How to Paint Cast Iron Bathtubs

Painting cast iron bathtubs involves a little bit more effort than simply aiming a can of spray paint at the tub and going nuts.

The simple truth is that there are a lot of steps involved in getting your cast iron base to look exactly the way you want it to.  Here is how to repaint or refinish your cast iron bathtub.

1.  Gather together all of the materials you will need—no matter how commonplace you think they might be.  Get extra gloves, extra filters for your ventilation mask, everything and have it nearby. 

2.  Get together a few friends to help you disconnect your cast iron base from the plumbing and carry it out into your yard or into your garage.  Some homeowners try to refinish or repaint their porcelain cast iron bathtubs without taking them out of the bathroom but it is a far more arduous task that way.  Do not try to move the tub yourself.  It will be too heavy.

3.  Thoroughly clean the entire tub inside and out.  Use your chemical cleaners on every surface that you plan on painting.  The chemical cleaner will help you get rid of any grease that might have fixed itself to your tub's surface; it will help the bonding agent bond to the surface.

4.  Sand down the surface of your tub to rough it up a little bit.  The roughed up texture of the tub will help your new paint coatings bond to the tub's surface.  Use a palm sander for this because it will help you get a more even surface than other types of sandpaper or sanders.

5.  Tape down paper or plastic over any part of the tub that you do not wish to paint. 

6.  Use a chemical adhesive to help fix the paint to your porcelain cast iron bathtubs. Let it sit for five minutes to dry.

7.  Apply your primer.  Primer is best applied with a spray gun.  You will want to put on at least two coats of primer.  Make sure you wait at least a half an hour after applying the first coat of primer before applying the second coat of primer.

8.  Start painting!  With porcelain cast iron bathtubs it is important that you use EP Acrylic paint (acrylic polymer coating).  This paint will give you a finish that is strong and durable and it comes in a lot of different colors.  Paint in a back and forth motion to make sure that your paint is being distributed evenly.  Don't over spray the area or the paint will run.  The best way to keep this from happening is to release the trigger of your spray gun as soon as you have reached the edge of your surface. 

You'll want to apply two or three coats of your paint to get the best color and coverage.  As with the primer, you will want to make sure you give each coat at least thirty minutes to dry before applying the next coat.

Have fun!

Article Tags: Cast Iron Bathtubs, Porcelain Cast Iron, Cast Iron, Iron Bathtubs, Porcelain Cast, Make Sure

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