Baby Blake back to bronze - would you paint it?

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GH29

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I'm renovating my Baby Blake and all the pipes are now back to bronze as opposed to the original gloss white. So would you paint it before re-assembling?

And if not, then do you think there would be a 'downside' (other than it not looking like an original)?
 
The white finish is easy to clean and protects the bronze from any discolouring. It is possible that the bronze could discolour with pee and bleach unless you get in there and clean often. They are not the easiest of things to clean plus sea water always dribbled from somewhere on them. However, my experience is from heavily used ones on sail training yacyts. I would have them powder coated for a tough, smooth finish that is easily cleaned.
 
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I have done a similar thing with my own Baby Blake - the old white finish was in a poor condition so I took it off (not every piece). Some of it I left as polished metal, protecting it with several coats of spray-on varnish (polyurethane). Initially it looked great, like something that should have been fitted to (or perhaps made from bits of) a steam engine. The varnish lasted for a while but wasn't very tough and where it got damaged (difficult to spot at first) oxidisation took over quite quickly, especially after the crew kept the thing busy during a longish and somewhat bumpy crossing. I tried repainting parts of it with Hammerite (gloss white) but that wasn't too successful either - some places proved difficult to cover reliably and on others it discoloured (only slightly but a yellowing stain on a toilet gets more attention than it sometimes deserves). One day, when I'm better off and can find a suitable supplier I'll get it powder coated - like BlowingOldBoots, I reckon that's the proper way to go.
 
Thank you for all your helpful comments. I'd certainly prefer not to re-paint it white (and had been considering Hammerite so thanks for the warning kacecar). I thought jerrytug's advice about varnishing was great, but will avoid the spray on version. Looks like an attractive 'cheap & cheerful' option. Also now looking into the powder coat suggestion which is very interesting. Thanks :)
 
Varnish is never going to adhere properly to a polished surface. It'll be very prone to knocks and will then come off in sheets.

Powder coating as mentioned is the best long term solution. Otherwise gloss paint over a good metal primer.
 
http://www.e-techpowdercoating.com/powder_coating_faqs.htm#Whatispowdercoating

Powder is a dry coating. Instead of being dissolved or suspended in a liquid medium, such as solvent or water, powder is applied in a dry granular form. This material is a little finer than ground pepper but coarser than flour, and is applied directly to the surface to be coated. The powder is created by blending the various components (binder, resins, pigments, fillers and additives) and processing them through an extruder into a continuous mass. This homo-genous mass is cooled and broken into small chips, which are then ground into the powder. Each particle contains within it the necessary components for reforming into the finished coating. After the powder is applied to the substrate (Part), typically using an electrostatic spray process, the substrate is place in an oven where it cures, melting the powder into a smooth film on the surface of the substrate.
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Update: I had the pipework sand blasted back to original bronze, then powder coated white. Cost £60.00. Re-assembled with new seals and is looking and working as new :)

WP_000084 (2).jpg
 
nigelmercier said:
How does one go about this?
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Have a look around your locality for firms who do specialist car customisation for boy-racers. They will either do powder coating or know someone who does.
Just the thing for bright green brake calipers and orange wheels.
I had my Lofrans Royal windlass casing done by a firm local to me (Carrick Engineering, Prestwick if anyone wants a lead).
 
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