Enamel painting

By definition, enamel is a coloured glassy substance that can be either translucent or opaque and that is fused to a metal or glass surface in order to protect it. Probably the best example of enamel would be an enamel bath (common before fiberglass and plastic baths came along). This was normally achieved by melting powdered glass to the raw metal surface of the bath by firing it at about 800°C. Enamel painting has inherited the descriptive word because of the exceptionally hard and glossy finish that it gives when painted onto a surface. Enamel painting, though, will always be considerably softer than true vitreous enamel.

Enamel painting was first seen in the 1930s and was produced by adding varnish to oil-based paints. The oil in enamel paints is needed in order to establish enough flexibility in the film of paint. Today the term enamel painting and paints is used to describe the majority of oil based paints that have a sizeable amount of gloss in them, though a great many water based paints and latex based paints have assumed the description as well. The basic meaning of the term, though, is “a paint that has a hard surface finish when fully dried”, and normally refers to the better quality brands of paints, floor coatings and spray paints.

You can use enamel painting in several different applications. Floor enamel has a hard durable finish and may be used for painting concrete floors and stairs, basements, porches and patios. There is a fast drying enamel that dries rapidly – usually within 10 to 15 minutes of painting, and this is ideal for work surfaces such as counters, refrigerators and other industrial finishes. High temperature enamel is used for painting surfaces that are likely to reach a high temperature frequently – for example braais, brakes, engine blocks and exhaust silencers and pipes. A special enamel is used in some countries for bicycle frames and other similar steel tubing articles. The enamel paint is sprayed onto the object in question wet, and then baked in an oven at the relatively low temperature of 200°C. This is not to be confused with powder coating. Enamel painting is also used extensively on wood surfaces as a waterproofing and rotproofing agent.

New to the market overseas and soon to be introduced into South Africa are super-hard spray paint canisters of acrylic enamel that can be used to spray directly onto a metal surface. These aerosol enamel paints give a super hard finish that is highly resistant to chipping and peeling. They have the great advantage of not needing a primer before use. These spray-on enamels dry to the touch within about 25 minutes and can be handled within an hour of painting. Coverage needs only one coat and is ideal for small touch-up jobs or covering hard to reach areas. If you have any queries at all regarding enamel painting please don’t hesitate to contact one of our representatives at any Kings Paint store.