engine baffle paint

[fabio]

What kind of paint did you use on the baffle?

 

[Bevan]

I used self-etching rattle can grey primer. I forget the brand name but it's common at automotive stores. It seems to stick quite well.

Bevan

 

[Freemasm]

Rattle can engine paint.

 

[fixnflyguy]

None, just alodine

I am personally a fan of no paint on baffles. A nice light Scotchbrite brush finish and Alodine is my personal preference. In many years of building/rebuilding baffles, the painted ones often (not always) end up scratched, chipped,flaking and messy looking. Baffles are crack magnets, and much easier to see/repair when unpainted. The Alodine will give it a light goldish tone, and can be easily touched up.

 

[Lkitson]

+1 for auto store rattle can engine paint

 

[Carl Froehlich]

I use the same single stage PPG Urethane paint I use for the interior, over PPG epoxy primer. Two quart cans are enough for everything.

Amazingly durable both forward and aft of the firewall.

Carl

 

[PilotjohnS]

Good question

I am at this point now. I have a choice of Jet flex interior or acyroglow exterior. Both SW products. I am thinking the jetflex since it is a satin finish, although a gloss will be easier to clean….

Does anybody know what color matches the standard Lycoming grey?

My valve covers are scratched from all the baffle work.

Thanks in advance

 

[KeithB]

What kind of paint did you use on the baffle?

Baffles are one of the few places on the plane that I added powder coating. I’ve been very pleased with the durability.

 

[David Paule]

Back around '94 or so, I powder-coated the baffles of my Cessna 180. Did it in white for ease of inspections.

* In a couple areas, the powder-coating is peeling off.

* Overall, dirt gets embedded into the paint and won't come off. It looks pretty bad now.

I'd never do that again. For my RV-3B project, I'm leaving the baffles bare aluminum. Might even polish them.

Dave

 

[Ironflight]

Bare aluminum for me. We used high-temp white engine paint on the RV-3 baffles when we built them, and they get dirty with bugs and grease - the bare aluminum on the other planes cleans up easily and its easy to spot issues such as fretting where the baffles slip on each other.

 

[Freemasm]

Rattle can engine paint.

Not saying I’m right, just adding perspective. Baffles tend to see battle scars. Initial installation alone can do a job on them. That is the main reason i chose the rattle can approach. Touch-up is simple, sometimes insitu and no need to match.

Just some thought to cloud the OP’s thoughts.

 

[Scott Hersha]

Me too. I’ve used rattle can high temp paint from auto store for all 4 of my RV builds. Looks great, pretty durable, and easy to touch up if I want.