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Stainless steels have an aesthetically pleasing appearance, and can be further polished or painted to enhance this feature. Painting may actually reduce the corrosion resistance, but may be required for other reasons such as product marking or identification, or for the protection of carbon steel welded to it.
Surface preparation prior to paint a stainless steel surface is as important as it is for carbon steel. The preparation required will depend on the surface finish of the stainless steel.
Cleaning is usually carried out after welding or fabrication, including removing heat tint from welds. The cleaning required depends on the intended application as well as the coating system to be used. The recommendations of the paint manufacturer should be followed. Also do not use steel wool during preparation as this is typical made of carbon steel which can leave residues causing rusting on the surface of the stainless steel surface.
Mill scale on HRA and welding or heat treatment heat tints can be removed by pickling with pickling paste, or by immersion in a mixture of nitric and hydrofluoric acids. Consult Austral Wright Metals for details. Thorough rinsing after pickling is essential.
This method of cleaning is particularly useful for large structures and is highly effective in removing mill scale. Blasting media must be clean, free from metallic iron, not previously used on carbon steel and free from chlorides. Suitable blasting media are washed silica sand, stainless steel shot, glass beads. It is advisable to passivate the stainless surface with nitric acid after blasting to remove any possible carbon steel contamination and ensure optimum corrosion resistance.
Small areas can be cleaned with a stainless steel wire brush, disc grinder, flap wheel or other abrasive. Use only clean, uncontaminated consumables intended for use on stainless steel.
All fabrications should be degreased to remove the shop soil almost inevitably picked up while being worked.
Water soluble solvent degreasers are most easily used. Consult the paint supplier for details.
Cleanliness can be checked by ensuring that the surface dries water break free.
The appropriate paint system depends on the application, the surface condition of the steel, and the degree of protection required.
This guide covers generic paint systems. Manufacturers have their own proprietary versions of the systems, and will provide advice.
Cold rolled stainless steel with a 2B or BA finish has a smooth surface profile, and requires a primer coat to ensure good adhesion.
As with many other substrates for painting, there are different types of paint available. Lets look at those commonly used for stainless steel paint. Remember as already mentioned it is important to consider applying a primer before applying any type of paint to the bare steel.
This type of final coat paint is not always readily identified as suitable for stainless steel, however it is commonly noted for metal finishes. These paints can smell bad as they usually contain solvents, which can also be flammable. They also take longer to dry than other pain systems.
Once fully dried and cured, these paints are very tough and do not easily chip or stain, and . Oil based paints are available in many colours and finishes, eg matte, flat and gloss.
Water-based or latex and acrylic paints dry much faster than the oil based paints. In general these paints are far easier to work and easier to clean up. They also come with endless colour range and finishes.
The down side to water-based paints is they are not as tough and hard-wearing as oil-based paints.
Epoxy paint is the preferred coating system for stainless steel. It requires additional preparation and care over that of water based and oil based paints, however they are extremely tough and durable, and if applies correctly have excellent paint adhesion.
This system is a two part epoxy paint formula that requires the mixing of the resin paint with a hardener, which acts as a catalyst that sets in motion the polymerization or hardening process. Care must be taken when both measuring the required part of resin paint and hardener, and ensuring thorough mixing of the two parts.
Firstly not all primers work on stainless steel. Ensure you read the product data sheet to confirm compatibility with stainless steel. Also primers require an intermediate coat and/or topcoat to be applied to complete the system.
In general before applying a primer the surface should be roughen by grinding or sweep blasting using non-metallic abrasives. Then any oil, grease, salts and dirt should be removed. However some primers claim to make a perfect chemical bond without the need for blasting or etching the surface beforehand, however the surface should still be degreased using an alkaline or high pressure (steam) cleaning process.
Chlorinated rubbers & vinyl top coats should not be used for operating temperatures above 70°C.
Alkyd enamels should not be used in alkaline or aggressive corrosive environments.
Paint manufacturers should be contacted for advice on the suitability of paint systems for particular environments.
When stainless steel is welded to carbon steel, and the carbon steel is to be painted for corrosion protection, the paint should be continued over the weld and about 25 mm of stainless steel adjacent to the weld. This is particularly required for immersion service or wet areas, where the stainless steel could accelerate the corrosion of the carbon steel.
Yes. Like all painting jobs the key is preparation and choosing the best paint system. Epoxy, or two part paint systems, provide the best protection.
Yes, but the term rust is more commonly associated with the corrosion of carbon steels. Stainless steels can also corrode, some more than others. The higher the chromium content the less likely the stainless steel is to corrode.
Yes, with the correct surface preparation and a suitable primer, spray paint will adhere to stainless steel.
Yes, with thorough clean or etching, and a suitable primer, you can paint over damaged stainless steel. See cleaning stainless steel for more information.
Finish
Description
HRA or “Black”Plate supplied for high temperature applications in the unpickled condition with mill scale on the surface
No 1 or S&DHot rolled, annealed and pickled. A clean, white, dull finish
2BCold rolled, annealed and pickled and skin passed to a smooth, bright finish
BACold rolled, bright annealed in a reducing atmosphere and skin passed to a very smooth reflective finish
N42B or BA feed linished or ground to a directional, non reflective finish
EnvironmentGeneric Coating SystemsNo 1 Finish
Cold Rolled Finishes
No Primer Required
Primer
Top Coat
InteriorNon-Corrosive1 Coat Alkyd EnamalWater Based Vinyl or AcrylicAlkyd EnamelModified Acrylic EmulsionCorrosiveModified Vinyl EnamelVinyl or Acrylic CopolymerVinyl CopolymerChlorinated Rubber EnamelExteriorInland2 Coats Alkyd EnamelWater Based AcrylicAlkyd Enamel2 Coats Acrylic EmulsionMarine or Industrial1 Coat Aliphatic Isocyanate Cured PolyurethaneAcrylic or Vinyl1 Coat Epoxy build1 Coat Acrylic Modified PolyurethaneTwin Pack EpoxyAliphatic Isocyanate Cured Polyurethane1 Coat Epoxy Build CoatAcrylic Modified PolyurethaneConsult the local yellow pages for paint suppliers.
A comprehensive list of paint manufacturers is provided at http://www.apmf.asn.au
The following information is provided without endorsement by Austral Wright Metals:
Wattyll Pty Ltd phone 132 111 http://www.wattyl.com.au
Are you looking for ways on how to paint stainless steel, but are finding that the products you are using don’t adhere to the surface? Read on, as Rawlins Paints take a look at the best stainless steel paints and primers for general users and for application by professionals.
Click here to skip recommended products and to continue reading.
For the general user:
Clean and degrease with methylated spirit, lightly abraded and apply 2-3 coats as required of Bradite One Can Matt or Eggshell in the colour/finish of your choice (2,400+ shades available). Light surface rusting can be treated with Flag Rust Converter. Heavy rusting to be removed to clean metallic finish (SIS-St 3).
For professional use:
Kolorbond K2 – apply as per Application instructions for Kolorbond K2
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In this article on painting over stainless steel, Rawlins Paints will look at the following subjects:
What is Stainless Steel?
How To Paint Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel Cleaners
Sealants and Adhesives for use on Stainless Steel
How To Get A Stainless Steel Painted Effect Finish
What is the Best Primer for Stainless Steel?
Treating Rusted Stainless Steel
Direct to Stainless Steel Paints
Heat Resistant Paints for Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel Topcoats
Stainless steel is a form of steel that contains chromium. It is commonly used for commercial and industrial purposes due to its corrosion resistance toward tarnishing or rusting. The chromium forms a thin layer of oxide on the steel’s surface, known as a passive layer. This chromium ‘passive layer’ protects the steel from common forms of corrosion. Other elements often found in stainless steel, include carbon, silicon, and manganese. Nickel and molybdenum is sometimes added to further improve rust resistance, or surface deterioration in more corrosive environments.
Stainless steel is only stain-resistant in normal atmospheric environments. In more aggressive conditions, it may corrode – this is where the paint systems discussed later in this piece can further improve the anti-corrosive qualities of the metal.
Along with the benefits of non-extenuating circumstances’ corrosion resistance, stainless steel has an aesthetically sound finish that is popular in the home, in workplaces, and in industrial settings. Common stainless-steel finishes include polished, brushed, blasted, etched or a coloured finish. Rough surface finishes, however, offer lower corrosion resistance.
There are five types of stainless steel (Ferritic, Austenitic, Martensitic, Duplex and Precipitation Hardening (PH)) each with their own grades; most of our commercial stainless steel enquiries reference a 3-digit code such as 304 or 316. The British Stainless Steel Association is a good resource for data sheets and arranges steel grades according to the main EN standards for flat and long products.
Consumer and general-use cases include:
The advice and product recommendations in this article are not for home or kitchen appliances such as kettles or toasters, ovens, fridges, etc.
Commercial and retail sectors use stainless steel every day in shops and offices, libraries and care homes, schools, and universities:
Construction and industry stainless steel use includes:
Stainless steel is typically renowned for its own unique and ‘natural’ finish, but may, on occasion, need recoating to gain improved heat resistance, chemical resistance, or simply to meet a new colour scheme. Typically, it is stainless steel components or structures that require a new paint finish to match company colour schemes and branded logos, or to improve environmental blending and compatibility.
Painting stainless steel can be tricky and should be approached with caution. Standard paints and coatings, including most industrial metal paints, do not adhere to stainless steel.
Shot blasting is considered the preferred method of preparing stainless steel for the proper adhesion of paints and coatings. However, this isn’t always possible to do so, certainly on small-scale projects. Where only manual/mechanical preparation can be carried out, there are specialist primers available. These can adhere well to stainless steel without the need for shot blasting, to which topcoats can be applied to achieve the desired colour and finish.
REGARDING SHOT BLASTING
If you are able to prepare the stainless steel surface by blasting, this would always be preferred and would assume that the project is larger in size and/or requires more significant performance – if this is the case, you should contact our technical department on 0113 2455450 (option 2) or send a message to [email protected] so that we can discuss and recommend a suitable product or system appropriate to your requirements.
Usually, the manufacturer of the primer will have recommended topcoats. These have assured compatibility when applied over the chosen primer that they would wish to be used, and this should be taken into consideration. At Rawlins Paints we also offer some direct to metal coatings for stainless steel. These provide the ability to prime and finish the surface using only one product after suitable preparation.
The product recommendations given are from the UKs leading industrial paint brands, are all 100% dependent on the environmental conditions and atmospheric exposure levels – hence the need to use a primer in most scenarios.
Some stainless-steel paint systems can be applied that will leave a metallic finish – typically aluminium – and it is generally recommended to properly prepare the surface and apply a primer before adding a topcoat.
Below, Rawlins Paints will look at product recommendations for cleaning, priming, and adding a topcoat to stainless steel, as well as one product from Rust-Oleum which delivers a stainless-steel finish effect.
If you require any further assistance with the products discussed, please leave a comment at the end, or contact Rawlins Paints directly by phone/email.
On occasion, stainless steel may simply require cleaning, rather than recoating with a more protective topcoat. Stainless steel will need to be suitably cleaned and prepared prior to painting.
Rust-Oleum Pre-Paint Cleaner is an excellent product for cleaning and degreasing stainless steel. It effortlessly removes all organic and inorganic pollution and saves time by not needing a further rinse after wiping the surface.
Non-foaming, Rust-Oleum Pre-Paint Cleaner has a biodegradable formulation and makes stainless steel surfaces anti-static to prevent dust and dirt adhesion. Supplied in a concentrated solution, its dilution can be changed depending on the degree of contamination, making it suitable for use in kitchens and around machines, on garden furniture, windows, and other stainless steel surfaces.
We stock more consumer and professional-use stainless steel cleaners, gels, and solutions, at our online store.
Where stainless steel meets another substrate, such as cladding, pipes, and vents, ordinary seals and adhesives won’t be able to adhere to the surface. This could lead to leaks, vibration issues, and more problems the longer it goes untreated.
Bullet Mega Mastic is a professional-use product that can bond, seal and fill almost anything without a primer, even when wet or fully submerged. This unique hybrid polymer formulation contains no solvents and has virtually no odour.
Bullet Mega Mastic is a paintable sealant that has been specifically formulated to seal typical joints where a strong bond and high movement is required. It has excellent adhesion and permanent elastic sealing to a wide range of substrates, including stainless steel.
Features include high resistance to elements (water, salt water, grease oils, fuels, defrosting liquids, detergents, aliphatic fats, mildew, weak acids, alkali), ageing, and weathering.
See more professional and general sealants and adhesives for stainless steel at our online store.
Another Rust-Oleum product, Hard Hat 2116 Stainless Steel Coating, is a quick and effortless way to get ‘that’ metallic finish. As with all Rust-Oleum products, the aesthetical properties are combined with a protective element, in that the stainless-steel finish will be chemically and mechanically resistant to scratches and dulling. It is recommended that a Hard Hat primer is used to prepare the surface, prior to applying Hard Hat 2116 Stainless Steel Coating – to get optimal coverage and adhesion. This product is ideal for light industrial exposure, touch-up and maintenance work, recoating machinery, pumps, toolboxes, and related garage/warehouse apparatus. All surfaces must be properly cleaned, and any rust removed prior to use.
“How to prep stainless steel for paint?”
Metal primers available at Rawlins Paints for stainless steel range in price and project scale. Not all primers will work on stainless steel or smooth, dense surfaces similarly difficult for coatings to adhere to. Below are recommended metal primers for stainless steel – these primers require a compatible intermediate coat and/or topcoat to be applied to complete the system.
Rust-Oleum 3333 Super Adhesion Primer is ideal for general users looking to paint stainless steel, making a perfect chemical bond without the need for blasting or etching the surface beforehand. It can be recoated with virtually any other Rust-Oleum 2K paint, making it very compatible with a whole range of topcoats.
Rust-Oleum 3333 Super Adhesion Primer comes in a convenient 1 litre packaging that is great for smaller projects. The new 2-component packaging provides the base and activator in one convenient kit, the activator supplied with a user-friendly spout cap. It is also available in a 5L size.
Before applying Rust-Oleum 3333 Super Adhesion Primer to stainless steel, remove grease, oil and all other surface contaminations with Rust-Oleum Mathys ND14 Cleaner Degreaser or by alkaline or high pressure (steam) cleaning. The individual components should then be stirred thoroughly before mixing.
See our website for more consumer-use stainless steel primers.
For professional users, Tikkurila Temacoat GPL-S Primer is used as a primer or an intermediate coat in paint systems exposed to abrasion and chemical stress. The paint adheres extremely well to steel, zinc and aluminium surfaces making it a universal, all-round primer for various applications.
The two-component, polyamide-cured high build epoxy primer contains zinc phosphate and is recommended for use on bridges, haulage equipment, cranes, steel masts, conveyors and other steelwork, machinery and equipment. It has an MED (Marine Equipment Directive) certification for painting surfaces inside of ships and, with additional hardener, can cure in sub-zero temperatures, down to -10°C.
At Rawlins Paints we tint Temacoat GPL-S Primer to 1,000’s of colours to help achieve the best possible hiding power for the topcoat, and it can be overcoated after a prolonged period. The primer has a wide range of compatible topcoats available from Tikkurila.
For stainless steel preparation, roughen the surface by grinding or sweep blasting using non-metallic abrasives. Oil, grease, salts and dirt should be removed by appropriate means.
See more professional-use stainless steel primers available to order on our website.
Stainless steel is an oxymoron in that it can stain, corrode, and rust in extreme atmospheric or contaminated environments. Different to the cleaning of rust from small utensils, large surface areas of stainless steel which have begun to corrode or rust need a differently scaled solution.
Stainless steel cleaners, covered earlier in this article, can help slight discolouration and contamination that is causing the substrate to rust or corrode. Rawlins Paints also stock cleaning gels and concentrates for removing light to medium rust deposits on stainless steel. They offer a quick, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to sandblasting, acid washing or high-pressure water blasting.
Ultimately, however, maintenance of the conditions around the stainless-steel apparatus, equipment or structure may be key to removing the risk and spread of rust across the surface.
Surface preparation is key when using finishing coatings for stainless steel
Any damage or corrosive chemicals that have met the stainless steel should be dealt with – cleaned or repaired – and ongoing exposure removed. Steel will rust and when the chromium surface layer on stainless steel is breached or damaged, the underlying steel will be exposed to rust. Via cleaning and ‘care’, the top chromium oxide layer is self-healing.
Where possible, avoid cleaning stainless steel with {caustic) cleaners that contain:
Do not use steel wool or steel brushes when cleaning the surface. For general and quick cleaning of stainless steel, to lift non-oxidised soils, durst, dirt and fingerprints, a mild soap and warm water solution will suffice until a more competent and recommended cleaner can be used.
Any direct-to-stainless steel paint will specify that the surface must be prepared prior to application. For successful coverage and to obtain the full lifespan of a direct-to-metal product on stainless steel, it is highly recommended that a primer is used – as previously discussed.
However, for prepared stainless steel, the following paints are suitable for stainless steel – please refer to a product datasheet always prior to application to ensure that the full steps and measures required in surface preparation are completed.
Bradite One Can Eggshell is the go-to for primer and topcoat in one can and is perfect for both interior and exterior use by consumers on a wide range of substrates, including on properly cleaned and prepared stainless steel, such as:
It has excellent adhesion, stain blocking and anti-corrosive properties, manufactured under the auspices of an ISO 9001:2008 & ISO 14001:2004, and is available at Rawlins Paints in more than 2400+ colours in RAL, NCS, & British Standard shades. For a flatter finish, Bradite One Can Matt is also available.
Before application, stainless steel surfaces must be cleaned and degreased with methylated spirit, and lightly abraded if possible. White salts on weathered galvanising must be removed during cleaning and degreasing. Light surface rusting can be treated with Bradite Rust Convertor RC46. Heavy rusting to be removed to clean metallic finish (SIS-St 3).
See our store for more consumer-friendly direct-to-metal stainless steel paints.
The Kolorbond K2 Set is for professional users only that can be spray applied directly onto a variety of substrates, including stainless steel. It has a 10-year adhesion guarantee and a 5-year guarantee on colour fastness, valid with purchase and use of Technispray hardeners and cleaning products.
Kolorbond K2 is highly resistant to abrasion and other accidental damage, based on two pack polyurethane/acrylic technology. Once dry it is very durable and easy to apply using any standard spray equipment, either on-site or in a manufacturing environment.
This durable and lightfast coating has been tested and demonstrated on a wide range of “un-paintable” substrates including stainless steel. In most applications, Kolorbond K2 does not require a primer and is able to be applied in a high film thickness. This can help save substantially on time spent applying the coating, returning areas back to service faster to minimise downtime.
The Kolorbond K2 Set has many options for the professional applicators, with pack sizes ranging from 1.25l up to 30l and smooth and textured finishes from a 10% matt sheen through to 70%+ gloss. Its huge colour range of 2,400+ colours from RAL, British Standard, and NCS ensures that existing coloured stainless steel can be closely matched, or unpainted surfaces brought into line.
Surface preparation and application instructions for Kolorbond K2:
This paint is for professional use only
Performance and guarantees not valid without purchase and use of the hardener and relevant cleaning products
Vinylkleen
. This will remove all water-soluble contaminants together with most oils.Windowprep
on a clean white cloth which should be regularly turned.K2 Hardener
, 5:1 by volume (6L and 30L packs only; for 1.25L pack size, hardener is supplied in 250ml size but only 200ml is required). The paint will now have a maximum pot life of 2 hours. Only mix the amount of paint you can use in that time.For more professional direct-to-stainless steel coatings, visit our online store.
Stainless steel can also be used in areas subject to heat, for this purpose a more resistant coating is required to withstand such high temperatures. These could be garden BBQ’s or pub grills, heaters, and exhausts, or industrial and manufacturing equipment. Below are recommended products available to buy at Rawlins Paints – we must stress that the advice and product recommendations for heat resistant paints are not for home or kitchen appliances such as kettle or toasters, ovens, fridges, etc. They are also not for use on areas subject to direct food contact or contact with flames.
Rust-Oleum Heat Resistant Paint 750°C is ideal for general use by consumers and smaller-scale projects, being self-priming and for continuous temperatures up to 650°C. Available at Rawlins paints in black or aluminium, with a satin or matt finish.
IMPORTANT: Should not be applied on primers or coatings that are not heat resistant.
Recommended uses for the 7717/7778 Aerosols: should be used on new, bare steel, blasted steel or light rusted steel surfaces or properly prepared painted substrates alike barbecue grills, fireplace equipment, space heaters etc. Intended for small maintenance jobs or for touch-up, providing heat resistance up to 750°C (= 1380°F) dry heat (short term peak resistance) in sheltered or interior environments.
Recommended use for the 1015/1078 Cans: can be applied on new, bright, or shot-blasted steel or well pre-treated coated surfaces such as barbecues, boiler fittings, hot air cannons, exhausts, etc. Intended for small maintenance jobs and repairs, providing protection up to a dry heat of 750°C (short term peak load) for applications indoors or in a sheltered outdoor environment.
For professional users, Jotun Solvalitt (available in white or black – see Jotun Solvalitt Alu for the aluminium finish) – provides heat resistance on properly prepared carbon steel, galvanised steel and stainless steel for temperatures up to 400°C. Jotun Solvalitt Midtherm Alu provides heat resistance up to 260°C. Sherwin-Williams Heat-Flex Hi-Temp 1200 is a next generation single-component inert multipolymeric matrix coating that combats corrosion under insulation (CUI) and in high heat applications.
Once a suitable metal primer has been applied to stainless steel, a metal topcoat/finishing coat can be applied. Most primers that have been recommended come as part of a manufacturer system, with the topcoat being fully compatible with the primer. These can be found in the Product Data Sheets that are available on all of our product pages under the “Data Sheets” tab.
Please contact Rawlins Paints if you require a colour or finish that is not available in any of the paint systems discussed above – which do contain topcoats tintable to the full RAL, NCS, and British Standard colour range. The primer, in collaboration with a suitable topcoat, are designed to deliver protective systems which can fail if an unsuitable topcoat is used. For example, using a standard topcoat on a heat resistant primer will not make the finished installation heat resistant.
There are full systems available with alternate topcoats to meet application needs in low temperatures, for example, or to give metallic finishes as opposed to those obtained from our standard RAL, NCS, and British Standard colour ranges.
If you are unsure or would like to share the project/environment/atmospheric conditions in the comment section below, we will happily recommend primer and topcoat combinations, or one-product installations that meet your requirements.
The advice and product recommendations in this article are not for home or kitchen appliances such as kettles or toasters, ovens, fridges, etc.
Please visit our website for more information on this topic.