Paint

Hi all, this might sound like a silly question but what is a good paint for cast iron. I'm making a engineers level from the castings over at ces. I have the machining done but would like to paint the rough parts say green. what's a good paint to stick to cast iron ? Do i need to prime it first.

I have painted a couple of machines with Wilkinsons own brand metal paint, priming with red oxide first. They do a good 'classic' type grey as well as a decent green and blue. This paint seems to be suitably resistant to most oils and lubes found in the average home workshop (well mine at least).

I did look at using hammerite at one point but after enquiries with the manufacturer I was advised that it was not resistant to many common oil based products.

Hope this helps

Graeme

Give the cast iron a good scrub with a wire brush to remove any loose carbon particle in the cast iron surface, Red oxide it straight away.

No worries thanks, will get some orderded.

Hearsay only:

On other forums, folk have reported good results with floor paint on machinery, for its hard-wearing quality and resistance to oil etc.

Andy

I used Hammerrite on my rotary table, universal dividing head and pillar drill with no problems so far, apart from the odd chip here and there. The floor paint I used on the floor has long since worn away.

Regards,

Andrew

I'm no paint expert, but the Hammerite might have worn a bit quicker than your floor paint had you used it on the floor and then walked/trod swarf into/dragged things across it.

Andy

My friend painted his full size Fordson Dexter with Tractol paint it is also used on construction equipment.

On its first show it won top award.

On the steel and cast iron it looks great if you use the correct primers etc they have a good range of colours RAL, BS 381C & BS 4800

Paul

Wilkinson do a very good spray enamel, in a variety of colours. The matt black is very good for model engineering (and used on the hugger of my motorbike).

del.

I thought I had already posted this, but I find Humbrol enamel works well on small items, using ordinary brown or grey spray primer.

Several of my machine tools/vices came with a 'hammerite' finish.

Neil