Best and how to properly paint a metal stove in a bath, how to choose a composition
The stove in a Russian bath is traditionally made of brick. The work of specialists and the purchase of building materials increase the estimate. Installing a ready-made or homemade metal oven will help you save money without losing steam quality. You can refine it using coloring. There are different options for painting a metal stove in a bath. The main selection criterion is resistance to moisture and heat.
Requirements for the coloring composition
Hot metal is a specific surface for which decorative oil or water-based paints are not suitable. The heating temperature of the body of a metal bath furnace is 450-500 degrees. The heated metal expands. Sauna stoves are made from heat-resistant alloys, but the completely natural process does not stop. As a result, the paints evaporate from the hot surface, crack and peel off due to the high concentration of vapor.
For painting a metal oven, formulations with the following properties are suitable:
- heat resistance;
- lack of volatile toxic substances;
- moisture resistance;
- anti corrosion.
Sauna heaters are equipped with a water tank. A common problem is the appearance of rust on exterior and interior walls. A simple solution is to buy a stainless steel tank. But when self-manufacturing a metal furnace and a tank, ordinary iron is sometimes used. The anti-corrosion coating will partially solve the problem of rust and extend the service life of the boiler.
Varieties of suitable formulations
The following groups of paints and varnishes work in extreme swimming conditions:
- heat-resistant paints - thanks to special components, water-acrylic compositions withstand temperatures of 600 degrees, are suitable for brass, copper and alloys;
- polyurethane varnishes - form a hard, heat-resistant film that does not pass steam;
- silicone paints - withstand temperatures of 650 degrees, do not contain evaporating substances, are marked with the KO mark.
The best protection for a metal furnace is provided by coatings of the third group. Their maximum thermal resistance threshold is 900 degrees. Organosilicon resins are specially designed for dyeing metal products that are constantly exposed to high humidity and heat.
Separately, there is a group of intermediate coatings - heat-resistant primers for metal. The compositions improve adhesion to the surface of the oven and reduce paint consumption, while possessing the necessary protective properties. For sauna heaters, primers with a temperature threshold above 300 degrees are suitable.
Heat resistant paints are available in cans and aerosols. The minimum container volume for both types is 400 milliliters. Spray paint is more convenient to use as no tools are required for application.
Sometimes heat-resistant paints are equated with fire-retardant paints, but they have different surface protection mechanisms. Flame retardants emit a foam that prevents open fires but cannot withstand static heat.
Criteria for choosing the right paint
The choice of paint is influenced by the metal from which the oven is made. Iron without impurities heats up and deforms more strongly than refractory compounds. To extend the life of the material, formulations with maximum thermal stability are used. Their cost is much higher than that of acrylic paints. It is unprofitable to buy an expensive composition for a low-quality metal furnace.
The choice of paint is influenced by many factors: the type, the properties of the metal, the atmospheric characteristics and the requirements of the composition. To facilitate the determination, there are four main criteria.
Heat resistance
The concept includes:
- heat resistance - the absence of long-term deformation with constant exposure to high temperatures;
- heat resistance - the coating remains uniform and does not change color due to extreme heat.
In paint for metal ovens, the first quality must prevail over the second. Heat-resistant compounds are suitable for masonry with a maximum heating temperature of 90 degrees. The coating on the metal in the bath experiences increased stress due to the temperature drop.Therefore, it is better to use flexible and durable paints that can withstand heating and subsequent cooling.
Corrosion protection
To avoid rust, choose paints that form an airtight film. Through the vapour-permeable coating, the droplets reach the metal surface, which eventually leads to corrosion.
Water-repellent properties
Metallic paint should keep water and condensation out. Polyurethane compounds cope with this task.
Security
In the paint for heating appliances, the content of toxic substances is unacceptable. Otherwise, the room will be filled with toxic fumes.
Rules and features of the application
Metal stoves for a bath are painted according to standard rules for working with metal.
Surface preparation
The appearance of the coating depends on the correct preparation of the metal before painting. In order for the paint to lie flat and not peel, it is necessary to ensure its maximum adhesion to the metal. For this, the surface is treated as follows:
- cleaned with a wire brush;
- rust is removed from old iron with a five percent solution of sulfuric acid, which is then washed with water and laundry soap;
- degreased with alcohol.
A heat-resistant metal primer is applied to a clean surface. For metal furnaces, it is recommended to use composition G-77. Phosphate soil with silicate components can withstand temperatures of 1200 degrees. You can also use a primer paint.
Application algorithm
The process of painting a metal oven is simple:
- mix the composition in a jar or shake the can:
- apply a thin coat of paint with a brush or spray gun;
- after 30 minutes, cover with a second layer.
After painting with liquid paint, seams and joints can be reinforced with spray compound. The homemade tank is painted from the inside before assembly to prevent corrosion. The paint must not come into contact with stainless steel and chrome parts. Before work, they are smeared with grease.
Completion of work
The average paint drying time is 72 to 96 hours. The exact period is set by manufacturers for a specific composition. It is not recommended to reheat the oven before the complete polymerization of the coating because of the risk of delamination.
About iron furnace bluing
The chemical treatment of metal has a decorative and protective function. Blued steel is less susceptible to corrosion, has a uniform black color and a dull luster. Home bluing is done in four ways:
- with an alkali - the part is immersed in an aqueous solution of caustic soda and sodium nitrate, heated to a temperature of 150 degrees;
- acid - tannic and tartaric acid are used;
- rusty varnish - cast iron or steel filings and rust are poured into a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids. After the oxidation reaction is completed, water and vodka are added in equal proportions, insisted and filtered. A metal piece is placed in the finished varnish;
- burning - the metal is burned in an open flame.
Parts are preserved in acid and alkaline compounds until the metal blackens, then washed in soapy water. When mixed, the chemicals give off corrosive fumes, therefore bluing is not recommended indoors.The reagents are mixed in a stainless steel container. Before bluing, the metal is degreased with acetone.
Hot bluing is suitable for a homemade stove, when the parts are kept in a boiling solution and then put together. The finished kiln and the tank are subjected to cold bluing: they are coated with a mixture of antimony (III) chloride and olive oil in two layers with an interval of 48 hours. The first layer is washed off with a rag, then the second is applied. The burnished metal furnace looks original, but the oxidation procedure is not safe. You must work with gloves, goggles and a respirator.
Review of the best manufacturers
The best known brands:
| Name | The country | The description |
| Elcon | Russia | Manufacturer of organosilicon paints, varnishes and enamels for ovens, heat pipes and heating equipment. Products retain their properties at a temperature of 800 degrees and are cheaper than foreign counterparts.
|
| new ton
| Ukraine | The company produces universal automotive paints and heat-resistant aerosols. It is convenient to spray paints. The coating can withstand temperatures of 600 degrees. |
| Dali
| Russia | The brand belongs to the Rogneda group of companies, which produces all types of paints and varnishes. The range includes heat resistant enamels, varnishes and anti-rust primers. |
| Hansa
| Poland | Heat-resistant spray composition is intended for decorating stoves, fireplaces and grills. The volume of the bottle is 400 milliliters. Heat resistance - 800 degrees. |
| Tikkurila
| Finland-Russia | The composition of the paint from a well-known manufacturer includes silicone resin. The coating can withstand temperatures of 400 degrees when dry heated and retains its integrity after cooling. |
| "Certainly"
| Russia | The brand of organosilicon paints belongs to the company Spektr. The maximum temperature for which the anti-corrosion coating is designed is 650 degrees. The composition solidifies completely in 72 hours. Form of release - aerosol and can. |
The names of proven companies speak in favor of foreign paints. The quality of domestic products has improved due to innovative developments. Russian heat-resistant compounds are more affordable in price, but not inferior in quality to European ones.