refinishing old machine? what kinds of paints?

use a suitable two part urethane if you can afford it, next choice catalyzed enamel -

I prefer 'RustOleum' silver gray. Multiple coats.

Budget? Rustoleum is popular at the low end. Farm implement paint has also been mentioned as a good choice - if you have a tractor, you can have matching machine tools. At the more expensive end, various types of epoxy paints come up, or take it down to the auto body shop and get it a tangerine metallic flake paintjob with flames and 12 coats of clear coat in catalyzed lacquer. Don't play with catalyzed lacquer at home, it's nasty stuff.

go down to your local hardware and ask for a tin of machinery grey enamel. alkyd enamels are good. single pack epoxies are good. essentially you want a solvent/oil based paint not a water based paint.

a wood chisel can be used to lift off old paint then wire brush, scotchbrite, steel wool and kerosene followed by a wash down with mineral turps will give a good painting surface (or it has on the lathe I'm restoring)

two pack paints are ok but the single packs are easier to touch up.

Stealth Pilot

I agree with the Rustoleum. Any time I get a scratch, the fix just requires a cleaning and a quick spray with the proper color.

Jay Cups

Buy_Sell wrote:

There is also a plastic wheel with plastic fingers sticking up perpendicular to the pad that does a superb job on paint- the only downside is that it wears out really quickly. But if you've got an extra $50 and a die grinder, it's a slick way to go- just don't use it on the ways or other components where precision is an issue.

My vote is for the tractor enamel mentioned. That's what I'm using on the turret lathe I'm restoring, and it holds up well. The alkyd enamel, if it's the stuff I'm thinking of that cleans up with ammonia, won't hold up very well to direct exposure to water or coolant, in my limited experience with the stuff.

I looked at those nylon wheels and thought they wouldnt last long. when the steel wool didnt last long either I broke out the wood chisels. it is mainly what I use them for.

The paint I'm using is White Knite single pack epoxy rust preventative paint. It is made by taubmans. It is probably a compatible paint to the rustoleum mentioned before.

Stealth Pilot