HOW TO PREPARE AND PAINT A WOOD STOVE

There are special techniques and preparation involved in painting a wood stove or fireplace with high temperature paint. The high temperatures involved, mandates specifically formulated paint and coatings for these wood and coal fired stoves.

If you are considering touching up the paint on your wood stove, fireplace or the stove pipe, you should check with the coating manufacturer and make sure that the high temp paint/coating is compatible for use with your application.

There are three steps that should be followed when using a high temp paint to paint or touch up your wood stove, fireplace insert or the stove pipe.

1. Prepare the Surface

2. Apply the High temperature Stove Paint

3. Cure the High Temp Paint

Step 1 - Preparing the Appliance Surface for High Temp Paint

The most crucial step to painting your wood stove or is surface preparation. Inspect for any rust, peeling or blistering. Stove paint will only adhere to a properly prepared surface. All rust and all paint that is peeling or blistering will need to be removed before applying the paint. Rust can be removed from the stove by sandblasting, sanding or grinding. Remove wood grease, oil, dirt or any other contaminant that might prevent the stove paint from adhering to the metal. Acetone will remove all grease, fingerprints, oil and dirt. 

Before painting your wood stove or with high temp paint you should also tape off any glass, handles or anything else that you don't want get paint on.

The better the surface preparation, the better the adhesion and look of the paint/finish.

Step 2 - Applying the High Temp Paint

Now that you've prepared the surface of your wood stove or the stove pipe, you're ready to paint. High temp paint application requires some care and technique to get the best results.

High Temperature Paint - Aerosols

• Shake the can for at least 2 minutes. This will ensure that the paint pigment, metallic and solvents are completely mixed for the best uniform finish when sprayed.

• Best results are achieved when the paint, the surface of the stove and the air are temperatures are above 55 degrees and below 85 degrees.

• Be sure the area is well-ventilated before applying the paint to your wood stove, fireplace, fireplace insert or other high temp appliance. Also, be sure that all open flames are extinguished and that you are wearing appropriate protection for high temp paint application.

• Before applying high temp paint, test it on a piece of cardboard to be sure that the paint is ready for use. The test spray will bring the well-shaken paint mixture to the tip ready for your first pass on the surface.

• Applying two light coats will provide better results and a more even finish than applying one heavy coat of high temp paint. Wait about 15 minutes in between the first and second light application of wood stove paint.

• For best results, high temp paint should be sprayed at a distance of 12 to 18 inches away from the surface.

• Allow your wood stove, stove pipe or fireplace insert at least 24 hours to "air dry" After high temp paint application.

Step 3 - Curing the High Temp Stove Paint

To cure your high temperature paint after- steps below:

1. Build a small kindling fire to start.

2. Add fuel to build a medium size fire to bring the stove surface temperature to about 350 degrees for about 30-45 minutes.

This final curing of the paint at the higher temperature burn phase there will be smoke and unpleasant odor. You can ventilate open windows and doors to provide airflow.

High temperature stove paint is available in an assortment of colors to complement any home.

Visit www.stovepaint.com to view the available colors. 

Dampney Company Inc.

Everett MA USA