Red Appliance Paint: What Paint Do You Use on Appliances?
Paint is a great way to cover up dings, scratches, and stains. However, not all paints work on all surfaces and they do not always come in a wide range of colors. Tinting white paint is helpful but then tinting is not always available for all paint types.
What paint do you use on appliances? There is an appliance epoxy type paint you can use on most appliances. It goes on in the spray format. Yet, this paint isn't for those appliances that heat up. You would need a heat-resistant paint for the stove and other appliances that go to high temperatures.
To learn more about what paint to use on appliances and if they can be tinted or not, just keep reading our article. It has the information you need so you can get the right type of paint when you want to do this task yourself.
Appliance Paint 101
What kind of Paint do You Use On Appliances?
The best format to use would be the spray can version. It goes on better and helps you avoid those awful-looking brush strokes that come when you try to paint the appliance using a paintbrush.
Then the best paint to use would be those paints that are made to work on appliances. The can should say appliance paint on the front. These paints are made to adhere to metal and still look nice.
Some experts will recommend a semi-gloss while other experts will say you need a two-part epoxy appliance paint to get the coverage you need. Those are good for fridges, and other appliances that do not get hot.
When you are tackling the stove or other appliances that heat up, you should make sure the paint formula will withstand the temperatures those items get to. The can should make a point of saying it is heat resistant.
The brand is not that important as there are several good paint makers out there that produce great paint for this project. The best thing to do is talk to a paint specialist at a paint store, department store clerks are not the best place to get the right information, and ask them for some tips and point you in the right direction.
Red Appliance Paint
One person who was repainting her appliances asked if this paint actually exists. The good news is yes, it does and you can find this color in many different places. The key to using red paint on appliances is to make sure the paint will adhere to the metal.
Also, it should be heat resistant if you are going to coat your stove with this color. The label should also say appliance paint on it but read the instructions to make sure the contents will adhere to the metal used to build your appliances.
Some people ask about tinting appliance paint red but that is difficult to do. It is a legitimate question as there are few color options when it comes to appliances. The good news is that there are brands or paint that produce a red appliance paint so you do not have to go through the trouble of tinting.
The places to check would be Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, Sherwin-Williams, and other paint stores. Not only should they carry this color in appliance paint, but they can also help you with your other questions.
What is the Best Appliance Paint?
Rustoleum and Krylon are the two main brands that seem to top everyone’s list. There is Meeco but it is not as popular as those two brands. You will find that Amazon and similar marketplaces have lots of all spray paint brands so you can make your own choice and go with the one you prefer.
Then the paint format that is the best would be the spray can version. If you have a steady hand, you should be able to put the layers on with no over-spray or runs. Now if these paints do not have the color you want, you can spray your appliances with regular spray paint and then coat that layer with a clear enamel gloss spray paint.
Different experts will have different opinions and their alternatives may have produced great results for them. Sometimes you just have to make a decision after listening to all those opinions and pick the one you think will do the best job.
If you want to use epoxy paint, be aware that this type of paint won’t adhere to Teflon, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, or Mylar. Then it does bond with, but not that great, polyvinyl chloride, acrylic, and polycarbonate plastics.
Epoxy paint will adhere well to glass, wood, and aluminum.
Does Walmart Sell Appliance Paint?
On their paint web[page there is a long list of paint subcategories. Under the exterior and interior paint link, a pop-up menu lists appliance paint and when you click on the link, you are taken to the main landing page that lists all sorts of paint that can be brushed on.
On the left side, there are lots of options to fine-tune your search and you may have to spend a few minutes clicking the right options to get to the page that may sell appliance paint. Rustoleum, Krylon, Glidden, and many other brands are listed if you prefer one brand over another.
So most likely, Walmart ill sell some form of paint that will work on appliances. You would have to read the descriptions online or go to the store nearest you to read the labels to make sure the pain they offer will work or not.
If your Walmart does not carry any good appliance paint or none at all, you still have lots of options available to you. Home Depot, Lowe’s hardware stores, paint stores are just some of the options you can use as an alternative to Walmart.
The good aspect about shopping at Walmart is that their prices may be cheaper than those other outlets.
How Long Does Appliance Paint Take to Dry?
This is always a good question and the answer is going to depend on the brand of paint, the type of paint you use, and if it is a one-stage or two-stage paint process. Normally, most appliance paints will be dry to the touch in 2 to 4 hours.
If you want to handle the appliance then you need to double that time frame and add an hour or 5 to 9 hours you need to wait before handling the appliance. Then to make sure the paint is completely dry, you should wait up to 24 hours to be on the safe side.
This is just the rule of thumb as some paint types may take twice as long as those times indicate. When you are adding more than one coat, you will have to wait about 4 to 24 hours in between to make sure the next coat goes on properly.
Generally, spray paints will follow the rule of thumb and be the quickest to dry and the quickest to allow another coat to be applied. You really want to stick to using spray paints when painting appliances, it is just the better way to go and you get better results.
Can You Paint Over Appliance Epoxy?
This should not be a problem when using another epoxy paint to cover the underlying color. The trick to doing this option is to not wait till the epoxy paint has fully cured. If you do it before the week curing time is up, chances are the new paint will mix with the epoxy and build a strong bond.
Every resource we checked basically recommended using epoxy appliance paint and did not recommend painting over an existing coat with another type of paint. The reason you use epoxy paint is that it provides a hard protective coating that helps fend off scratches, etc.
But if you do your prep work right, you should have no trouble using any appliance paint and cover the existing epoxy coat. Prep is everything when it comes to painting, even for appliances. So make sure you do a good job at that stage so your end result will look professional and a lot better than the old color looked.
Just be forewarned that if you use a different type of paint, your results may not be as good as you would want. Epoxy is very difficult to paint over even when you are using another epoxy paint.
Can You Use Rustoleum On Appliances?
This is one of the most recommended brands for use on appliances. But you need to make sure that the paint in the can is made for appliances. Not every Rustoleum product will work on metal and you need to read the labels carefully so you do not buy the wrong one.
The appliance or appliance epoxy paint are the types you are looking for and you may even get lucky with a version that is for metal. Just take your time when you are looking for good spray paint and you should be fine.
Then if your store does not have Rustoleum, other good brands on the market will do just as good a job as Rustoleum paint will. The same criteria apply. Read the labels to make sure the Krylon or other brands will do the same tasks as the Rustoleum will.
If you are still in doubt, go to your local paint store and talk to the people behind the counters. They should be knowledgeable enough to help guide you to the right non-Rustoleum paint that will work well.
It pays to talk to the experts on paint first as their advice can save you a lot of time and frustration. They will also help you clear up any mistakes you may make plus make sure you know how to clean up everything afterward.
How do You Apply Paint On Appliances?
Painting appliances is more than just opening up a can of paint, spraying, or using a brush to put the paint on. There is a whole process that takes some time and you should block out a day or two in order to do the job right.
As they say, ‘haste makes waste’ and when it comes to appliances, haste makes for ugly-looking paint jobs. Be patient and take your time. Focus on what you need to do and do one step at a time.
- Step 1: Prep is everything
This is true and it is probably going to be the longest part of your appliance painting chore. In your prep, you need to unplug the appliance and when it comes to a fridge, you may want to find a cooler or two to keep your food cool or frozen.
Next, you need to cover up all the spots you don't want to be painted and this can be done with masking or painter’s tape and newspapers. Remove any hardware to make it easier to accomplish this task.
If you want to paint your hardware, that is done while you are waiting for the appliance to dry. Also, make sure you have windows open or a fan going to get rid of the fumes as you work.
- Step 2: Cleaning
Clean the appliances after you get the hardware off and the appliance ready for painting. You do not need to clean those areas you are not painting but if you want to, do it before you apply the tape, etc.
When cleaning, you are going to need to use a strong cleanser that will remove oil and grease and other dirt and grime that has accumulated over the years. Ammonia is good but watch out for the fumes.
Let the appliance dry before moving on to the next step in the prep stage.
- Step 3: Sanding
Whether it is an epoxy or a semi or full gloss paint on your appliance, you need to rough it up with some sandpaper. The reason you do this is to make sure the new paint will bond with the old one and cover evenly.
150 grit sandpaper is good but you can also use steel wool. Rub either in a circular motion in order to get the best coverage. The goal is to get rid of that shine that comes with the old paint.
Once you have finished sanding, use a damp clean cloth to wipe away any dust that remained behind and did not fall to the floor. When you paint you want a clean, matte surface with nothing to interfere with the bonding.
- Step 4: Painting
Now that you have done all the hard work, you can get down to painting the item you have worked so hard on. This needs to be done in several layers though as you may need to do a primer coat first.
The primer coat makes sure that stains and other problems on the old paint do not show through when you have finished this chore. it also keeps the old paint color from peaking through as well.
A good product is Kilz but a regular primer coat of the paint color you are using will suffice also. let the primer coat first before starting the second coat. A few hours should do the trick.
Once the primer coat is done, you can start with the first paint coat. be ready to do 2 to 3 or more coats to make sure you get an even finish and a very good look. before applying each coat, wait for the previous one to dry.
When you are using spray paint, you want to hold the can about 11 to 12 inches away from the surface. When you use a brush on the paint, you need to make sure you use long even strokes to hide the fact that you used a brush.
Epoxy paint may bubble up on you but do not worry, that is normal. Painting with a brush or roller may only need 2 coats to look great.
- Step 5: Drying
Let the appliance dry for up to 24 hours before returning it to its original spot. There is no benefit to moving the appliance ahead of that time. Let the appliance dry. keep in mind that painting will not be a permanent fix but it will give your kitchen a great new look.
Some Final Words
Painting is an easy and inexpensive way to upgrade the look of your kitchen. Not just the walls and cabinets but for your appliances as well. If you do this task right, your kitchen will look a thousand times better and you saved hundreds of dollars (the cost of a new appliance).
