Painting a Sink- What kind of paint?
 

After using a lot of caustic fluids to get a bad clog out, the paint on my sink has worn off. Instead of buying a whole new sink, I'd like to paint it. I don't know which type of paint I'd need to use. It would need to be able to tolerate heavy water and soap use. I've never done anything like this before, but I figure the TFP is the perfect place to ask. Please help. Thank You.

What kind of material is the sink made of? Was it a metal sink with a porcelain coat? If it was, there is a kit at Home Depot that you can use to reporcelain the sink. If your looking to repaint, look into a producted called por-15. It is a polyurathane paint that cures harder when in contact moisture. I would read up on it to see if it can be used in a potable water situation. Search for it on Google.

Hope this helps

Enjoy

Psycoman

The apartment I lived at during the summer had a sink that was repainted. Quite ghetto as the paint was all chipped off on the bottom, and it was disgusting and rusted in those spots. The concept of painting a sink baffles me. Just get a metal one!

It would have to be enamel, I think.

It's a typical bathroom sink. Looks link cement under the paint. I'm not going to put my dime into a metal one. What am I supposed to do, take it with me when I move?

Cement sink? That is one way to keep people from running off with it, make heavy as hell!!!

The POR-15 should work. It will bond to metal, wood, cement. I love the stuff.

Enjoy,

Psycoman

Bathroom sinks come in a few typical varieties. The cheapest is enameled steel, but that wouldn't look like cement from the underside, and the same can be said for fiberglass and solid surfacing. Cultured marble looks like cement from the underside, but their color is typically through and through, unless it is the ultra cheapo gel-coated variety. It wouldn't be vitreous china,so that leaves porcelain on cast iron, which has a very rough texture to the underside. Knock it with your knuckle-if it's cast iron, you'll note the weight and density, and probably curse at me if you've split your knuckle. There are repair kits for chipped porcelain, but they usually don't last really well. Some companies will chemically etch the sink and recoat it to whatever color you want. I've used those guys when doing a bathroom remodel with a new commode and sink when I want the tub to match without the expense and hassle of a tear-out. For DIY-go to your local professional paint store (MAB, Benjamin-Moore, Pratt & Lambert) and ask the paint guy what he recommends. Perhaps a catylized epoxy would be easy enough for you to use and sufficiently durable.

marine paint would also work