Copper Boiler Painting

Hello All.

Just looking for some tips on painting the copper boiler, undercoat, top coat etc etc.

Tips on painting the Ash Pan would be good also,

Thanks

Hi,
I have used the same paint that i used on the smokebox. Plastikote satin black. I'll probably be using the same on the ashpan. ( When i get it)
Mike

Mike,
The ashpan is stainless and from what I understand, stainless is hard to paint.
Thanks
Steve.

Oh bugger, i didnt know that. Maybe a etch primer. Someone with greater knowledge will no doubt put us right on this one.
Mike

Steve told me no point in painting the boiler you will only see the back head , so painted that with heat resistant .Did the same with fire grate painted that with heat resistant black, no undercoat.
Steve H

Plasticote wood stove paint can be used on boiler & fire grate, no undercoat/primers required!!
Regards,
Tony

Tony...are you saying this paint will cover the stainless steel ashpan ok. Wasn't going to paint the grate.
Thanks.

I have painted St/steel with this paint & it's worked fine.. Just make sure You degrease well before applying paint!
Regards,
Tony

My ash pan is BQ BBQ satin black inside and out. Still going strong.

Lynn,

Again without primer ?

Sorry..autocorrect took the r off.

Guys...before painting the boiler did you only degrease or did you take it back to bright copper by removing the oxidation with say wirework ?

Once i degreased it mine was bright copper, so i just painted it. Its held ok. I only painted the bits as suggested on instructions, not the whole boiler. Mike

Thanks Mike.

Guys...after using the Plasti-Kote Black Matt Stove Paint how did you cure the paint....I'm guessing you didn't fire the engine as the painting was done during the build ???.
Thanks.

I put mine in the oven at around 100c just to harden it for a few mins.
    Mike

Ok...so has anyone just left the boiler it's natural colour...I think that will be ok for the back head but not so sure about the throat plate....pics anyone ?. Does anyone know of alternative ways to colour these areas black other than painting...staining maybe. All ideas welcome.

I'm no expert on this, but i think the suggestion on the instructions is just to paint the psrts of the boiler thatwould possibly be visible after assembly of cladding etc. I would think that if the copper is left exposed to the air it would eventually tarnish or go green. Unless you want to spend loads of time polishing. Maybe someone out there knows better.
Mike

What did u do to yours mike ?

I sprayed from the front of the cylinder as far as the front of the boiler, before fitting smokebox or cylinder, then i sprayed from the rear of the six supprt bracket bolt holes the complete rear end. A little more than suggested.

        Mike

Ok all, another question. Most peoples view is to use Plasticote wood stove paint. If used how do you cure ?. Don't tell me the bolier goes in the oven as iv fitted my cylinder...

Thanks.

I'm pretty sure that i have read somewhere on these forums that this paint will partly cure after a few days. Im sure someone has the answer .
Mike

You could simply warm it carefully with a blow lamp, the copper will heat up fairly uniformly as it's such a good conductor of heat!

Regards,
Tony

Thanks Tony....sounds like a plan.