Painting a Stuart 504 boiler kit

[Steve RowbothamParticipant @steverowbotham77083]

I purchased a Stuart 504 boiler kit at the Warwick show last week and am keen to assemble and see my Oscillator (project #1) run from steam rather than air. I am ready to paint the end covers (Cast Iron), and steel side plates and chimney and am considering using high temp paint in aerosol form from Halfords or similar, but have the following questions:

1) High temp paints I have used in the past need to reach a high temp to harden. Given I will be handling the parts to assemble, this isn't ideal. I could just put them in the oven when my wife is out, but wondered if anyone is aware of a high temp paint that hardens at room temp?

2) I'm not sure how far down the chimney I will be able to paint with aerosol – is it better to brush paint? If so I may as well brush paint the ends and covers also.

[Steve RowbothamParticipant @steverowbotham77083]

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

Car accessory shops sell high temp paint in spray cans for painting brake calipers and good for 250 deg C.(limited colours). Paint for exhaust manifolds, 650 deg C. (only available in black, which I used on my traction engine chimney)

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Generally the exhaust manifold / pipe breed need high temperatures to properly harden. Often you can get away with letting it dry and hoping the substrate temperature gets hot enough to more or less harden it so it sticks OK. But its a bit hit'n miss. Generally it seems that the folk who followed the instructions exactly got much better adhesion and weather protection from the folks who just sprayed and prayed.

Caliper et al paints seem to be fine if you just spray on at room temperature. Have heard that warming up a bit helps and that they are sensitive to humidity. I guess the ehatwave conditions would have been ideal.

Clive

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

Have a look at Keith Appleton on YouTube. He has recently built a Stuart boiler, all the finishing info is there to be seen.

[Steve RowbothamParticipant @steverowbotham77083]

Thanks folks, I trawled through the Keith Appleton '504 boiler renovation' videos and he uses red Oxide and then sprays with an unspecified paint. I had a quick look through his 'making a 504 boiler' series, of which there are a very many parts, and couldn't find reference to the paint used but will have another trawl. I will also ask Stuart for suggestions tomorrow.

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