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how do i re paint onto brushed stainless steel?
Firstly I want to apologise if this post has appeared here twice – I thought I posted this yesterday but today I can’t find it. 😕
I was wondering if anyone out there knows anything about painting with enamel paints onto brushed stainless steel. The steel supplier is telling me to paint directly onto the brushed surface with no primer, and the nice people at Humbrol confirm this. However the Humbrol people also say that their paints aren’t really recommended for external use and they are likely to fade in the sunlight.
In the past I have used them to paint house signs on things like old surfboards and have not had any complaints or problems, but the signs I am about to paint need to have a life expectancy of about 10 years.
Does anyone have any advice about painting onto brushed stainless steel, and does anyone have any advice about which paints would be good to use? The designs have quite a large range of colours involved, and although I am pretty good at mixing the colours myself, it would be good if I could get a reasonable range without mixing.
Thanks
Twotoes
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5 Replies
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TwoToes,
You will need to use a proper acid etch primer before you put any kind of paint onto stainless otherwise it just falls off.
I suggest you find a supplier of proper signwriters enamels. J. T. Keep in Beckenham, Kent used to do there own bit I’m not sure if they still make it. If not I’m sure one of the signwriters who post here can recommend an alternative.
Steve -
Hi,
I know you have to do this with a smooth metal surface but does this also apply with a brushed surface? Sorry to question this but the paint manufacturer’s are telling me not so I am confused (which is easily done!!)
Thanks for the reply.
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Twotoes,
Sorry, you said in your first post that the steel supplier said no need to use an undercoat. If the paint supplier says no need then they should know what they are talking about. One thing to keep in mind, good quality exterior gloss paint probably will not last 10 years and although signwriters enamels are far better quality I should think 10 years is still a bit optimistic.
Steve -
Well the surface is brushed so I guess that they are saying that will give the paint it’s adhesion – but I was a bit dubious about this – hence wanting to check it out here as well so thanks for the feedback. I guess I will have to wait and see what the surface is actually like when I get the plates before I can really make a decision on this.
I’m planning to use enamels and if you have any advice of good ones I’d really appreciate it. Up ‘til now I’ve used Humbrol simply because their easy to buy and I was given a draw full of them by a friend – but up till now I haven’t been asked for a 10 year longevity. I was thinking maybe using the 1Stop enamels that people have mentioned here on other posts. (I think I will make sure I put something in my paperwork to the client about longevity being dependent on weather conditions and proper care etc.)
Thanks again for your help.
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I’m not sure about priming. I’ve yet to paint a brushed-finished metal.
I would make sure to clean the surface very well with isoprophyl (sp?) alcohol and let dry thoroughly.
You can get 1-Shot from Handovers or Wright’s of Lymm.
Wright’s is now making their own lettering enamel if you want to give it a try.
I have heard that Keep’s is good stuff as well.
I think I would add a bit of hardener (I-Shot has their own kind) to the paint in small amounts.
This shortens your cup life, so only make about 2 ounces at a time.
Be sure to let the customer know that lettering enamels are not what they used to be, and they can expect a life of about 5-7 years, not 10.
I’d make them sign off on it as well, that they realize this job may not last 10 years.
love….Jill
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