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Paint recommendations for steam radiators

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branimal
branimal Member Posts: 210
in Strictly Steam
I've stripped 4 CI radiators of paint and rust (lye bath followed by electrolysis). I've primed all the radiators to prevent further rusting.

Now it's time to paint. I'm using an HVLP sprayer so I'm not limited to rattle cans. I can buy paint by the quart or gallon.

Anyone have a recommendation on a good paint?

I've used both Rustoleum (not high heat) and Benjamin Moore Satin Impervo oil -alkyd paint in the past. The BM paint seems to hold up a little better to little nicks from moving, but not leaps and bounds better.

Thanks.

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  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,354
    edited April 2023
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    If for some reason you do need an oil paint, the Impervo is good. I have found, however, that Benjamin Moore Aura, an acrylic, or the equivalent from Sherwin-Williams works just fine -- and has more colours available and far less odour problems.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 7,888
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    I like silver for radiators. But that's just me.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    branimal
  • HomerJSmith
    HomerJSmith Member Posts: 2,446
    edited April 2023
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    Ed, I wonder about the reflectivity of silver paint or any metallic paint. Transmissibility of heat energy is the most important factor. A paint that transmits the lowest emissiblity would not be my choice. My understanding that black emits the most radiation, but what'da I know.
    Paint a radiator with multiple paints and get an IR gun and check it out. I'm sure someone in the world has done this.
    reggi
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,705
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    It's basically metallic paint if you want less radiation, or any other color if you want full radiation.

    https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/radiator-paint-colors/
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
  • reggi
    reggi Member Posts: 519
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    ethicalpaul said:
    It's basically metallic paint if you want less radiation, or any other color if you want full radiation. https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/radiator-paint-colors/
    :o  So if your further radiators seem to not heat up quite as much as the rest of system then perhaps painting the nearer ones to the heating source black will give the steam a chance to fill the further ones perhaps painted silver ? A type of regulation that may of been done in the past ? Maybe when aàaàoil / gas came about and the season long coal fire was no longer? 
    @DanHolohan what do you think ? Ready to jump in the time machine or did you retire that to your museum 😮
    One way to get familiar something you know nothing about is to ask a really smart person a really stupid question
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,002
    edited April 2023
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    ½I did metallic High Heat Rustoleum in Copper...The others are flat black with Gold Leaf for the raised filagree.  Mad Dog 
    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
    HomerJSmithreggibranimal
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,705
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    If steam isn't reaching a far radiator, it isn't likely to be fixed by painting the near ones metallic IMO. The problem is incorrect venting or a water trap due to sagging.
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
    mattmia2
  • reggi
    reggi Member Posts: 519
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    Mad Dog_2 said:
    ½I did metallic High Heat Rustoleum in Copper...The others are flat black with Gold Leaf for the raised filagree.  Mad Dog 
    I was just reading a older book and they were talking about painting those radiators with the raised designs in two color scheme.. ( I don't remember the exact process but) paint the entire rad the color of the highlighted areas  (finished) .. then you brush on the paint that the radiator is going to be and before it sets wipe the paint off the raised areas you want the other color.
    Now you get the general idea... I'LL post it if I come across it again soon..
    How did you do yours ?
    One way to get familiar something you know nothing about is to ask a really smart person a really stupid question
  • reggi
    reggi Member Posts: 519
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    ethicalpaul said:
    If steam isn't reaching a far radiator, it isn't likely to be fixed by painting the near ones metallic IMO. The problem is incorrect venting or a water trap due to sagging.
    True.. what about  2 identical rooms , everything being equal, one having a silver metallic painted radiator, the other a flat ? Black painted radiator, with the thermostat in another room, how would the rooms with the different color radiators heat and retain heat after the thermostat is satisfied ?

    If the Black painted radiator stayed warmer, longer, wouldn't that lessen the calls for heat and save fuel ?
    One way to get familiar something you know nothing about is to ask a really smart person a really stupid question
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,705
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    The black one would radiate its heat faster according to what we've been told.

    But regardless of that detail, I can't see the difference being noticeable to the thermostat or the residents. In most calls for heat the radiator isn't going to be fully heated anyway.
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

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