Painting lead?

message from T i m on 09 May 2004

Hi All,

I need to paint a lead keel weight on a RC racing model yacht.

It came with a sort of plastic skin over the lead 'bulb' it but it's
become torn (on some underwater obstruction).

I can either try to prime it with something then apply a couple of
layers of white polyurethane paint or possibly cover it in a skin of
thin fibreglass tissue (to form a sort of independent skin) then fill
/ paint that?

All the best ..

T i m

geoff replied to T i m on 10 May 2004

Why does the OP actually need to paint the keel?

It's underwater and hidden, it doesn't suffer corrosion, it just sits
there out of view

John Stumbles replied to T i m on 9 May 2004

Epoxy paint? or runny (warmed) Araldite followed by ordinary paint?

T i m replied to John Stumbles on 09 May 2004

Hi John and thanks for that ;-)

I'm not sure *if* lead can be painted because of surface oxidization
(or whatever) and hence the idea of a fibreglass (or Araldite) skin?

If I found a suitable lead 'primer' that would let me apply a
conventional spray filler_primer and topcoat etc it just might make it
easier to apply?

If I went along the Araldite track, do you think it would matter if it
was the genuine 24hr stuff or would a generic "5 min epoxy" be ok
(the harder the skin was to form the better) ?

All the best ..

T i m

Coherers replied to T i m on 09 May 2004

Google yields the following on painting lead:

http://www.ehow.com/how_14415_paint-lead-pipework.html

Could be accurate. After all they paint lead soldiers. I'd give a small tin
of a metal paint a whirl, or failing that a specialist marine coating ( some
of which are epoxy-based)

T i m replied to Coherers on 10 May 2004

I'd give a small tin

Sorry, forgot to ref this bit. That's a good idea (especially as it's
sort of a marine use).

Cheers ..

T i m

Ian Stirling replied to Coherers on 10 May 2004

RC model racing yachts tend to be removed from the water rather more
often than full sized ones.

T i m replied to Ian Stirling on 10 May 2004

Good question and good answer!

Also, the class of yacht we race is the "RC Laser" and it's dimensions
/ finish are very strictly inforced. This even extends to 'decoration'
only being in the form of stickers / PVC tape and sails / rigging
being from the one maker etc etc.

The lead bulb was covered in a thick flexible plastic coating possibly
something like the texture and thickness of a plastic football.
Removing the coating (because it was torn) reduces the diameter of
this 'bulb' by about 3mm (in 50 mm overall).

If it was left as is it would have three effects:

1) The surface finish on the lead is not as smooth as that of the
plastic and may have more drag (disadvantage).

2) The reduced diameter will have less drag (advantage, but unable to
determine that it is equal to option 1 )

3) The obvious lead colour would make it stand out like a sore thumb
and I could easily get a 'protest'.

So, to keep within the 'spirit' (more than rules as such) of the class
I would like to make up the size and finish to that 'as supplied' (a
replacement fin / keel is quite expensive)

There's nothing like winning when all the boats are as equal as
possible ;-)

All the best ..

T i m

p.s. My first thought was to provide a 'key' to the lead (suitable
primer). Then to build up the size (filler?). Then a smooth (white)
surface finish.

T i m replied to Coherers on 10 May 2004

Thanks for that. I did Google it but just found stuff on the risks of
lead in paint etc...;-(

It coveres the prep but I'm not sure what to do from this point
though:

7. Paint the pipes with your choice of paint (see Related eHows).

Did you find the related eHow?

All the best ..

T i m

Coherers replied to T i m on 10 May 2004

No, probably never got written...

If it is a small lead keel, I'd try a tin of Humbrol enamel. I've used that
on metal before with success.....

T i m replied to Coherers on 10 May 2004

Doh!

Ok, another idea .. (thanks)

Good thought Geoff. I'm told the lake we normally use is full of fish.
In fact they are rounded up, taken out and counted twice a year!
(True).

I'll have to make sure I don't use any TBF antifouling (or whatever it
was called) then. ;-(

All the best ..

T i m

geoff replied to T i m on 10 May 2004

If it is to be used in water containing wildlife such as fish, are there
not restrictions on the type of paint you can use?

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