Radiator paint help

[Pete]

I painted a rad witih hammerite radiator paint and it was difficult and awkward to work with and ran even with thin coats.

I rubbed it down today *not fun* and went to b&q and as suggested in other posts use satin gloss. I asked about this and was told by 2 of the paint bods no such product exists it either satin paint or gloss paint.

So I opted for a mid sheed non drip crown pure brilliant white paint as it was all I could see that would fit the bill, b&q had a homebrand of it, and a dulux one and a crown one. te dulix and crown were identical other than the crown was non drip so guess its thicker. SO 2 coats of that should be the ticket.

I'm just wondering what you paint you rads with and what results of the OEM look are like ?

[Another Dave]

I usually paint my radiators with the same paint (i.e. same colour as well) I use to paint the walls, usually matt emulsion. Oil based paints, such as the ones you're using, go yellow I find.

Another Dave

[Roger Mills]

I don't paint *new* radiators at all. As long as white is acceptable, the finish which comes on them lasts for many years.

When they start to get a bit old and tatty - oh, and if SWHBO decides that some colour other than white is required - I brush paint them with radiator paint.

I always take them off the wall and lay them flat to paint them - you get a much better finish that way - with no runs.

You *can* use ordinary gloss or satin paint (the sort intended for wood or metal - *not* emulsion paint) but it smells awful for quite a few days when the radiators are hot. The smell does wear off after a while.

[SS]

I now use antique white satin. It is quite near to the colour of a new radiator (my opninion) And not the dazzling white of a gloss which I find too bright these days. I have never used radiator specific paints and never had a problem.

[Pete]

Hmmm I'm starting to think the pure brilliant white sating mid sheen is going to be glaringly bright :-s

[Ian Jackson]

In message , Pete writes

Car bodies (especially the dark colours) can get pretty hot in the sun. Has anyone tried cellulose car paint (aerosol cans)? Maybe too glossy?

[stephen.hull]

I sprayed my bathroom radiator in Ford diamond white Cellulose to match the existing white bath suit etc, is has stood up well in three years and I expect many more, it was obviously done in gloss and is very easy to wipe clean. Satin finishes are OK to wipe clean but matt is an absolute no go IMO.

A specific radiator paint is grossly over-rated as any paint type will suffice on a radiator.

However you can't just paint cellulose over household gloss paint or emulsion but you can apply it on factory radiator finishes.

Stephen.

[Roger Mills]

Cellulose car paint is pretty fussy about what's underneath it - and is likely to peel or blister if put onto the wrong base. To be safe, you'd have to strip it to bare metal and then start with a cellulose primer.

[Mark]

You could use Barcoat first which is a very effective isolator for use under Cellulose. But given the cost and un-availability of quality Cellulose paint these days, not the best option for an old radiator imho.

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[Nightjar]

I've never had any problems using ordinary 'one coat*' gloss paint, taking the radiator off the wall to paint it laying flat. It does smell a bit for while after the heat first goes on though.

• I find that two are normally required, to ensure you don't miss any bits.

Colin Bignell