Ok to spray paint on cables?

[amfisted]

Afternoon all

The power cables in my garage are tied to the metal supports for the asbestos roof panels. Roof replacement is in the offing, but not imminent because the panels are in good shape. Those metal roof supports are rusting and I feel inclined to spray them with a "directly onto rust" paint such as Hammerite to limit deterioration until I can afford replacement.

Just wondering whether the insulation of the cables ( modern PVC, perhaps 10 years old) is likely to be damaged by the paint, or whether I can leave them in situ when spraying? It would be an onerous task to remove them before spraying, though not impossible.

Thanks in advance

 

[amfisted]

I’ve just read somewhere else that oil based paints can damage PVC cable sheathing, so I’ll remove the cables from the roof supports before I paint. Unless, that is I can buy water-based “direct to rust” spray paint.

 

[flameport]

The paint isn't a problem but the solvents used in spray paint might be. Some of them will damage PVC.

 

[blup]

Mask them off

 

[jj4091]

Unless, that is I can buy water-based “direct to rust” spray paint.

A google search throws up plenty of them. Not sure it will even stick to cables

 

[Tigercubrider]

I’d mask, move them away, plus take care.

 

[JohnD]

Hammerite has a very aggressive solvent and is not suitable.

It's not even very good for rust protection because rust can grow under the paint film. It is very arduous to apply.

If you can't be bothered with a wire brush, treat with Kurust and either a metal preservative primer, or red oxide which is cheaper. Ordinary household gloss paint will then protect them.

Cables should not be painted anyway. I have seen them go brittle or sticky.

 

[amfisted]

Mask them off

Tricky because they’re cable-tied along the mid line of the metal brackets that I want to paint. Only solution appears to be removal, sadly.

 

[amfisted]

Hammerite has a very aggressive solvent and is not suitable.

It's not even very good for rust protection because rust can grow under the paint film. It is very arduous to apply.

If you can't be bothered with a wire brush, treat with Kurust and either a metal preservative primer, or red oxide which is cheaper. Ordinary household gloss paint will then protect them.

Cables should not be painted anyway. I have seen them go brittle or sticky.

Again, thanks. It’s becoming horrifyingly clear that the cables will have to come off before painting. A rust converter will do if Hammerite isn’t suitable.

 

[SUNRAY]

Again, thanks. It’s becoming horrifyingly clear that the cables will have to come off before painting.

I would.

A rust converter will do if Hammerite isn’t suitable.

I've never been aware of Hammerite on PVC cables so no idea if if it's a problem however I know of a situation where μPVC facia board was damaged with Hammerite. I don't know the actual process/timings but roof bolts were used and painted, some time after being painted the μPVC had shrunk, stretching the bolt holes to the point the heads went through. The areas where the bolts hadn't been painted were still goood.

I've also known of situations where ordinary oil based gloss paint resulted in something being sticky. I've never known of emulsion paint (so I assume other water based paints too) causing a problem but I'll say don't quote me.

 

[morqthana]

Those metal roof supports are rusting

They may be rusty, but rust is a protective coating - are they actually deteriorating, becoming unsound?

 

[amfisted]

They may be rusty, but rust is a protective coating - are they actually deteriorating, becoming unsound?

Rust erodes and weakens the original material. These are roof supports which are carrying a fair bit of weight, and I wouldn't want them to deteriorate further. My original intention was to replace the roof with a modern metal covering, but because of cost I've had to kick that plan down the road. So I want to rustproof the supports now whilst there's still enough sound metal to make them worthy of attention.

Having taken on board the response to my original post, I'm going to unclip the cables from the roof supports, cover the garage contents with dust sheets and wire brush the loose rust away, then treat the metal with a rust inhibitor/ convertor. I'll finish them off in black with an all-surface water based paint.

 

[robinbanks]

rust is a protective coating

Not so much on ferrous materials. Aluminium ones for sure (where we tend to call it oxidation)

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Having taken on board the response to my original post, I'm going to unclip the cables from the roof supports, cover the garage contents with dust sheets and wire brush the loose rust away, then treat the metal with a rust inhibitor/ convertor. I'll finish them off in black with an all-surface water based paint.

An alternative way, you might consider, is to simply paint over the cables, then keep an eye on them for any deterioration in the future. If any then show deterioration, you could replace them. Cable, is not expensive, but it would depend on the number of cables.

 

[robinbanks]

Schools, businesses and homes the length and breadth of the country are stuffed full of wires covered in emulsion paint