprayed paint seems to dance before landing on the sheet in funny patterns. I'm guessing it has to do with static electricity. Does anyone know how I can reduce it, eliminate it or make it work in my favour?

Comments

[Kiteman]

Have you tried grounding both the acrylic and the spray-can?

Just tape a length of cable to each, with the other end connected to ground (say, a cold water pipe or a central-heating radiator).

[Ray Power]

This sounds like a good plan to try first thanks

[Burf]

I have had success using the anti-static, monitor screen wipes.

[orksecurity]

You could consider working in a higher-humidity environment, at least until the paint is on the surface; that will discharge some of the static. (Dry air is why static is worse during the winter.)

I'm not sure whether there's something like a conductive primer, which might be another way to short out/even out the static charge.

(I haven't seen this effect, so I'm taking your word for it that static is the cause.)

[steveastrouk]

Welll, if you had a "negative ion generator" - sometimes used to freshen the air and knock out dust, and direct the output fromTHAT at your surface, you may well discharge the static.

Steve