Can you use oil paints on sheet metal?

Question

Can you use oil paints on sheet metal?

Answer 1

You can use oil paints on sheet metal by proper cleaning, preparing and priming the sheet metal surface. The sheet metal has to be free of corrosion, rust and other debris. Prime the sheet metal using a special rust inhibitor metal paint. Use flat white or flat off-white. This should provide a flat smooth even surface. Now you can paint as like any other properly prepared surface.



Keep Arting!



Jeff (weseye) Wesley

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Answer 2

Certainly,.. If the sheet metal has been properly primed. In this case I would recommend a Two Componet Primer [epoxy family] such as those used by automobile body shops. It has been my experience that Oil Paints have surprising bonding characteristics being able to adhere to a multitude of surfaces. If you reflect on this question, we realize that in much of history Oil Colors were about the only coating available for many metal surfaces- aside from an additional metal plating. Once the paint is cured however the sheet metal must be kept in a rigid position. Curving the sheet would cause the paint surface to flake off like cookies/biscuits from a baking sheet.

Answer 3

Oil paints require a rough ground in order to adhere. You can use an automotive-type metal primer first. Gesso will not work as a primer on metal - it will not adhere either. If you want to see the metal though, you'd be better off using enamel paint such as Rustoleum or Tremclad or even automotive paint that is intended for use on metal.

Answer 4

Artist oil paints require a prepared surface. Generally, metal surfaces are too slick for the paint to adhere except temporarily. A very weak, diluted oil paint might do better.