Letter 21894

Stainless Steel Paint for White Refrigerator?

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I would like to refinish an almost new white refrigerator with a stainless steel paint.

Can anyone recommend a stainless steel paint for this purpose?

The stainless steel coating must blend with new cooktop, dishwasher, etc. Please advise.

Thanks,

Charlotte M [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Alpine, California, USA

I don't think it would be acceptable. It might pass if you only wanted a stainless steel look on something that wasn't in the presence of the real thing. I bet an object with a stainless steel paint job would not look good with the real McCoy sitting next to it.

David P [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- North Canton, OH

Charlotte,

I wanted to try the same thing. Did it work for you?

Lisa S [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- NJ

Hey, just got done painting my side by side white refrigerator stainless steel. Only painted the front because this is the only part that's showing. Used Krylon Metallic Leafing and Smoke Gray mixed, painted with a very good brush, which gave it a real stainless look. Gave it two coats. I have a stainless steel range that's not right beside the refrigerator and I think they both look great. I would recommend it highly, especially if they aren't side by side. Good luck with your painting.

Paula B [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Johnstown, PA

I would like to know if I can make my almond fridge look stainless steel? What kind of paint should I use????

Thanks

David L [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
Teacher - Starkville, Mississippi, U.S.

There is at least one brand of real Stainless Steel Paint [link is to product info at Amazon], made with type 316 stainless steel. But whether this offers an aesthetic look or is strictly functional, I don't know. If anyone has tried it, or if anyone besides Paula has tried anything else, please update us.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, NJ

Is it possible to refinish older existing double oven doors with stainless steel coating rather than buy entirely new ovens? My ovens are fine, I just want to match them with the rest of my kitchen appliances.

Barbra R [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
homeowner - Redding, CA, U.S.

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Ed. note: Suggestion from Paula above, etc., may or may not be appropriate for the higher temperatures involved in ovens.

Paula:

How does this paint job stand up to cleaning?

Thanks,

Caroline [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Seattle

I'd like to know, from those of you who have refinished their refrigerators with stainless steel paint, how it is holding up. We are considering tackling this job, but don't want to proceed if it is just a temporary fix. How exactly did you do it? Thanks!

Kelly S [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

I tried the stainless film but it won't stick on "pebbly" finished appliances like most fridges are nowadays. What's the next suggestion?

I,too, want a brushable appliance paint (in black) as our kitchen is upstairs. It's too difficult to get it downstairs to paint in the garage.

Thanks,

Elaine B [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Lago Vista, TX

I am also interested in painting an old fridge with a stainless steel look and just wanted to pass on some info: Rust-Oleum makes a spray paint strictly for appliances, which comes in several colors (including stainless steel). I haven't tried it yet, but will update on the results when I do. The paint is called Appliance Epoxy and the stainless steel color is #7887.

Hope this helps!

Michelle F [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

I just purchased the Rustoleum stainless steel appliance paint (which was extremely difficult to get in my area. Who knew?) I am getting ready to paint my white dishwasher that has a plastic control panel which I am going to apply a plastic primer to before painting with the appliance paint. I was wondering if anyone had success using the Rustoleum appliance paint in their projects? I would appreciate any info or tips.

Jeannie H [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Yorba Linda, CA, USA

Well, here is my follow-up. Over the weekend we painted our white dishwasher with the Rustoleum #7887 stainless steel appliance paint. My advice- Don't!!! It turned out with a very matte, dull finish nothing like the stainless steel fridge that I was trying to match. The color of the painted dishwasher appeared to be much darker than the real stainless, almost like a graphite color. Consequently, we have decided to purchase a new stainless steel dishwasher because the look was just too hodge podge.

Jeannie H [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Yorba Linda, CA, USA

Question about the stainless steel appliance paint (Rustoleum 7887)...I have a fridge with a textured beige surface, and I think the matte finish would be best for that...did your fridge have a smooth finish? Thanks

Jon E [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Catonsville, MD

Jon,
It was actually a dishwasher we painted and the top panel was a textured plastic and the bottom was a smooth metal. The paint job came out good on both surfaces as long as you are not looking for a shiny metal finish. I would recommend doing many coats some diagonally, horizontally and vertically and do it in a very ventilated area. The paint smell can be pretty overwhelming. Also go on the Rustoleum web site because the guy in the tech department (I think his name is John) is fantastic. They have an 800 number for tech support. Good luck.

Jeannie H [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Yorba Linda, CA

I work for Thomas's Kitchen Art. We have manufactured a stainless steel paint for kitchen appliances.

KATHY REID
THOMAS' KITCHEN ART - ST. LOUIS, MO, USA

No comments on whether the stove paint job turned out. Would the heat make that impossible?

Eric P [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
Teacher - Milwaukee, WI

My washer and dryer is next to my kitchen. The first thing you see when coming in to my house. White washer and almond dryer. I would love to paint them to match in stainless steel.

Rena M [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- Lorain, Ohio

What about gluing on some pretty fabric or vinyl or something? Or a laminated poster? I just want to make my white freezer fit in with my new kitchen full of stainless steel appliances. (They don't make freezers this size in stainless steel.)

I haven't been able to find the Krylon Paint mentioned, and some of the other faux stainless steel products don't seem to turn out very well.

Barbara Andrews
- Toledo, OH, USA

I have an almond color textured-finish fridge (top freezer, 28 cu ft), but I'd like to paint it black. If you've had success with this, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd please let me know product and process information. And I would welcome information about things that did NOT work! I'm really quite handy (for a single older woman :-) but I just don't have the funds for a new fridge. Besides, my fridge is great.... except for the color. I have a garage so ventilation or 'dust' won't be a problem.

Thnx!
Maggie

Maggie Hofford
hobbyist - homeowner - Aurora, CO, USA

Hello All,
I am currently re-modeling my kitchen and I am interested in finding stainless steel panels or film for my refrigerator. I find panels for dishwashers but not for the fridge.

Please help!

Thanks.

Doing it all by myself in Brooklyn, NY

Aurora Sanchez
homeowner - Brooklyn, NY, USA

I am also trying to find the right paint to make my white fridge look stainless steel. The front of the fridge has ridges or small bumps. I am buying new stainless steel stove and dishwasher. They will not be next to each other. Any suggestions????

Ethel Wiley
hobbyist - Shamong, New Jersey

I've just found a company called frigo that sells stainless steel panels to fit to appliances. Home Depot told me about them. Find them on www.frigodesign.com. A full panel for a big fridge side is about $299, and you can get half-panels (either half-height or half-depth) if only part is exposed.

They look good to me.

C J Kuhl
- San Diego, CA

After reading responses to whether to paint or film an appliance in stainless steel, I feared painting/spraying would not result in the natural shiny finish of stainless. So, I called a local fabrication business.
They made a stainless panel for my dishwasher that looks beautiful - not only does it fit perfectly, but it installed in minutes and is also shiny. Well, it's stainless! I can't recall the guage of steel is but it was less expensive than spray paint or film. I am very pleased with the result.

Jean Younker
- Houston, Texas

To Jean from Houston.... I would be interested in the name of the fabricator that made the dishwasher panel for you. That is exactly what I need!

Marcella Ferguson
- Houston, TX

Here are the possibilities that I found for Stainless Steel paint products. Some are spray and some are roll on.

www.liquidstainlesssteel.com
www.steel-it.com

Marcella Ferguson
- Houston, TX

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