Paint / lighter fluid / open flames / precautions?

LNBright · Post by **LNBright** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 11:59 pm

In preparation for painting a Zippo that I don't yet have, I've been browsing the craft isles of different stores, comparing what I'm finding, and am now pondering....

Enamel, acryllic, epoxy, etc etc.....

What is going to be *best* for use on a lighter?

a) we're painting metal, and not all paints like that
b) we're looking for something durable
c) we're putting lighter fluid inside (which strips some paints)
d) there's going to be an open flame just above the paint (some paints readily burn)

Is epoxy *really* what you want to use? Or not?

Another thought......

I have access to a kiln.... wouldn't it be better to use a kiln instead of an oven?

Should I be thinking of using the same kind of paints that are used on ceramics/china, wouldn't that work?

For laughs and giggles, what about ol' Testors model paints? They've got a good selection of colors......

I'd just hate to spend all the time to get this thing done, then pull the Zippo out to light it and have the paint catch fire in my hands, or when I refill it, the fumes just make the paint slide off in my pocket....

Just wonderin'.....

-Leslie

Cabinetman · Post by **Cabinetman** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 10:26 am

Whatever you use, flammability will not be an issue once the paint/finish has cured. Further, resistance to chemicals is what you should be looking for in your paint/finish. I don't think lighter fluid (smokers correct me if I'm wrong...I don't use lighter fluid in the shop) has the stripping characteristcs of, say, lacquer thinner. Even with something like that, though (unless a very new finish), it's not going to immediately dissapear before your eyes.

I have done zero metal finishing. You may want to consult Zippo and find out what they use as a protective finish (if any) on their lighters. My recommendation would be to remove whatever finish is there (again, if there), and once clean and dry, paint on your clover. Then spray on a protective top coat. Make sure it is a non-yellowing product.

Ideally you'll never have to polish it or have to worry about the clover paint chipping. And certainly there won't be any fire to put out later.

Not sure if I really answered anything. Hope it helped, if only a little bit.

Cab

LNBright · Post by **LNBright** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 10:35 am

Actually, yeah, you did....

Sounds like I might have been overthinkin' it, being overly cautious.

Dang, I think that's a sign of being a parent instead of a kid anymore...... I'm gonna have to do something dangerous on the way home now as pennance.....

-L

Cabinetman · Post by **Cabinetman** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 10:59 am

My daughter is 6 now, but isn't it something how much more aware you become of children/safety, etc. after you have one of your own? My wife and I think that perhaps we have "trained" her to be overly-cautious. She is just a very careful little girl. We're getting better...

Cab

buletman · Post by **buletman** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 2:29 pm

Hey, check out my post "My Clover Lighter"

I sued epoxy, and it worked fine, and correction:

If you do use the epoxy technique, you are NOT painting on metal, but on epoxy...

application like this: epoxy/paint (i used acrylic)/epoxy...