Painting tips needed

[DADoES]

 

I am attempting to paint a dryer drum.  Typical Whirly/KM gray finish.  It has the usual wear-and-tear knicks and scratches and developed some rust spots after sitting unused for a while.  I don't have much experience with painting.  Wire-brushed the rust, washed and thoroughly dried it.  Using spray enamel, two coats thus far.  Dried for several weeks, it's having a chalky residue that won't work so well for drying clothes if it doesn't clear up.  I did not apply a primer coat first.  Is painting a drum simply not workable, or is the technique at fault?

 

[macboy91si]

Painting

 

I would have scuffed and primed the drum first. Without at least a scuffing, the paint really has nothing to stick to, the finish in the drum is so smoothed and glazed you'd need to really scuff it to get adhesion. If you can get the paint to stick, the heat from the dryer can bake it and cure it up well, but it has to have a good adhesion surface first. If not, it will flake and wear off. A good hard enamel should work well, but you may have to take it back down and re-prep the surface. I wouldn't put any clothes in it until the paint has cured, run a timed cycle empty with some heat and that will speed up the curing. Could be a bit of smell until everything cures so be mindful of that as well. Hope this helps a little.

 

-Tim

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Glenn,

FSP used to make a gray drum spray paint, I think it is/was enamel. Once you get a prepped surface, I would suggest using this paint if you can find it. It may not be as good as factory materials, but it is meant for a dryer drum so it likely would not have some of the issues one could experience with other paints.

Gordon

 

[combo52]

PAINTING DRYER DRUMS

We have repainted many dryer drums over the years, I would not waste the money on the WP gray spray enamel they sell for this purpose. I used it several times and it not only didn't look good but started to wear off quickly. I had better luck with other off the shelf products. As Tim suggested after the initial drying period is over run the dryer till it dries completely then dry some old rages to get rid of any residue before drying your best dress shirts. 

 

[DADoES]

 
I plan on selling (or trying to sell, as the case may be) the unit after the refurb is finished ... depending on how it turns out. Mostly, this is for painting practice, both cabinet and drum. I have several other refurbs waiting that need some painting. Would epoxy paint perhaps be a more durable finish for the drum than enamel?