Replies

1. 
   Qtrmeg_ | Dec 27, 2000 04:04pm | #1

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   Sure, do you think they make them from colored metal? I believe you would be better off with an epoxy, but stoves require a high temp paint, you will need to search for a supplier for the right product, or a finisher in your area.

1. 
   Jeff_Clarke_ | Dec 27, 2000 05:40pm | #2

   *Ernest - As long as you're not dealing with a stove as noted, epoxy appliance enamel (sold at the orange box and many paint dealers) will do a reasonable job. I wouldn't have a lot of hope in painting over a bright yellow washer and having it be white (without some color showing through) but a slight hue difference shouldn't be too tough.One the paint has cured, waxing with a high quality auto wax and buffing will tend to even out any blotchy areas (test a hidden area first). I've done this with a washing machine and some office furniture in the past. Careful with the epoxy paint it's a bit nasty.Jeff

1. 
   Adrian_Wilson | Dec 27, 2000 07:01pm | #3

   *They are often taken to a local body shop or a finisher that specialises in metal; they use powder coating or electrostatic gear to do a professional kob for not a lot of bucks.

1. 
   CaseyR_ | Dec 28, 2000 04:27am | #4

   *I would second the idea of considering taking the appliance to someone experienced with metal painting, even if they don't use the powder coating or electrostatic apparatus. DIY will usually give less than an optimal appearance, and not just from the runs and drips. It takes a bit of experience with the spray gun to lay down the paint and give an optimal sheen. I have seen some "el brusho" refinishings that, to put it mildly, did not improve the resale value...

1. 
   Phill_Giles | Dec 28, 2000 05:12am | #5

   *Automotive enamel that's baked on does the job: I know some folks who've had their appliances done every couple of years to match their new decorating schemes (ever seen a deep pink washer or dryer ?). PS, it's no small task to strip the appliances down ready for painting, but they get a full inside and out cleaning, lubrication, and you can renew any weak components while you're at it.

2. 
   David_Thomas | Dec 28, 2000 05:19am | #6

   *I have used "appliance white" spray paint from Home Depot to repaint a mustard yellow fridge. I also repainted a black dishwasher to white. Worked fine with the following cavaets: Each coat had to be pretty thin or it would run. Took about 4 thin coats and about 2 cans per appliances. Or you could pre-heat the part with a hair dryer or lay each surface flat. Then you can lay on a thicker coat each time and get a glossier surface. The finish will never be as smooth as the factory, but it was certainly servicable. You want to remove all the little fiddly bits (logos, handles, trim, etc.) before painting. I like the idea of waxing it for a smoother surface. The result was a very close match to the new appliances. It looked good and saved $800 in new appliance purchases for our house which we were about to rent. Might be worth borrowing an old appliance from the dump and practicing with a can first. Or start on the backside. -David

3. 
   Rich_Regan | Dec 28, 2000 09:46am | #7

   *I've painted a couple of fridges white, including a brown one, with off the shelf appliance spray paint with great results. The key in my eyes is prep and a million thin coats. Take everything off that you can. Doors can stay on but clean out the fridge and turn it off. Cover and tape everything that's not being painted, meticulously. Cover anything within 20 feet, the stuff gets everywhere. Get a good dust mask and one of those trigger adapters to put on the spray cans. (Or your finger will feel like its going to break off after a couple of cans.) Take the gloss of the old paint with some sandpaper. Clean off the surfaces with glass cleaner and go to it. Take your time with thin coats so you don't get any drips. The parts that can't be painted can be ordered through the manufacturer. Sears has a telephone order center that stocks parts for all makes.The first one I did is obviously painted, because of overspray and paint drips. The second one came out so good that when we have guests over, they can't tell that it has been repainted. Between the paint and the plastic parts I ordered, I spent about $200. There is high temperature paint that can be used on stoves. I did one, but the paint has a matte finish. Can't clean it very well and it quickly got stains around the burners that couldn't be removed.

4. 
   splintergroupie_ | Dec 28, 2000 12:22pm | #8

   *Appliances such as fridges and washers are easily painted (you can avoid drips by preheating the surface, and an HVLP gun is nice to preheat the finish, has less overspray), but ranges and stoves are porcelain-coated (think molten glass) because even the best paint discolors at such high temps around the burners, electric moreso than gas. The "high-temp" paints are for renewing the faces of space heatng units, which, while they get very warm, won't cook your stovetop stuffing. I've touched up stove chips NOT near the burner with auto paint using an air brush after the epoxy kit i used yellowed in a matter of weeks, remaining useful only for filling the divot.I've heard of a place to send parts to be re-porcelained (Seattle?), but it's usually done on antique stoves, for instance, because it's very expensive. The replacement cost for the top for the stove i use to melt the bottoms off my good cookware is $56.Be careful about bathtub and appliance refinishers: lots of shysters and some good ones. Extremely important to look over the warranty, go with established company, and get refs. Might cost you about $300 to get a fridge done properly.

5. 
   CaseyR_ | Dec 28, 2000 07:39pm | #9

   *Ouch! 300 bucks would make a good down payment on a new fridge and if the old one was in need of painting, it is probably so old and inefficient that a new energy saving one would probably pay for itself in a couple of years - or maybe months if you live in San Diego...

6. 
   Don_Papenburg | Dec 29, 2000 05:40am | #10

   *I used Dupont' s Dulux on a brown fridge .Painted it white , no one has a clue that it was repainted. Sand the orig. finish with a fine paper 600 grit and paint with your color . two lite coats and then put reducer or thinner inthe gun and spray over the whole thing with a very lite and fast pass . this will melt in over spray and make a smooth shiney finnish.

7. 
   ? | Jan 01, 2001 05:42am | #11

   *go to autozone and get the chevy orange engine enamel paint

8. 
   wedgehead | Jan 01, 2001 05:44am | #12

   *Have done a couple of fridges for friends with two part epoxy paint and my standard binks automotive gun. The two part paint is a little tricky, but it looks brand new when you're done.

9. 
   Boss_Hog | Jan 01, 2001 03:39pm | #13

   *If the paint job isn't smooth enough, could you sand between coats with 400 or 800 grit sandpaper ? I've done that with wood finished, but have never tried it with paint.

10. 
    splintergroupie_ | Jan 01, 2001 08:20pm | #14

    *i I've done that with wood finished, but have never tried it with paint. Think of wood finishes as clear paint.Anything finer than 320 or 400 is overkill. On the file cabinet i just painted, i removed any gooey stuff like tape with a product called "Goo-gone", orbital sanded it with 180 s/c paper, wiped with acetone, sprayed the finish, then hand-sanded with 320 s/c w/stearates between coats. (Using the orbital between coats on fresh paint gums up even the "Fre-cut" paper.) If i can, i spray each side of the piece flat to avoid runs. I sprayed a tub last year and got a few runs, but a new razor blade sliced them off and car buffing compound smoothed it all together again. I used black "webbing spray" as another texture over the base coat on the file cabinet--looks kind of like marble.

2. 
   Ernest_Poling | Jan 01, 2001 08:20pm | #15

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   Can appliances be painted? I know they can be touched-up, but is it possible to make a complete color change? Thank you in advance.

3. 
   BurkeS | Feb 04, 2005 07:58am | #16

      You can also use "melamine paint," which is a plasticized paint.  It only comes in a limited range of colours (black, white, green, red, brown, etc), but I've seen it used to paint fridges and it does an excellent, long lasting job.  You just roll in on with small foam rollers that have rounded edges to hide roller marks.  It looks very good, is very durable, and is extremely inexpensive.  The only slight drawback is that it leaves a lightly textured appearance, though is still a medium gloss finish.  You can get it a Home Depot, Rona, etc.  Worth a shot.