Replies

1. 
   Pebble | Feb 07, 2004 03:23am | #1

   While I didn't use this on an exterior door I did use this on my metal cabinets. I bought a primer for metal from Porter Paints called Glyptex, a rust inhibitive primer. It was pricey at thirty three (33) dollars a gallon or so. Then I used a latex enamel which was an ultra deep base, tinted to a navy blue. Again, Porter paint for the enamel. The price on this was about twelve (12) dollars a gallon but I got the contractor discount so...

   As for applying it I can't really help you there. I just brushed it on and of course there are brush marks. I like it though and the two coats of paint over the one coat of Glyptex made for a nice, durable finish. Naturally before I painted anything I gave the cabinet a good sanding and washing. Oh ya, that Soilax powder I bought from the same paint supply house, is what I used to wash up. It mixes with water to make a cleaner that doesnt need rinsing.

   Jason

2. 
   WayneL5 | Feb 07, 2004 03:29am | #2

   One of the best finishes I've ever used is Rust-Oleum industrial coating systems.  We used to paint steel with the system in a manufacturing plant where things got banged around a lot and exposed to hydrochloric acid vapors.

   The system consisted of two coats of a two-part epoxy primer, followed by one coat (or more) of two-part polyurethane.  They can color match to any color.  The paint was $50 per gallon and came in two gallon kits.  I think it might come in quarts.

   Once mixed you have only a couple of hours to work with the paint.  If you leave it mixed in the container overnight it will get hot and smoke, so it has to be spread out somewhere, even in a puddle, or left out in the can in the snow.  Don't put the top on a mixed batch of paint!  (Trust me.)  You don't have to mix the whole kit at once, but you have to measure, not guess, if you mix partial kits.

   The epoxy sticks extremely well to a properly prepared surface, and won't chip off like enamel paint.  Epoxy doesn't shine or weather well, so the topcoat is urethane, which holds it's gloss longer than almost any other type of paint, and is one of the most scratch resistant paints.

   If you are going to roll, use the finest nap you can find.  But, spraying produces a much better job.  Both the paints I mentioned can be sprayed with the proper solvent, which you also have to buy from them because standard solvents don't work with two part paints.  An auto body shop might be able to spray them for you.

   Their instructions and data sheets are outstanding, and must be followed for good results.