Painting the flue

[Arthur Marshall]

I've got a new steel flue - any clues as to what's the best stuff to use to paint it black? And does it need priming or can I just use one of the high tempertature sprays on it?

[Tracy D'arth]

I used those sponge blacking pads that are made for electric hobs to make then look smart. It doesn't burn off at all. Called Hob Black I think!

They are easy and clean to use and do a good job.

[tree monkey]

20 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:

I've got a new steel flue - any clues as to what's the best stuff to use to paint it black? And does it need priming or can I just use one of the high tempertature sprays on it?

I tend to use some type of stove black rather than paint, first coat can look a bit streaky but follow up coats deepen the black

[GUMPY]

Mat black exhaust paint, all I've ever used.

[David Mack]

I used Halfords high temperature engine paint for my through-the-roof exhaust stack, as recommended to me by a chimney maker.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints-and-body-repair/specialist-and-decorative-paints/halfords-v-high-temperature-engine-enamel-paint-matt-black-250ml-325019.html

 

Edited August 17, 2022 by David Mack

[PD1964]

To all the above suggestions, I’ve never used any, but do they give off odour, first time the fire is lit? 

Edited August 17, 2022 by PD1964

[Richard10002]

I didn't paint mine when I fitted it.  It came black, and is still black.

[tree monkey]

10 minutes ago, PD1964 said:

To all the above suggestions, I’ve never used any, but do they give off odour, first time the fire is lit? 

Certainly stove black does and I know when BSP uses high temp paint it creates a bit of a wiff

[GUMPY]

Remember whatever you use it wont be cured and may well still be soft although dry to touch until the stove has been lit and run for an hour or so.

 

[Arthur Marshall]

11 minutes ago, Loddon said:

Remember whatever you use it wont be cured and may well still be soft although dry to touch until the stove has been lit and run for an hour or so.

 

That's the whiff.

Thanks all.

[MtB]

1 hour ago, tree monkey said:

Certainly stove black does and I know when BSP uses high temp paint it creates a bit of a wiff

 

 

Is that a euphemism for make-up? Coasty's does the same.... 😂 😂

 

 

 

(Dead man walking, moi)

[tree monkey]

8 hours ago, MtB said:

 

 

Is that a euphemism for make-up? Coasty's does the same.... 😂 😂

 

 

 

(Dead man walking, moi)

It's not the make up that's the issue, it's the blowtorch used to harden it

 

[MtB]

2 minutes ago, tree monkey said:

It's not the make up that's the issue, it's the blowtorch used to harden it

 

 

 

Jeez, you're in deep trouble too now for pointing that out.

 

Go to sleep, its late! 

 

 

[tree monkey]

23 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

 

Jeez, you're in deep trouble too now for pointing that out.

 

Go to sleep, its late! 

 

 

Late? I've started work

 

[Bod]

12 hours ago, MtB said:

 

 

Is that a euphemism for make-up? Coasty's does the same.... 😂 😂

 

 

 

(Dead man walking, moi)

Coasty still on the cut, that’s good. 
 

Bod

[syd]

We used stove paint on our flue, that stuff for aga's. Worked great.

[mrsmelly]

20 hours ago, PD1964 said:

To all the above suggestions, I’ve never used any, but do they give off odour, first time the fire is lit? 

I always used black high temp paint. I painted it each summer so it had at least a month to dry before use, that way there was no smell or fumes. On occasion, I painted it same day as lighting and it ponged and gave off fumes for a couple of hours.

[jonathanA]

Google britanic paints high temperature paint. Think I paid about £25 quid for a 2.5l tin.

If your posh then proper morso stove paint is about £12/13 for a thimble full (250 ml). 

[blackrose]

I just use a can of stove spray paint. I'm not sure why so many here look for every other alternative they can think of when stove paint works perfectly well? If the flue is already installed and you don't want to spray inside the boat you can spray it into an empty can or plastic container outside using a cloth over the opening to stop the paint mist coming out. Then just paint it on with a brush. 

[BEngo]

Rustins high temperature stove paint for brush application. Needs to cure but does not whiff badly.  Doesn't smoke or smell of you give it a couple of weeks from touch dry to firing up.

 

N

[Arthur Marshall]

13 hours ago, blackrose said:

I just use a can of stove spray paint. I'm not sure why so many here look for every other alternative they can think of when stove paint works perfectly well? If the flue is already installed and you don't want to spray inside the boat you can spray it into an empty can or plastic container outside using a cloth over the opening to stop the paint mist coming out. Then just paint it on with a brush. 

Which is where I'm ending up. I'll give it a spray before I install it and tart it up afterwards. Got to get the old one out first...

[BlueStringPudding]

On 17/08/2022 at 18:25, tree monkey said:

Certainly stove black does and I know when BSP uses high temp paint it creates a bit of a wiff

 

Yes. I like to paint the stove and flue different colours every few years, though.  But I also give the paint a quick sand and touch-up every summer. The destructions on the paint say to cure it (once dry) with initially a small fire of kindling only, then before fully cooled, make a longer, hotter fire (I use kindling and coal for that) Both curings create fumes so doors and windows need to be open, and I prefer to abandon ship till it's done. However what sometimes happens is the first very cold day of winter, I must have the stove hotter than usual because it can get fumified again for a short while. Again, I just open doors and windows till it passes. After that there's no more fumes. 

I use Thermacure brush-on stove paints. 

 

In response to the OP,  back when my stove was black, I used as many coats of black stove paint as would use up a small tin. It was quite a few coats (maybe 5) but thoroughly covered the metal. I cured it as described above. And then as Monkey does, used a black graphite looking stove polish in the summer to tart it up each year. 

Edited August 19, 2022 by BlueStringPudding