Spray paint
Recently, a large assortment of paints in spray cans has appeared. This product is also sold for heating radiators. The principle of its choice is that you need to take into account the temperature regime.
Without the appropriate experience, the process of applying paint for heating radiators in spray cans causes a certain difficulty. In reality, everything is very simple: it should be sprayed from a distance of at least 20 centimeters from the surface to be painted. In this case, the jet must be carried out evenly, without lingering for a long time in one place.
Paint is applied in an aerosol package with a spray gun in several layers, depending on the complexity of the battery relief. To obtain a uniform color, the direction of the jet must be changed. For example, if in the first pass there was movement from bottom to top and from top to bottom, then during the second pass the composition should be applied from left to right and vice versa.
Since at first, due to lack of skills, it will be difficult to control the movement of the hand with the spray can, a large area should be covered with newspapers or paper.
Powder dyes
These dyes are used to paint steel, bimetallic and aluminum batteries under production conditions. For home staining, it is used very rarely due to the need for a special tool - a spray gun. Although some services lease such equipment.
According to the technology of the cleaned part, a negative charge is transferred, and a positive charge is transferred to the powder paint. This requires a diesel generator capable of delivering a current of a fraction of an ampere at a voltage of 25-30 kV.
The potential difference allows the powder to be sprayed evenly over the entire painted surface. In the next step, the dye is polymerized to make it hard. It is performed by heating the product to a certain temperature. Its range is from 170-200 ℃ to 350 ℃.
The lower temperature threshold can be created with a heat gun, but in order to inject high temperature indicators, an oven will be required, which will gradually warm the product. Alternatively, you can use paint, the polymerization of which occurs under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Then in a closed room it is enough to turn on a special lamp for a specified time.
Be that as it may, such a technology at home is difficult to implement. You may be able to paint the radiator in an equipped auto repair shop.
Radiator paint
Now let's move on to the types of paint. Special paints for heating systems are alkyd and acrylic, there are also varieties of them - they are made on different bases.
Alkyd enamels
This group has a very wide range of shades, there is a smell, but not very strong, after a few hours it disappears. You can safely use them: they will not turn yellow or fade. But alkyd enamels for radiators are on a different basis:
The paint can must indicate the manufacturer and its purpose.
Acrylic enamels
Acrylic enamels, after drying, resemble a plastic coating. The effect is complete: both in appearance and in touch. This paint holds very well and washes well. But there are several types, with different properties. They are water-based, they are practically odorless. Also called "acrylate enamels". But you need to look for heating systems intended for painting.
A good option is VD-AK-1179. But this paint must be applied to a primed or previously painted metal. The drying time before applying the next layer is 2 hours, complete drying is 24 hours (the cost per liter can is about 600 rubles).
There are many manufacturers of paints for radiators and heating pipes
Odorless, but includes anticorrosive additives "Thermacrill" of the ALP ENAMEL campaign. The declared temperature is up to +120 oC, has anti-corrosion properties, is suitable for painting any steel, including stainless, low-carbon and galvanized, aluminum and titanium alloys.Can be tinted in any shade. Drying time before applying the next layer at 20 oC - 20-30 minutes, complete drying - 2 days.
There are many other enamels of this class with different characteristics. Choose the option that suits you best.
Hammer enamels
This is a very interesting variant of alkyd enamels that allows you to achieve non-uniform coloration when using only one paint. Depending on the type of pigment, the surface can have the appearance of embossing, hammering and other effects. Inhomogeneity of color very well hides defects and unevenness of the base. Substrate preparation is standard: removal of rust, old paint, cleaning to metal, degreasing to a "clean rag". When applied to smooth and glossy surfaces, it is necessary to create a rough base (sandpaper).
Hammer enamels give a very interesting effect that will hide many surface imperfections.
Powder paints
This is a modern painting method by which aluminum, bimetallic and steel radiators are painted. At home, it is difficult to implement. It's about technology. Powder paint - dry and sprayed from a special gun. It costs about $ 40-60, but you can find an organization that leases equipment.
The part to be painted (prepared and cleaned) is given a negative potential, the powder - a positive one. To "charge" the part, a diesel engine is needed, which can produce fractions of an ampere at a voltage of 25-30 KV.
Due to the potential difference during spraying, the powder is evenly distributed over the surface of the part. Then the applied coating requires polymerization: creating conditions under which the applied powder turns into a single rigid coating.
Powder coating gives a durable and smooth finish, but it is a complex process.
Most often, this condition is heating to certain temperatures. Heating temperature can be different from 170-200 oC to 350 oC. At a low polymerization temperature, heating the part with an ash cannon may be enough, but at a high temperature, the part is placed in a special oven (a used one costs about $ 60), where it is gradually heated. There are also compounds that polymerize when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Everything is simpler here: in an enclosed space, they turn on an ultraviolet lamp and hold the part for a certain period of time.
In any case, it is quite difficult to create such conditions at home. If there is a need for powder painting, you can contact a specialized auto repair shop, maybe they have such equipment, and they will agree to paint the radiators for you.
As you can see, the choice of paints is quite wide. The only type that is not advised is oil paints. They, in fact, have already outlived their usefulness. But if they are nicer to you, you can use them.
Acrylic paints
Acrylic dyes from the group of water-based dyes have many advantages
Among them, the following attracts special attention:
- Safety and odorless. Such paints do not emit harmful substances, therefore they do not pose a danger to humans and animals.
- Fast drying. One coat of paint dries up within half an hour, provided that the room temperature is 18-23 degrees.
- Good moisture repellent properties.
- Resistance of the coating to mechanical stress.
Acrylic paints are an excellent option for painting heating devices, as they have the appropriate technical and aesthetic characteristics. The appearance of the battery, painted with acrylic compound, is a bit like plastic with a slight sheen. The color of the paint is juicy and bright. It is this option that is ideal for answering the question of what paint to paint odorless heating batteries.
Battery staining features
In order for the paint on heating batteries to last a long time, it is necessary to perform the staining procedure correctly.
Removing old coatings and applying putty
Before painting radiators, preparatory measures should be taken.
First you need to wash off the dirt from the surface, and then clean the battery with fine sandpaper, to remove all the paintthat doesn't hold on firmly.
If, as a result, fragments of the coating remain on the surface, then the grooves between them need to be coated with a putty on the metal, wait for it to dry and sand the radiator with sandpaper to achieve a perfectly flat surface.
Surface priming
In the next step, a primer is applied to improve the adhesion of the paint to the metal. After that, the primer should dry for as long as indicated on the package.
Attention! When buying a primer, you cannot use one that is intended for wood or plaster.
Selection of brushes
At the last stage, painting is carried out. To achieve maximum effect, take care of purchasing the necessary tool:
- A straight brush is used to paint the outside of the battery. Another option is to use a roller or spray gun instead.
- Curved brush - it is convenient to use it for processing the back surface and hard-to-reach places inside the radiator.
Photo 2. Special brush for painting heating radiators. It has a curved shape that allows you to reach hard-to-reach places.
Dyeing process
The wall behind the radiator and the floor are covered with a film, after which enamel is applied with a curved brush to the inner parts of the structure and its back surface. Next, paint the outer part with a straight brush, roller or spray gun.
Reference. Battery painting is best done in summer, but if it needs to be done in winter, look for an indication on the paint packaging that it is suitable for painting hot radiators.
Application of the second layer
After applying the first layer, you must wait for the paint to dry for a certain time, which is indicated by the manufacturer on the package. The second layer is applied only to the outer surface of the radiator - this gives it a more aesthetic appearance.
Varieties
Products used to paint batteries come in different consistencies and are used to coat different metals. Many of them are used to cover the outside of the radiators, while the rest are used for the inside. Each type of paint is distinguished by its own features and qualities inherent only to it. So, it is worth dealing with the main types of coloring compositions.
Oil
Several years ago, oil paints were the most common means of painting radiator pipes.
Today, no one uses such formulations due to the following disadvantages:
- have a pungent unpleasant odor;
- after a while they turn yellow and crack.
Re-painting the radiator will still not give it its previous appearance.
Acrylic
The composition of this paint contains the so-called polyacrylate - this is a substance that forms a film. If you want your colorful product not to have a pungent odor, then a polyacrylate coating will be the best solution. Such products, for example, "Universal", are often used in living rooms, as they have almost no smell. The main advantage of this choice is that acrylic paint can be diluted with plain water. After drying, it will not crack or rub off, it can be easily cleaned from dust. There are glossy and matte varieties of the composition.
Powder
Powder products are considered the most resistant to mechanical stress and have a long service life. This radiator paint will have to be heated, after which it is polarized and a homogeneous substance is obtained. The average temperature of polymerization of such compositions is + 200-350 degrees. These products are not used in homes due to the fact that the base will have to be heated for painting. Cars are painted in the same way.
Alkyd
This paint option creates a film on the metal surface. It is highly durable and shiny. If the surface of the battery is properly prepared, the alkyd coating can last up to five years.
There are various substances in the composition of alkyd enamel, so the characteristics of this paint are often different.
Paint based on organic thinners. This composition has an unpleasant odor and high heat resistance. The main color of this paint is white, however, by adding the desired dye, you can get any color.
Alkyd enamel on water-based acrylic. The main plus is the absence of pungent odors.
When buying such a composition, you should pay attention to the scope of application, since not all options are suitable for painting metal pipes
Alkyd enamel on silicone. This paint option is of super quality, is rarely used and can withstand critical temperatures up to +600 degrees.
Everything from batteries to ovens can be painted with this enamel.
Attention! If you buy white enamel, then you should pay attention to the fact that there is no chalk in the composition. If there is chalk in the description on the packaging, then such a composition will quickly deteriorate and turn yellow at an elevated temperature, therefore it is categorically not suitable for coloring batteries.
Titanium white is available in high quality formulations. These paints are very reliable but cost twice the price of regular paints.
Colorful products in spray cans
The spray painting method has become very popular over the past few years. To work with such paint, no painting skills are required. When choosing such a paint, do not forget about the degree of operation.
What criteria should the paint for heating radiators meet?
Compositions for painting radiators and heating pipes differ somewhat in their parameters from ordinary paints, therefore it is worth familiarizing yourself with their main physical, technical and operational characteristics, to which experts recommend paying special attention
For coloring heating batteries, it is recommended to use compositions specially designed for these purposes.
- First of all, the paint must be safe for residents of an apartment or house, that is, it must not emit toxic fumes during the entire period of operation. Therefore, when buying, it is necessary to study the composition of the paint and its compliance with accepted standards and norms. Imported paint from European manufacturers, brands of which are represented in a large assortment on the Russian market, must comply with European standards, and domestic products must comply with the current GOST standards. If the package contains a reference not to standards, but to some mysterious technical specifications (technical specifications), then this can be considered an "initiative" of the manufacturer, and it is better to refuse such paint right away - its compliance with safety standards is not guaranteed by anything.
- The heat resistance of the paint should not be lower than +80 degrees, otherwise it may crack, begin to flake or turn yellow. Moreover, this indicator should be considered the minimum permissible - it is better if it is even higher.
- It is desirable that the paint composition is quick-drying - this factor will significantly speed up the work, since the paint is usually applied in two layers.
- The anticorrosive properties of the paint will protect the surface of the radiators from external aggressive influences. This is usually taken into account in the manufacture of compositions for coating metal surfaces.
- Some paints emit a strong unpleasant odor until they completely solidify - they can be chosen only for those rooms that lend themselves to careful ventilation.
- Moisture resistance for radiator paint is necessary to be able to carry out unhindered wet cleaning with the use of detergents.
- The thermal conductivity of the paint layer must be high enough, otherwise it will reduce heat transfer from heating devices.
3 Glossy or matte surface
Any paint has two completely opposite final coatings: matte and glossy. Which one to choose for a specific heating device, its surface will tell. Old-style cast iron radiators have a rough finish. To hide this manufacturing defect, it is better to use glossy enamels: the gloss will hide the unevenness. It is easier to clean on a glossy surface, and the operating period is longer.
The matte surface visually highlights all the flaws of the product. Porous - this will remain after staining, which will contribute to the accumulation of dirt. The matte white composition applied to the cast-iron radiator will soon take on a gray tint. Washing this surface is quite problematic. In this case, it will be possible to eliminate the unpleasant color only after a new staining.
Modern heating devices have a perfectly even coating, therefore, it is allowed to use any compositions for coloring them. But when buying matte paint, you should carefully study the label. Sometimes manufacturers add fine chalk to products with a matte base for walls and ceilings. The presence of this ingredient will turn the batteries yellow in a short time. To preserve the natural whiteness of the radiator for the entire period of operation, you should choose products with titanium dioxide in the composition.
Is it possible to paint batteries during the heating season?
This issue worries many homeowners, and manufacturers, in turn, meet the demand and offer compositions that allow you to paint the batteries during the heating season. Despite this, many experts, even those who sell enamels, unanimously advise not to do this. Without going into the details of metallurgy or chemistry, we will present two main reasons why painting is better to postpone until spring:
1. Acrylic enamel dries very quickly. When the radiator is hot, it will dry right after the brush. This will not make it possible to apply a high-quality coating and repainting is coming in the spring.
2. All paints, except acrylic, give off an unpleasant odor. It intensifies many times when the enamel is applied to a hot surface. Even having opened all the windows in the middle of winter, it will be difficult for you to stay indoors for a long time.
To ensure the quality of the painting and the durability of the new layer, it would be more correct to wait until the heating season is over. The question is disclosed in more detail in the video:
Features of paint application
Applying one or another type of paint to radiators is not an easy job, as a person who is far from understanding the technology of painting work might think. Indeed, the reliability of the coating and its durability will depend on how correctly all the stages of painting were followed.
Preparatory stage
Painting with acrylic paint
Preparing radiators for painting is the most important and the first stage on which the final result largely depends. First, you must thoroughly wash the heater using a special spray bottle with washing liquid, a soft cloth and a brush for this purpose. Even new batteries need preliminary preparation, as even the highest quality paints without their characteristic odor, they should lie on the surface smoothly and evenly. Next, it is necessary to degrease the devices, and also to clean them with sandpaper to remove various irregularities on their surfaces and better adhere to the paint.
Before applying the coloring composition, you should remove the old coating layer, and also treat the places prone to corrosion with special compounds.
Preparation of tools and materials
Before removing the old paint coat and applying a new coating, make sure you have the right tools and abrasives on hand:
- Brushes.
- Drill-mounted brushes.
- Sandpaper used to remove old paint.
- Degreasing composition.
- Primers with metal corrosion protection components.
- Abrasive - for removing thick layers of old coatings.
Features of applying paint to radiators
Acrylic enamel for radiators
In order for the final result to be as you expect, you should not only choose the right paint, carefully carry out all the preparatory work, but also apply a new composition, according to the rules:
All restoration and painting work should be carried out during the heating shutdown period in order to avoid streaks and ugly stains.
It is important to apply paint from top to bottom so that the occasional drips that may appear do not spoil the already treated surface. The batteries must be fully covered, including the back and the inside.
In order to paint hard-to-reach places, there are special battery brushes that have a curved shape. It is most efficient to process the device in two thin layers to avoid unevenness. But at the same time it is necessary to wait until the first applied layer is completely dry. And only after that you can apply the next layer of the coloring composition. The aesthetics of the battery will depend on how carefully the paint, oil or any other is used. For convenience, cans, special rollers and brushes are very often used. It is recommended to start the process from the most inaccessible places, applying the composition evenly. If the technical parameters of the radiator allow you to remove it from the hinges and cover it completely with paint, then this would be the best option.
When carrying out painting work in the summer, it is necessary to keep the windows open in order to protect yourself from the negative effects of the coloring compositions. In addition, you need to use respirators and gloves so that after finishing work on painting batteries, you do not spoil the skin of your hands with various solvents, wiping off paint stains.
Surface preparation before painting
If the old paint remains intact, has no irregularities, and it is laid in no more than three layers, it will be enough to walk over the entire surface with fine-grained sandpaper. This will improve the adhesion of the new paint coat to the surface. After that, the surface is degreased with gasoline or acetone. Everything is thoroughly cleaned again, and proceed to painting.
If the paint layer is old enough and begins to deteriorate, you first need to clean the heating battery. It is necessary to remove all its layers until only one metal remains. This can be done with sandpaper, a drill with a special nozzle or a special paint remover with firing.
After all the old coating is removed, the remnants are cleaned. A drill with a cord brush is suitable for this. Next, we thoroughly degrease the surfaces and hide them with a primer mixture. It is best to take the GF-021 brand as a primer for heating systems. For the best protection, it is best to use mixtures made for cars. But, by and large, you can use any tool for metal that has anti-corrosion properties. The batteries are painted over after the primer is completely dry.
The choice of paint: what and why
When choosing paint, pay attention to the label: the phrase "paint for heating radiators" should be there. Sometimes it is written in large print, sometimes in small print in the "scope" section. If there is no such phrase, it is better to refrain from buying.
If there is no such phrase, it is better to refrain from buying.
And one more thing: the manufacturer must be indicated. Some craftsmen almost one-on-one copy the design of well-known companies. But, naturally, they “forget” to write the name of the company. If the manufacturer is not specified, it is better not to buy paint. Otherwise, you risk getting a very persistent odor that lasts for weeks.Some, after such a coloring, saved themselves with a wash, which also does not smell like roses. They removed the newly applied layers, and only then did the smell go away.
Matte or glossy
What paints are best for radiators: glossy or matte? There are two sides to this. On the one hand, when painting an imperfect surface with glossy paint (for example, a cast-iron radiator), all the flaws come out. With a bright shine, they become very noticeable. If you use matte, the look gets better.
On an ideal surface, it is better to use glossy or semi-gloss paints - they do not gray out over time
But matte enamels turn gray. This is due to the fact that the surface is slightly porous (due to the mattness of the coating), and the pores are clogged with dust. Therefore, it is usually recommended to take a glossy or semi-gloss paint for radiators.
Cast iron radiator paint
If you paint cast-iron radiators of the MC-140 type with glossy enamel, all the surface irregularities are visible: the gloss enhances them even more. If you take matte, it will turn gray. Dead end? But no. There are several options for solving the problem. Choose the most suitable one:
- Paint with colored paint. In general, from a design point of view, white radiators only work well on white or very light walls. In all other cases, they are recommended to be tinted to match the walls (or a couple of tones lighter / darker). So, if your walls are not white, you can paint the cast-iron radiator with colored matte paint, and not be afraid that it will turn gray over time. Consider using hammer paint as one option (see below): the resulting pattern will not show defects. Read about decorators' recommendations for decorating radiators here.
- If you still need white paint, you can paint it matte, but put up with the fact that after a couple of years you will have to repaint.
- Another way is to level the most noticeable pits with a putty. For this, epoxy or polyester car putties are used. They are applied to cleaned, degreased and primed metal. After drying, they are cleaned with a sandpaper, the surface is well cleaned of dust with a dry clean cloth, and then painted. In this case, cast iron will look good even with gloss or semi-gloss. However, such processing will take a lot of time: a painstaking task. But the result is worth it.
Now paint for cast iron batteries will not be a problem for you - choose what you like best.
Cast iron battery paint is not an easy choice
What color to paint a cast-iron battery with enamel: practical advice
To safely eliminate problems with the choice of material for a cast-iron heating battery, it is proposed to use the following solutions:
- give preference to colored acrylic paint in a matte finish, the tonality of which is close to the shade of the covering of the walls of the room;
- choose hammer enamel for painting the radiator, the textured pattern of which allows you to level almost all visual defects of the base;
- use a white matte paint, renewing the coating with a new layer every year to maintain presentability.
Another option for solving the problem is the long and painstaking process of preliminary preparation of the base before painting. This requires carefully leveling the surface with a putty, sanding and removing dust with a rag. Then you can paint the radiator with a glossy or semi-gloss version of heat-resistant enamel.