air compressor paint?

[metalmagpie]

I have monkeyed with air compressors a little but had never tried rebuilding one until recently. I'm midway through that, but I have a sort of general question. For air pumps with aluminum cylinder bodies, why are they painted at all? I know they get hot, and the fins are to help radiate heat. Same thing on a motorcycle engine and those jugs are usually bare.

And if you are going to paint them, do you have to use "engine paint" or hi-heat paint?

I got a quart of actual Champion paint but I don't have a spraygun setup so I'm contemplating just not painting the cylinders and intercoolers. I'm planning to leave the copper aftercooler lines bare too, for that matter.

metalmagpie

 

[niget2002]

My cylinder on my pump is not painted.

If I were to try to paint it, I would use a high-temp paint. My pump also has oil in it, so I'd probably look for an engine paint that can hold up to oil getting on it.

 

[rustyzman]

I would recommend a simple Hi-Temp satin or flat black paint for the radiant quality. It will help stave off a little oxidation from ambient moisture as well. How well it will hold up in the long run? Not sure.

 

[FredWanaker]

my two aluminum finned compressors are not painted.

 

[JHForman]

Im getting ready to paint my quincy, i think im gonna see how well acrylic enamel works.