Should I paint my KMG?

MeDoctor

MeDoctor

Joined
Dec 8, 2003
Messages
279
I ordered a KMG this week and FedEx is supposed to deliver it Monday. It'll be used in my unheated garage (in Michigan... brrrr!) and I wouldn't want to see it rust. Have any of you painted your KMG's? Is there any reason NOT to? I assume I might want to leave my tool arms unpainted and just keep a light coating of oil or grease on them -- or more likely UltraMate 2800. (It's a lubricant/protectant that I bought a few cans of several years ago. The company that marketed it to consumers is no longer in business, but the product is still used in bulk in the automotive industry. I'm currently trying to find someone who'll sell me a manageable quantity, since I'm down to my last can.)

Thanks,
Mark
 
Personally, I think a little "patina" adds character :) If you're really concerned about rust and too lazy to paint (Like me...not too lazy to BUILD the grinder, but definitely too lazy to paint it), just spray it down with a little WD-40 every now and again. It'll be fine ;)

-d
 
You should paint it, it will keep it looking better,but it must be done the second you take it out of its crate,other wise you can't stop playing withit,getting it mounted grinding some steel,and 3 1/2 years later mine is still not painted.
 
I tape off a few things and painted both of my KMG's, with a nice battleship gray rustolium. Glad i did seeing how the tooling arms are seven shades of rust. If you take the time to paint it you will be happier with your investment down the road and should you want to sell it it will look brand new vs all rusted up.

Oh yea it took all of a afternoon to put 2 nice coats

Spencer
 
Thanks for the quick feedback guys. I think I'll paint it. Unless Pop's gets my belt order to me by Monday I won't have any belts to grind with anyway. I've waited this long for a good grinder, so I can probably manage to wait an extra day or so while the paint cures in my cold garage. I bought the better half a new plasma TV for Christmas to help her get over her feelings about my whole-hog grinder purchase, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't still pitch a fit if I did my paint job in the kitchen! :eek:

Mark
 
SBuzek said:
You should paint it, it will keep it looking better,but it must be done the second you take it out of its crate,other wise you can't stop playing withit,getting it mounted grinding some steel,and 3 1/2 years later mine is still not painted.
Click to expand...

You're right. Once that puppy is assembled and running, I doubt if I'd tear it down again "just" to paint it.

Thanks,
Mark
 
I'm in favor of a good paint job,I went with metallic red with a clear coat.I hate rust!!!
Kmg1.jpg
 
MeDoctor said:
I ordered a KMG this week and FedEx is supposed to deliver it Monday. It'll be used in my unheated garage (in Michigan... brrrr!) and I wouldn't want to see it rust. Have any of you painted your KMG's? Is there any reason NOT to? I assume I might want to leave my tool arms unpainted and just keep a light coating of oil or grease on them -- or more likely UltraMate 2800. (It's a lubricant/protectant that I bought a few cans of several years ago. The company that marketed it to consumers is no longer in business, but the product is still used in bulk in the automotive industry. I'm currently trying to find someone who'll sell me a manageable quantity, since I'm down to my last can.)

Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...

Mark you really should just ship it down here to me. I will take care of it for you . This should put your mind at ease :)

I like what deker said leave it alone !! and congratulations on the new grinder.
 
I was able to find a picture of the evil twins

Spencer

dsc03405ay5.jpg



Most recent with all kinds of attachments

dsc0111oe1.jpg
 
im browning mine

i mean it might take another year or so but if you jsut keep it clean then it will "rust and the patina will protect the finish

BTW mine gets wet when i sharpen knives on it and still have no real problem with bad pitting rust it just seems to like the nice looking brown

and less (knock on wood ) i need to rebuild mine its not coming apart just for paint
 
SAR said:
I was able to find a picture of the evil twins

Spencer
Click to expand...
Evil twins, indeed. I see you've got Michael's MAP arm on both of them. He should be receiving my check and release form today or Monday. I decided to wait until later to get a rotating platen attachment so I could get the MAP arm and stay within my budget.

I stopped at the hardware store on my way home from work and got some primer and a can of dark gray metallic paint.

Mark
 
Paint it!!!

I had to hold off on actually using mine for a few extra days because I took the time to put a nice coat of paint on it... but it was WELL WORTH it.

I painted it with Hammered finish paint... blue for the body and silver for the attachments/tooling arms. My friends that didn't paint theirs, are wishing they had.

I'll take a pic later if I have time.
 
NickWheeler said:
Paint it!!!

I had to hold off on actually using mine for a few extra days because I took the time to put a nice coat of paint on it... but it was WELL WORTH it.

I painted it with Hammered finish paint... blue for the body and silver for the attachments/tooling arms. My friends that didn't paint theirs, are wishing they had.

I'll take a pic later if I have time.
Click to expand...

Hammered finish paint... Let's see, if I drink a few glasses of wine and get hammered, then paint my grinder with the paint I already have, will I get the same effect?:D

Mark
 
I suppose it depends on where one lives and where the grinder is. Spencer living in LA or Nick not far off the Sound are in really humid climates where things are prone to rust.

Here in the Midwest, with my KMG in my basement shop, the only rusting is where water from cooling blades has landed on it and I fail to wipe up after I'm done. Periodically I'll grab an ultrafine scotchbrite pad and rub the few rust spots it gets. Those spots take on that nice rust patina that Butch mentioned, and don't continue rusting. I sorta like that coloration. :)
 
Good point by my friend Fitz...

I honestly don't know how the humidity compares in Michigan... but I assumed it would be somewhat similar to what I have here in Washington.

I have to regress a bit, and say that my friends in southern CA did not paint their's and have no rust. :o
 
When I had my shop in the basement, I didn't bother to paint it. Now that I've moved into a commercial building, I went ahead and painted it because of the chance for rusting. Either way, like has been said, depends on the enviroment it's in.
Scott
 
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