Barrel paint prep

freefly103 · Jun 3, 2016

Barrels back from the blasters ($25 = happy with that):

What is recommended to clean up the surfaces before paint? Petrol or just blast with air?

Planning to use this:

Doesn't mention any prep required other than to clean the surface of grime and grease.

Craig · Jun 3, 2016

That appears to be much better prep than I did ... the high temp manifold paint is still on there and still glossy after 7 years .... all I did was wire brush what I could reach , wipe down with spirits , dry with comp. air and painted .... as long as loose stuff and oil/grease is gone , I would say you are good to go ...
Craig

Nater_Potater · Jun 3, 2016

Run it through the dishwasher when the missus isn't looking, immediately wipe the bores and lifter bores with oil being sure to avoid the outer surfaces. Wear rubber gloves if you have them, and do everything you can to avoid touching the surfaces to be painted. Even fingerprints can cause lifting. Granted, this is more of a concern with something like a tank or side panel with a smooth surface. You have some leeway with the cast/blasted surface.

The nice thing about the dishwasher is that it greatly assists in the removal of blasting grit from the internal passages.

Nathan

freefly103 · Jun 3, 2016

Iron barrels in the dishwasher? No frickin way.

Got some white spirit and compressed air. That should do the job.

Onder · Jun 3, 2016

Soap and hot water after a bore job and or a hone.

kommando · Jun 3, 2016

As long as you open the door at the end of the cycle and use a hot cycle the dishwasher will work fine, the water evaporates really quickly. A final spray or immersion in phosphoric acidd will give a thin coat of iron phosphate which is anti rust.

mschmitz57 · Jun 3, 2016

Bead blast leaves a perfect finish.
Just blast it with air to remove any dust and paint it pronto.I like to heat the barrels up with a propane torch first. Maybe 150 degrees or so.
I warm the paint can in a bucket of hot water too. Thins it out nicely and makes it flow better (imho). I made a little rotisserie setup to paint barrels. Much easier to get a nice even coat and helps to get the paint in between the fins. After painting the barrel with 5-6 light coats I usually set a small electric space heater next to it to help it dry.

Fast Eddie · Jun 3, 2016

NEVER PUT IRON BARRELS IN A DISHWASHER.

You'd have do be a grade one idiot to do that...

Like I did...

mschmitz57 · Jun 3, 2016

Fast Eddie said:
NEVER PUT IRON BARRELS IN A DISHWASHER.

You'd have do be a grade one idiot to do that...

Like I did...

LOL! Me too!
Not in a dishwasher though, just a utility sink with some spray detergent.

It rusted Instantly before my eyes like magic. I had to blast it again.
Water is the mortal enemy of raw cast iron.

Oh, and don't use water based paints on raw cast iron either. Same thing happens, then you have a huge mess to fix.
(not that anyone makes water based engine paint)

Rohan · Jun 3, 2016

Mask the head gasket and base gasket and spiggot surfaces,
so no paint goes anywhere inside the engine surfaces.

Wash JUST the bore with soap and water and a brillo pad AFTER painting,
to remove any possible grit on the cylinder bore. 3 or 4 times.
Gasket surfaces too. Then wipe with a clean cloth.
Then oil, promptly.

Iron cylinders and dishwashers = LOL = Fasteddy taught us that lesson. !!

Those studs really should have been masked off too, although only a minor point.
The threads will be a shade thinner now though...

Barrel paint prep

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