I have had some success with spray paints intended for barbeques and engines. both are intended for high temperature. the BBQ paint is typically flat and intended for really high temperatures the engine paint may be glossy and handles lower (but high enough) temperatures and is hot oil resistant. I found them at my local (Ace) hardware store which is a pretty well stocked one.

I just looked through their stock and read the labels. (bring your reading glasses -- the print is fine) look for paints intended to handle higher temperatures.

These paints need to see higher temperatures to cure properly too. they are pretty tough after they are cured.

 Shawn,
I highly recommend checking out this site.

http://www.weavermodels.com/page7.html

BUT Jeremiah,
Shawn asked for BLACK, not 'lots of colors'!!!
All the best,
David Leech, Delta, Canada

Personally, I've found any of the popular spray paints (Krylon, etc.) work very well. I've never had a need to resort to any of the so-called "high temperature" paints on any of my steamers. Assuming your boiler is already painted, I'd probably lightly scuff the paint that's there with some medium steel wool or something so the paint has a bit of "tooth" to grab onto. I do usually "bake" my finishes on my steamers in the oven (200 degrees for an hour or so) once I apply them. But on all my steamers, I've disassembled them to be painted, then reassembled. The paint holds up very well during the reassembly process--no chipping or peeling despite being banged around a bit while trying to fit parts here and there.

Later,

K

Posted By David Leech on 29 Jan 2012 09:35 AM
BUT Jeremiah,
Shawn asked for BLACK, not 'lots of colors'!!!
All the best,
David Leech, Delta, Canada

Why don't you use exhaust manifold paint from your auto supply store? It will handle the actual boiler and wrappers as well and it comes in both flat and high gloss finishes too. Make sure you have very good ventilation.

Regards,
Will

Posted By iceclimber on 29 Jan 2012 11:33 AM

Posted By David Leech on 29 Jan 2012 09:35 AM
BUT Jeremiah,
Shawn asked for BLACK, not 'lots of colors'!!!
All the best,
David Leech, Delta, Canada

Lots of colors including Loco black on that list.

 

 

http://www.weavermodels.com/page8.html

 The scalecoat I used on my tender top dried ok with the oven heat, but I am also careful with not getting any of the alcohol on that part of the tender (fairly easy to do when careful).

As to your brother and color, I concur that it is indeed the absence of color.

Shawn, you can't go wrong with any of the suggestions given. Probably what is easiest for you will also be your best choice.

If you are painting the actual boiler, then high-temp paint is desirable. On the outer wrapper, any old paint will work.

I dunno. The smokebox is no cooler than the boiler (arguably hotter, especially with overzealous burners). I've never had any issues with the "regular" paint I've used on them. I used Krylon on the boiler of my my alcohol-fired Roundhouse loco, which is a pot boiler and gets quite hot since it's exposed to open flame. No issues there either. That, and I had bad luck with BBQ paint on one conversion I did. It didn't stick for nothing. I ended up scraping it off (with minimal effort), priming and coating with "regular" paint. It's held up very well since then (7 years now?) Dunno what the appeal of high-temp paint is, as I've never noticed any advantage. (Disclaimer--the high-temp paint may be less prone to discoloration, but since my locos are usually basic black, I'm not really in a position to comment on that. :) )

I've heard good things about using self-etching primer from the auto store, but the times I've gone looking for it, the clerk at the store stared blankly at me and showed me the Krylon. (So much for "Napa Know How.") So now I just use Krylon as a matter of course. (And if you're painting an already-painted surface, the etching primer won't do you any good anyway.)

When I'm painting a live steamer, I clean (wash of muratic acid, rinsed off with water), dry (sunlight or in oven set on "keep warm" for about 30 minutes), prime while still warmish (Krylon or ValSpar primer), bake (oven set at 200 degrees for an hour), wait a day or more, paint the top coat (Krylon or ValSpar), then bake that. Reassemble, weather, fire up, enjoy.

Later,

K

Thanks guys. All very good information. If I decide to paint the boiler I want to avoid taking it apart. Since its a small area of the boiler Im hoping to just tape it off and spray or paint on by hand.

I have successfully brushed the paint from rattle cans for tight spots and touch up. I just spray some into a yogurt container and brush away! it comes out really well!

If you want to brush paint, try Badger's ModelFlex paints. They're pre-thinned for airbrushes, but brush on very well, and smooth out leaving no brush strokes. I know it holds up well to boiler temperatures because I painted the raw copper boiler of my EBT mike with it. No primer needed, just make sure it's clean of grease and oil. No baking, either.



I don't have a close-up of the cab interior handy, but I used that paint as a base coat to cover all the "evils" on my EBT #12 because it stuck and covered so well. Once the ModelFlex paint dried, I could paint my regular craft acrylics on top for weathering effects. They've held up very well to running and handling. I used their "gloss black."

Later,

K

Thanks again guys. I think Im going to give the modelflex paints a try. I like the way kevines engine came out. hats what Im looking for. I jut ordered some.
Whats the best way to remove the greese from the surface being painted?

 Could try simple green diluted. I would steer clear of WD-40 myself, but others may disagree.  Then again, since you won't be needing to lubricate the area you are painting, WD-40 might be just fine.  You'll need to rough up the surface a bit with something after cleaning anyway so the paint adheres well.

Gun Kote maybe worth looking into.

JM

what is Gun Kote?

Developed by the US Military for use on firearms. Used by the seals....heat cured, real tough stuff. several colors!

No, I'm not a paid spokesperson....

JM