Rust-Oleum Spray Paint

I'm just wondering if this spray paint is fuel and oil proof so I can spray some on my one airplane. I also got a spray bottle of rust-oleum clear to spray over the color.

Some of the guys in our club have tried it.It's not really fuel proof but with mild fuel and the exhaust and tank areas not spraying right on the finish, it is useable. Seems to be kind of an enamel base. It's nice to apply from those spray cans. Probably a bit heavy for wings, though.

A couple of coats of past wax helps too.

I'd avoid it with anything over 5% nitro.

Please see previous posts for lots of Rustoleum info.

My input on your two questions: yes, the Rustoleum enamel solid colors (not the metallics, don't know yet about the fluorescents) are very fuel resistant even to 35% nitro; and no, the clear enamel is not even close to fuel resistant. Also, when I tried the Rustoleum clear lacquer it turned to a gummy mess even in 10% fuel. If you try any non-traditional paints, please report your findings here!

Does anyone have any results on clear urethane or polyurethane? I mean the brushable kind in the can normally used on furniture and house projects?

I have never tried brushing the poly on a large area. Although, I have done small repairs and used the brush. I normally spray Chroma-clear by DuPont over any brand of spray can paint, even water colors, with good results.
Lee TGD

LAST EDITED ON Dec-09-04 AT 09:09 PM (CST)
 
The solid colors are as close to fuel proof as possible from a can. I have used the solid colors on twenty plus airplanes and have never seen the fuel affect the paint. Pretty tuff paint but you have to heat the can to thin the paint to make it spray better and to keep the weight down.

The metallics and the clear use a different formulation to keep the yellowing down. This is what ruins the fuel proofness.

I'll add to the question with another question. Can Rustoleum colors be covered over with clear dope once they're cured? Seem like that would really fuel proof the finish.
Glen

From what I've been reading on this forum, clear dope really isn't THAT fuelproof. Color Rustoleum is more fuel proof than dope.

>I'll add to the question with another question. Can
>Rustoleum colors be covered over with clear dope once
>they're cured? Seem like that would really fuel proof the
>finish.
>Glen

Short answer is no. You can put almost anything over dope, but not the other way around. My experience has been that the Rust-o color really doesn't need clear. It will even rub out pretty well if you let it dry a looooong time.

Go to the store that sold you the Rustoleum or X-O-Rust (same product with a different brand name, sold in True Value Hardware stores) and see if they will shake the spray cans in their shaker for gallons. This really mixes the paint and allows better coverage with the same can. I also "warm" some water and sit the can in the "warm" water for about ten minutes prior to shooting and the paints applies better to your surface, thus adding less weight and giving a better coverage.

>I'll add to the question with another question. Can
>Rustoleum colors be covered over with clear dope once
>they're cured? Seem like that would really fuel proof the
>finish.
>Glen

I know first hand that Clear Dope over Rustoleum will completely ruin the finish. Dope will cause the Rustoleum to bubble up. I tried a Silk Dope repair job on my previously Rustoleum painted MagNoblaSter Franken ship, and it fried the underlying Rustoleum. Ended up tearing all the old Silk off the wings, opting for a re-cover with MonoKote.

Varathane Diamond Wood Finish, Gloss Clear in spray can(item 200081) or cans(item 2300-31) is a water-based polurethane type finish. About as fuel proof as Rustoleum Gloss Protective enamel. It is much more fuel proof than Min-Wax Polycrylic, which has always gotten gummy for me, even just from exhaust fumes.

Of course, with all these consumer finishes, test before you commit to using it on a big project. They sometimes literally change the formula by the day.

Thanks Phil. I started spraying LustreKote clear on a plane and remembered why I hated it so much.

>I'm just wondering if this spray paint is fuel and oil proof
>so I can spray some on my one airplane. I also got a spray
>bottle of rust-oleum clear to spray over the color.

I would also guard against using the clear. My one try with it didn't do well. The solid colors have been ok once they cured.
Funny thing is, the paint didn't adhere at all to a ship covered with econocoat.
Bill <><

Here are my AkroMaster and Super Clown both done in Rustoleum. I fly with 5% and have had no problems.