High temperature paint

Roly Williams · High temperature paint

Somebody mentioned VHT paint as a gloss finish paint resistant up to 900F (480C). This is a US brand but I've found a UK source:

http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/cata...Path=894_896&products_id=7290

It's not cheap at £8.20 but, if it works, that's not too bad. The real killer is their standard fixed shipping charge of £8.50! If you're buying loads of stuff then that's ok but it more than doubles the price of a can of paint!

However, in the name of investigative research, I've ordered a can to see if it lives up to it's name.

Steve_S

Thats interesting Roly... I hope is really does what it says on the can! It's expensive, but you could probably do several fireboxes with one of those.

Chris

Here in red...

http://www.usautomotive.co.uk/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct=397

Looking forward to seeing some destructive testing roly!

oldstuff

Are you able to get Rustoleum spray paint over there? Pretty common brand
over here. Anyway, I tried some of this in gloss black on the firebox of my
lastest homemade. I fully expected it to dull, but after several firings the
gloss has held up fine. And get this, I only used ONE coat. I let it set about
24 hrs and then baked it for roughly 2 hrs at about 175F.

Mamodman123

Graham-Jilly

If you check out your auto parts stores and look for brake and caliper paint they are rated at 1000F and im using an australian one and they dont dull when fired

Mamodman123

It's all matt over here

Graham-Jilly

Roly Williams

Graham-Jilly

Thats a shame MM we have both mat and gloss

cant get the engine frame colour tho

Mamodman123

Are you allowed to ship paint between countries?

oldstuff

Same here, MM. I bought some barbeque grill paint and tried that but didn't
like matte finish. Next engine, I tried some everyday cheap gloss black, baked it, etc.
it was ok but it did dull in spots after firing few times. But the recent one I
did with Rustoleum and so far, so good...my neighbor has this engine now,
I should stop over and if the paint's still shiny.

Chris

Mamodman123

Yes, ive tried Hammerite on my SE4, if that holds up then it'll be a Brucey Bonus but if it burns off the search continues I guess

. I'm sure all mamod did in the factory was paint and bake.

IndianaRog

oldstuff

IndianaRog

Yup Chuck,

Just rub down the high temp paint with a cotton rag, diaper, t shirt...whatever you have...buff it like you were shining shoes!! Just make sure you harden the paint first by a few hours in the oven at around 350 deg. F. The missus doesn't particularly like this step cause it stinks bad, but I don't do it that often so I get away with it.

It will go from flat black to semi-gloss and looks great.

cheers,
Roger

tmuir

SPOKESMAN

Ive rubbed the surface down on exhaust paint and it does come to a semi-gloss/silk finish. Im not too keen on matt black on fireboxes, however good its heat resistant properties may be!

oldstuff

Mamodman123

tarbyonline

Just so you all know, hamerite bar-be-que paint is crap. Even when cured it comes off way too easy. Gonna try the ordinary gloss with a long cure next, because i can't find gloss hi-temp anywhere over here

Wallace

SPOKESMAN

Seems the only really good stuff is the exhaust paint I use to use on my motorcycle exhaust! (VHT coating)

oldstuff

Wallace

Hi Chuck

I'm only slightly hesitant here cos it's not the exact same brand paint. But my mate is a qualified spray painter and he suggested it. My dad re-sprays meccano. The red green and yellow of galmet are an good match.
At a time when my compressor for airbrush broke, I used it on a MEC1. I have also used it on other engines, and now my compressor finally threw the towel in for the last time on Friday I will be only using aerosol cans.

But I hope pics will help you out

Here is a MEC1. Firebox and base both done with galmet. Smooth and glossy, it was baked and has done many firings.

Here's a pic of a recently acquire engine. Am doing it up again due to the forgetfulness of baking it

.
Note the bottom half is fine. The top looks worse than it is. But on it's firing, it blistered up, then they went down, and the result was crazing of the paint work. It's been fired since, no blisters, as the paint was well and truly baked due to the burner. The strap around boiler survived on though. Probably lower temp. Unfortunately I took these pics before you asked, so can't get a pic of the strap

And finally, this is the paint used. Epoxy finish, whatever that means

Hope this helps. But I have seen it both baked, and not baked. Baked does work, as long as it's done gradually. Oh, and I let it dry and wait for the missus to leave before baking. I don't bake the bases though.
Going to get caught one day soon with them missus

Mamodman123

I nearly got caught once baking my SE4 base

makes a hell of a stink

Baking is essential for high temp paint! Otherwise it'll fetch off no matter how long you leave it

tarbyonline

what sort of temperature/length of time would you guys recommend for baking then. My bar-be-que paint does not mention anywhere about baking, but is peeling off quite easily.

Also got some plastikote metal protect glossy black, its only designed up to 150 centigrade but gonna try baking it to see if it helps.

Mamodman123

SPOKESMAN

Mamodman123

SPOKESMAN

Mamodman123

SPOKESMAN

A washer!!!

Did Churchill say that when he was about to retaliate against the Luftwaffe!!!

Mamodman123

SPOKESMAN

Mamodman123

oldstuff

Update. Hmm. I visited neighbor Bill to check his Rust-oleum painted firebox.
He's very pleased and shows it off to all visitors, but some areas near the top
of the firebox do seem a bit dull.

I'm doing another, simpler one for my brother, Mike. Firebox due for a trip to
the oven and I'm going to bake at higher temp. We'll see it how it goes.

tarbyonline

Was down the local motor factors today, and got a tin of Silver Hook V-H-T for £3.98. It seems to be a semi gloss type paint. Will let you all know how I get on - but at that price not expecting much to be honest. Its rated to 600 centigrade (1200 F)

Roly Williams

I now have a can of VHT gloss black - claimed to be good up to 900F (480C). Trouble is - I don't have an engine to try it on just at the moment. I might try it on my MM1 that has already been repainted and not too well (one of my early attempts). I'm a bit busy at the moment so it might have to wait a week or two. I'll let you know the results when it happens.

old_timer

I'll be interested in your results when you get around to it Roly

That VHT is not cheap (need to add VAT & delivery to that £8.20), but I've looked at an american site with more details of the product
http://www.vhtpaint.com/products/sfID1/1/sfID2/14/productID/74
I hope you don't need to apply a clear top coat as well, but do note that they recommend curing @ 200ºF for an hour.

tmuir

I've used VHT paint on my Locos and curing is an essential part of the process, it actually gives the paint more gloss too.

Mamodman123

oldstuff

IndianaRog

Chuck,

I've never tried oven heating Rustoleum, but if it held up to 4 hours and just got a bit dull, I would try burnishing that finish with a cotton rag...buff some shine into it. If it won't buff, put a bit of SimiChrome or Maas type polish on same rag and go over it gently...keep checking on extent of shine that WILL come up. It sounds like it will be adequately heat proof...just need to bring back some shine...might as well.

Meanwhile, I like the sounds of that VHT gloss high temp spray paint, never heard of it, but seems to be available here in the US and could well be the optimum product for our fireboxes.

Mamodman123

I'm going to buy a can if the stuff doesn't hold out on my SE4.

I'll use it for my 101 too! which i'm re-doing.

I'm baking the base (101) tomorrow at around 100-150 degrees for 2-3 hours, that should do the trick!

tmuir

VHT does an engine paint and a brake calliper paint.
The calliper paint is rated to a higher temp.
I've personally only used the engine paint.
After about 10 minutes of meths flames licking the paint it just caused a slight dulling of the paint.
Graham-Jilly have used the calliper paint and say it gives good results.

oldstuff

SPOKESMAN

Ah the famous pig brand!!

tmuir

Chuck I showed pictures of your engine to a work college of mine who bought a minor 2 off me recently and he was most impressed that you made it with limited tools and very basic materials.

oldstuff

Cheers, Spokes and Tony. The one above is in transistion...I'm making one for
my brother, as he has ALS it'll be Sterno fired as that's easier for him load.

He correctly observed in my other pig engines that the exhaust hook-up
somewhat restricts and therefore inhibits engine speed. So, I'm gonna
try to make his a no-frills speed demon.

A few experimentation changes are in store for this one, also.

Wallace

IndianaRog

oldstuff

tarbyonline