Spraying stainless

[gtflash]

My seat brackets (more like a hinge) have discoloured with welding. I am wondering if the discolour will polish out or alternatively can I spray them a nice black colour. If so what sort of paint. I've been spraying a few bits with automotive rattle can paint around the house lately and all the primers seem very soft and not durable

Thanks gt

[beamishken]

You usually clean off welding discolouration with an acid then Polish back with fine wire wool then a polishing mop or I've had good results with just rubbing compound
There's not much that realy sticks to stainless & probably easier to Polish up
I'm not totally sure what acid they use for stainless but I find brick acid cleans stainless props a treat

[whisper]

The acid process after welding is called pickling


www.customrib.co.uk

[gtflash]

Is it DIY able? I've never heard of it.

[whisper]

Yeah, but don't get it on your hands etc https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261831179489

Also search on YouTube




www.customrib.co.uk

[whisper]

Or if the weld has been cleaned & polished before try oxalic acid. Pickling is done after welding to remove the dark area of the weld.


www.customrib.co.uk

[Chris]

Originally Posted by gtflash

My seat brackets (more like a hinge) have discoloured with welding. I am wondering if the discolour will polish out or alternatively can I spray them a nice black colour. If so what sort of paint. I've been spraying a few bits with automotive rattle can paint around the house lately and all the primers seem very soft and not durable

Thanks gt

If the discolouration is yellowing and bluing due to heat you may struggle to remove it with polish..

[jwalker]

You can pickle it clean with pickling paste which you buy from a welding materials supplier. The acid within the paste is nitric acid so a bit aggressive and I've only seen it supplied in fairly large tubs or bottles. You can give the oxide area a good scrub with a wire brush instead, it's not as good but it is ok. Alternatively, you can paint stainless steel by normal primer/topcoat after thoroughly cleaning/degreasing it or, as I have done, paint it with a good exterior paint. I used garage door paint from B&Q and it's been on the boat since 2005 and is still there, though it's lost its sheen a bit (It was satin finish).

[Pikey Dave]

Try leaving it overnight in Coca Cola


Sh1t happens

[beerbelly]

If you end up painting it prime it with an etch primer or it won't key upol acid 8 comes in aerosols