Can I paint a fan?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Val.., Oct 19, 2013.

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  1. Val..

    Val.. Confessed snail lover

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    I have a little pedestal fan which is lovely and quiet and I have thought of painting it black!! :ideaIPB:
    I don't want to spray paint it as it is too messy , too wasteful and always too windy outside.
    so what would be the best brush on paint to use?

    Val
     
    Val.., Oct 19, 2013
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  2. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    Is it plastic or metal?
     
    clueless1, Oct 19, 2013
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  3. Val..

    Val.. Confessed snail lover

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    Oh it is mainly plastic but the front 'cage' part is metal.

    Val
     
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  4. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    Not sure with plastic. Not many paints stick well to plastic, although there is that Plasticote stuff. Metal is a much easier. Hamerite Smooth (used to be called Smoothrite) is good for metal, and doesn't need an undercoat.
     
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      clueless1, Oct 19, 2013
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Not sure why you would want to?
      Nobody uses then this time of the year.:biggrin:
       
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    • Val..

      Val.. Confessed snail lover

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      Just to smarten it up really, it is sort of off white.

      Val
       
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    • fileyboy

      fileyboy Gardener

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      One tip I've been given regards painting plastic, came from a chap on my model railway site and that is to spray paint with a can of car under coat first.

      ian
       
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        fileyboy, Oct 19, 2013
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      • clueless1

        clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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        Another tip for plastic, but it may not be of interest because it results in a mat finish, but if you go over it with sandpaper first to rough it up a little bit, the paint has more to cling to, but I'm not sure I'd use that technique on something that is essentially a piece of furniture as much as a functional thing, just because as I mentioned, the resulting finish is mat.
         
        clueless1, Oct 19, 2013
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      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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        I reckon that paint applied by brush would only result in drag on the fan components, and wouldn't look as good as it could. Also, whilst I accept your point about spray paint appearing to be (note the appearing!) wasteful, it is actually as efficient if not more so than brush applied paint; spray paint is essentially paint that is atomised into small droplets which adhere to a surface to create a coating - as the droplets are so tiny, the resulting coating of paint is relatively thin (hence the need to often do more than one coat); brush applied paint however, is a thicker coating and less efficiently distributed.

        The Plasticote products are reasonably good at things like this, but they also tend to be quite thick so might not be what you are looking for. I'm inclined to suggest that you apply some acid etch primer followed by a couple of top coats of the colour of your choice, finishing with a clear coat lacquer to make it nice and shiny which will also help with promoting clean air flow.
         
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          Fat Controller, Oct 19, 2013
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        • clueless1

          clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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          Sounds like you've had to sort out more than a few scuffs and scrapes on the plastic parts of cars:)
           
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            clueless1, Oct 19, 2013
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          • Fat Controller

            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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            Sadly, I am something of a 'go to guy' for people needing a hand with stuff that is DIY/electric/electronic - - - I say sadly, as there is a bit of me that quite enjoys it.

            In fact, I have just looked back on my photobucket, and here is one of the projects I did with Plasticote, acid etch primer and spray paint in the flat we used to rent (landlords were beyond useless)

            Before:

            [​IMG]

            After:

            [​IMG]

            The key is preparation, and taking your time with the application.
             
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            • Val..

              Val.. Confessed snail lover

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              Thanks for all of this!! I'm sure doing it this way would produce the best finish but quite honestly I am not inclined to do that much work just on a fan, think I will just clean it instead, I have just decided that I like the colour it is!!! :redface:

              Val
               
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                Val.., Oct 20, 2013
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              • Madahhlia

                Madahhlia Total Gardener

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                Nice one, FC. Did you ever get the electric flex situation sorted out?

                Those fires are brilliant, cheap and efficient. The manufacturers should be sexing up the design a bit to take away the geriatric atmosphere they convey. I'd rather have one than an over-priced and inefficient fashion fire that'll be out of fashion in 10 years.

                I've got a similar one in brown, in excellent condition, but I'd rather have any colour rather than brown. I think I could have it powder coated for about £40 but I'd have to take the casing off. I got some Hammerite to have a go, but can't face it as yet.
                 
                Madahhlia, Oct 20, 2013
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              • Fat Controller

                Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                Do you mean the electric wires running behind the fire?
                 
                Fat Controller, Oct 20, 2013
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              • Madahhlia

                Madahhlia Total Gardener

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                Yes. They would drive me nuts!
                 
                Madahhlia, Oct 20, 2013
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