Anybody ever painted an aluminum radiator

[sirstude]

I am not there yet, but when I get the radiator for the Olds, it will probably be aluminum, but I don't like the color, radiators should be black.  Has anyone painted one, and if so, what are the issues.  We might have discussed this before, I was always going to ask, but I do suffer from terminal CRS.

Doug

[EMSjunkie]

I have used Krylon on a couple race alum. radiators.
held up really good, even after being caked with mud.

good luck.

Vance

[enjenjo]

SEMS had a flat black etch prime that works good on aluminum.

[wayne petty]

i am thinking that  a if you want to paint the fins...  something like 1650F high temp black header paint would be the thing to use...

thin... almost transparent... still black...  almost like anodizing..  



or is it 1350F... still krylon... or was it the other brand.. name escapes me ...


links...
http://www.krylon.com/products/high_heat_radiator_paints/


http://www.krylon.com/products/bbq_stove_paints/


and this cool stuff...

http://www.krylon.com/products/xmetals/


here is a link to VHT paints... but it is not active yet....

http://www.vhtpaint.com/


this works... and tons of stuff...

http://www.duplicolor.com/index.html

[sirstude]

Thanks for all the info, I had never thought of the header type paint, I always have used Krylon Ultra Flat Black on the fins of copper radiators.  Mostly what I was wondering is if paint affects the cooling of an aluminum radiator more than it affects the cooling of a copper radiator?

Doug

[CQQL33]

It may sound stupid but, BLACK will give off more heat than any other color, including the raw aluminum radiator.   I have had mine painted with Krylon Black ever since I got it on the road and it works just fine.   In the old days they used to paint radiators in building silver, if they had painted them black it would have saved them money in their heating bills....

[Jbird]

I use "ACE is the place" BBQ black, it'll handle the heat and is thin bodied enough that it won't insulate the tubes & fins.  Jbird