Will emulsion work on bare copper piping ?

[tubbystu]

I have some surface mounted bare copper piping in the bathroom. Hot water supply to towel rail. I am probably going to give the bathroom a refresh with a coat of paint after New Year.

Can I just wirewool it clean and paint it the same as the adjacent wall with emulsion ?

Or do I really need to go the proper clean/primer/undercoat/gloss coat/top gloss coat route ?

TIA

S

[BlackCup]

Emulsion is just fine done it many times around the house no ill effects!

[Spare tyre]

the previous owners of my house have painted over most things with emulsion, seems to have stuck

pipes, bricks, wood, thermostats, doors, windows

grr

[DrDeAtH]

A coat of oil based primer would be an idea as emulsion direct on copper will turn a bit green for the first couple of coats.

[Gingerbread Man]

Paint straight on seems to be my expirence. Just make sure that the pipe doesn't come warm and dry the paint to quickly.

[blade7]

DrDeAtH said:

A coat of oil based primer would be an idea as emulsion direct on copper will turn a bit green for the first couple of coats.

I've been looking for some oil based primer but none of the DIY sheds seem to stock it ?

[tubbystu]

blade7 said:

DrDeAtH said:

A coat of oil based primer would be an idea as emulsion direct on copper will turn a bit green for the first couple of coats.

I've been looking for some oil based primer but none of the DIY sheds seem to stock it ?

This'll do you ?



B&Q linky

Not cheap at £25 per litre either....

[blade7]

tubbystu said:

blade7 said:

DrDeAtH said:

A coat of oil based primer would be an idea as emulsion direct on copper will turn a bit green for the first couple of coats.

I've been looking for some oil based primer but none of the DIY sheds seem to stock it ?

This'll do you ?



B&Q linky

Not cheap at £25 per litre either....

It's got solvent based on the front of the tin I spoke to the paint "expert" in B&Q the other day and they said they don't sell oil based .

[B17NNS]

Oil based undercoat would work too.

In my experience though emulsion will be fine. Lots of thin coats though, it will not cover well and if you overload with paint it will just drip off the bottom of the pipe.

[Mave]

Surely all paint is solvent based? It just depends on whether the solvent is water, oil, or something else....
I picked up some crown undercoat from B&Q the other day, and it's definitely oil based. The "High VOC" label is the usual give away....

[B17NNS]

Mave said:

The "High VOC" label is the usual give away....

Yep, you want the stuff that stinks and is bad for the environment. It's better.

Oil based...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-all-purpose-...

In reality though as long as the pipes are clean and grease free (steel wool for a bit of a key followed by an alcohol wipe or similar) and you persevere with lots of thin coats, emulsion will be fine.

[tleefox]

Chrome pipework another solution.

[DrDeAtH]

Oil based/solvent based. Cleans up with white spirit. That's the stuff.

Staff at b&q are usually mongs with not much product knowledge


You could even use some brush on cellulose car primer, unless you fancied masking up the wall and spraying the pipes

[blade7]

B17NNS said:

Oil based...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-all-purpose-...

£10 a litre Strange when I rang their helpline this morning they said all their paint is water based.

[tubbystu]

tleefox said:

Chrome pipework another solution.

With hindsight I'll never have copper again above surface.

[B17NNS]

tubbystu said:

With hindsight I'll never have copper again above surface.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-erb383wch-125mm-wall-chaser-230-240v/58708

[Gingerbread Man]

tubbystu said:

With hindsight I'll never have copper again above surface.

You can get chrome pipe covers, wrap that looks okay if chrome is your thang.