Black grate polish on a bare metal fireplace

Possom

I had been thinking of using the product linked-to below on a bare metal iron fireplace.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hotspot-Stove-Grate-Polish-170gm/dp/B001J9EGOC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421349586&sr=8-1&keywords=hotspot+stove+polish

However, I read in the customer reviews that "This product doesn't cover bare metal".

I don't know how accurate this is.

Would anyone here have an opinion on using this type of product on a bare-metal fireplace? Or care to suggest the use of some other product? Thanks!

savemoney

I use that on my stove but its not bare metal. I dont think it ever replaces paint just enhances it. What about stove paint?

Possom

Here someone appears to have stripped an iron fireplace back, then simply coated it in black grate polish (similar product to the one I linked-to).

http://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/restoring-an-original-cast-iron-fireplace/

I'll have a look for stove paint.

savemoney

Looks lovely. I do like using it takes some time but you get a lovely silver black finish as you have shown

I do notice though that occasional when I wipe stove I get some of the black grate polish off, it might be okay for a fireplace you dont use.

Possom

I'm thinking what I could possibly do is use a polish, such as the one I originally linked-to, on the bare metal first.

That is, in order to try it out and see what the result is like. If ok, then I can keep that.

If I don't like that, then I could try an aerosol spray of stove paint over this.

rustyboy21

When you are saying bare metal, do you mean it is a pewter looking colour?


If so, the cast insert is a fully polished one, which means it has been ground down with wire brushes at high speed, to create a polished finish.


No amount of Zebo/Zip/Cast iron polish will cover it up, to become black again.


The only thing you could do, is to spray paint it black with a High Temperature stove paint, after getting every single speck of grease off it. You would then do a couple of coats of the Zebo polish and buff it up with a shoe brush.


Believe me, you will be putting case loads of zebo on it, if you don't do as I have said above. I know, I sell them !

Possom

rustyboy21 wrote: »

When you are saying bare metal, do you mean it is a pewter looking colour?

I suppose it's something like this.

It's an iron fireplace, probably 100 years old.

rustyboy21 wrote: »

If so, the cast insert is a fully polished one, which means it has been ground down with wire brushes at high speed, to create a polished finish.

Could this be the case with a fireplace of about 100/110 years old?

rustyboy21

Yes it is feasible that the cast insert was fully polished even back then.


Does it look like this sort of colour?


http://www.direct-fireplaces.com/cast-iron-fire-surrounds-and-inserts/cast-iron-combinations-fireplaces/edwardian-cast-iron-combination-from-the-gallery-collection/150.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAiuOlBRCU-8D6idaPz_UBEiQAzTagNIGENH1tfpyuTQWVFjFx2n8528D22mQufFewHe5A0SMaAsBP8P8HAQ


If so, it is known as fully polished, so you would need to spray it first and then use zebo/hotspot cast iron polish on it to give a good finish.


If it is this sort of colours


http://www.direct-fireplaces.com/cast-iron-fire-surrounds-and-inserts/cast-iron-combinations-fireplaces/Amsterdam-Cast-Iron-Combination,-from-Gallery-Fireplaces/147.html


Then it is known as 1/2 polished and you would need to spray over it still to get an overall good finish.


Just take into account, that the cast iron polish is not too different to kiwi shoe polish. If you put black shoe polish on a brown pair of shoes to try and make them black, then they would end up a purple colour, as the base colour will always show through. Giving it a good base coat, would make it a lot easier than polish upon polish (about 30 times) lol

Possom

rustyboy21 wrote: »

Yes it is feasible that the cast insert was fully polished even back then.


Does it look like this sort of colour?


http://www.direct-fireplaces.com/cast-iron-fire-surrounds-and-inserts/cast-iron-combinations-fireplaces/edwardian-cast-iron-combination-from-the-gallery-collection/150.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAiuOlBRCU-8D6idaPz_UBEiQAzTagNIGENH1tfpyuTQWVFjFx2n8528D22mQufFewHe5A0SMaAsBP8P8HAQ


If so, it is known as fully polished, so you would need to spray it first and then use zebo/hotspot cast iron polish on it to give a good finish.


If it is this sort of colours


http://www.direct-fireplaces.com/cast-iron-fire-surrounds-and-inserts/cast-iron-combinations-fireplaces/Amsterdam-Cast-Iron-Combination,-from-Gallery-Fireplaces/147.html


Then it is known as 1/2 polished and you would need to spray over it still to get an overall good finish.


Just take into account, that the cast iron polish is not too different to kiwi shoe polish. If you put black shoe polish on a brown pair of shoes to try and make them black, then they would end up a purple colour, as the base colour will always show through. Giving it a good base coat, would make it a lot easier than polish upon polish (about 30 times) lol

It's definitely not as shiney as the first one.

So I suppose it's more like the second one, though the colour isn't as dark as the second one pictured. The colour is a lighter grey, like the highlighted parts of the second one.

Possom

rustyboy21, do you have any recommendations on which particular type of black paint to use?

I imagine an aerosol would be better since it would avoid brush marks in the finish.

rustyboy21

You need something like a High Temperature stove paint, matt black, like Stovax, Hot spot etc.


You will need to ensure that there is a good key for it to stick to the metal, otherwise it will start peeling off. Use a good cleaner which will take any oil residue, dirt, grease off it and mask around the surrounding area, to stop overspray/misting.


You may need to give it 2 coats, then leave it to dry a few days. Then you should be able to use something like Zebo ( one of the first makes and still good). Put it on with a stiff shoe brush, leave it a few hours, then buff it up with a soft shoe brush. Do this to the whole cast iron insert and it will really look its part.


Any corrosion on the cast can easily be cleared with fine wire wool. you could use this to clear any grease residue too, with the cleaner you are using.


Just be careful with the cast iron polish, it is not dangerous, but you will end up with it on your fingers. Don't do what one fitter did and go to the loo for a No 1 and ended up with black smudges where they shouldn't be ! lol It takes a fair bit of scrubbing to get it off your fingers, never mind anywhere else ! lol I suggest using some of these....


http://www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Marigold-Gloves-Extra-Life-Large/17441011?gclid=Cj0KEQiAreilBRDzrNfb6uqX4fwBEiQAk-MRY7q1KI03cdMo-cFmXNtCGqTVMVvS0eTQQ92KRuNsIhEaAoRi8P8HAQ&kpid=17441011