ebinmaine 67,557 #1 Posted November 28, 2022 Anyone here ever tried brushing or rolling paint on the cast iron parts like frame and transmission? Front axle? Thoughts comments question suggestions? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,327 #2 Posted November 28, 2022 So far, only rusty metal primer. As far as a top coat, no - I do not like picking loose bristles out of a finish coat!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 5,463 #3 Posted November 28, 2022 I have in the past Eric. I think rolling maybe a little hard because not flat. I just spray them when I do paint. Regal red rust-o-lem. Make sure it is good and clean. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,557 #4 Posted November 28, 2022 21 minutes ago, ri702bill said: picking loose bristles out of a finish coat!! I'd had that thought as well but that won't matter because cast iron is a rough finish. 18 minutes ago, Retired Wrencher said: Make sure it is good and clean. Absolutely. It's going to get a pressure wash with hot water from front to rear and then likely be washed with acetone as well. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,981 #5 Posted November 28, 2022 I'd brush paint. Rolling is fine for flat surfaces. I painted my off road competition Land Rovers with rollers. Finish wasn't important. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 5,463 #6 Posted November 28, 2022 Enjoy the project, Eric. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,557 #7 Posted November 28, 2022 2 minutes ago, Retired Wrencher said: Enjoy the project, Eric. Absolutely Gary. Have you seen the thread I started? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,981 #8 Posted November 28, 2022 Just a silly thought, Eric. Painting Colossus parts? 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 5,463 #9 Posted November 28, 2022 1 minute ago, ebinmaine said: Absolutely Gary. Have you seen the thread I started? what one is that? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,557 #10 Posted November 28, 2022 4 minutes ago, Stormin said: Just a silly thought, Eric. Painting Colossus parts? I wish. But not quite yet. 2 minutes ago, Retired Wrencher said: what one is that? This one here boys: 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 5,463 #11 Posted November 28, 2022 Very nice Eric. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,084 #12 Posted November 28, 2022 1 hour ago, ebinmaine said: Anyone here ever tried brushing or rolling paint on the cast iron parts like frame and transmission? Front axle? Thoughts comments question suggestions? I've done that a couple times. It actually comes out pretty good. Thinning the paint a bit seems to help. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,594 #13 Posted November 28, 2022 Yes Works Quick and easy... Keeps rust at bay... Won't win any beauty contests but then again, neither will I... 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red-Bovine 309 #14 Posted November 28, 2022 I have used brushes and rollers a lot when painting my classic wooden boats. Thinned paint in thin coats works best to get the paint to level out, but thick paint on some cast parts also can look very good. Castings are more forgiving than boat decks. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,233 #15 Posted November 28, 2022 9 hours ago, ebinmaine said: Anyone here ever tried brushing or rolling paint on the cast iron parts like frame and transmission? Front axle? Thoughts comments question suggestions? I brushed the transaxle and frame of my latest refurb because: a) I wanted to "brush in" the paint for solid adhesion and coverage, b) I didn't want to contend with aerosol overspray trying to get full coverage on these complex pieces, and c) didn't need a "slick" finish on these mostly hidden parts. The paint (Rustoleum Regal Red) flattened out just fine on the smooth-ish surfaces. I used chip brushes to avoid having to clean them. I always "groom" the brushes before starting by pulling loose bristles and trimming off strays. 3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lane Ranger 10,968 #16 Posted November 28, 2022 (edited) This 1054 hood and front cowling was done with a brush! The key to doing a smooth job is to mix up your canned paint with some Flood Penetrol ( get in hardware, Lowes or Home Depot) that helps smooth your paint on metal surfaces. I used a quart can of regal red Rustoleum. Other parts were spray painted with Rustoleum regal red. Flood Penetrol https://www.homedepot.com/p/reviews/Flood-Penetrol-1-Qt-Clear-Paint-Additive-FLD4-04/100130893/2?mtc=SEM-CM-CML-GGL-D59S-059_037_SFT_WN_CVR-NA-NA-NA-DSA-2998253-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-NA&cm_mmc=SEM-CM-CML-GGL-D59S-059_037_SFT_WN_CVR-NA-NA-NA-DSA-2998253-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-NA-71700000099318007-58700007989738948-39700072693012461&gbraid=0AAAAADq61UfbGGc0FCqgou7H4uJqQ1VQ0&gbraid=0AAAAADq61UfbGGc0FCqgou7H4uJqQ1VQ0&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1ZGcBhCoARIsAGQ0kkqYbfYRE-AzPOudJXwcT7cZkGt50kHr9l7oDUG5f1MSCSiwbcrZPBsaAtW1EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds Edited November 28, 2022 by Lane Ranger 10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,619 #17 Posted November 29, 2022 When I repaint a deck or wheels, I sand, spray on primer, brush on a base coat of paint, then spray on the finish coat. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 7,014 #18 Posted November 29, 2022 Years ago there was an article in Rod & Custom about painting a car with Rustoleum using a roller. They put many thinned coats on with sanding between coats. Cut and polished it for final finish. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,594 #19 Posted November 29, 2022 2 hours ago, Lane Ranger said: Penetrol Used that every year on our fiberglass 1965 red sailboat and 1972 green motor boat... brings out the color and gets rid of the "chalk" look from sitting in the sun... (My 95 1/2 year old Dad was the original "wipe on wipe off" guru... and my brothers and i sure didn't do karate...) - great stuff!!! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wh500special 2,184 #20 Posted November 29, 2022 I realize you’re focusing on parts that needn’t be smooth, but there is a painting method called “roll and tip” that lays down quite smooth. Popular with boat guys. Lots of Google hits if you search. A coworker rolled and tipped his two Model T Fords and you’d never know they weren’t sprayed. FWIW. Steve 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horse Newbie 7,071 #21 Posted November 29, 2022 15 hours ago, ebinmaine said: cast iron is a rough finish. Yeah… but it ain’t hairy ! 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickwhitt 4,633 #22 Posted November 29, 2022 I brush painted the chassis and transmission of my C-125 and its all fine. Yes cast iron is rough but can still be made to look better. I have renovated many machine tools such as lathes and milling machines over the years. All of them had some degree of filling done to the castings to even out the surface. One c British company, Raglan, used to coat the raw castings in a kind of slow curing filler and leave them in a warm kiln overnight. This allowed the filler to "run" and self level before it set. The casting was then sanded prior to painting. This was more akin to car bodywork than engineering. When I stripped a couple of Raglans down I was amazed at how much filler had been used and how poor the castings were before the beauty treatment. This is an Elliot 10m shaper which looks sprayed but was brush painted and sanded between coats. It's got a better finish than my car (automobile) 3 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,981 #23 Posted November 29, 2022 (edited) 10 hours ago, Mickwhitt said: mobi That brings back memories of my apprenticeship. Spent many an hour on an Elliot shaper. Bigger model than that though. Machining large plates at low speed could send you to sleep. Edited November 29, 2022 by Stormin 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ohiofarmer 3,276 #24 Posted November 30, 2022 (edited) Agree on the penetrol. Penetrol for oil base and Flowtrol for latex. If you have ever had brushes sticking to enamel in hot weather, that's the cure. Also, a bit of paint hardener helps the paint to level out better as well as setting faster. I probably would not go full ratio of eight ounces per gallon on the hardener on surfaces subject to impact as the paint can chip more easily. I always keep acid brushes handy for the nooks and crannies that drive one nuts with a brushed finish. harbor Freight are actually good ones as they are made from natural bristle. Edited November 30, 2022 by ohiofarmer 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clueless 3,002 #25 Posted November 30, 2022 If it just the trany and the frame and its been cleaned and any rust or corrosion scales have been brushed or sanded a little I find those cheap packs of foam brushes with the wood handle work good. Just use one till it starts load up to much, throw it away grab another one. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites