Ok to spray paint on cables?

[Harry Bloomfield]

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

He wasn't suggesting the use of emulsion paint!

 

[robinbanks]

Hah, no.. but I was!

Spray a test batch or on an offcut of cable. I think it highly likely nothing bad will happen; if you dug into it you’d probably find that the aerosol nozzle / stem of the spray can is also PVC, which would be a poor thing to make a nozzle from if the paint attacked it

Spray from afar and use plenty of coats. Sidebar, the last spray I used was water based too

 

[amfisted]

Hah, no.. but I was!

Spray a test batch or on an offcut of cable. I think it highly likely nothing bad will happen; if you dug into it you’d probably find that the aerosol nozzle / stem of the spray can is also PVC, which would be a poor thing to make a nozzle from if the paint attacked it

Spray from afar and use plenty of coats. Sidebar, the last spray I used was water based too

Thanks, but if I’m going to the trouble of putting down dust sheets then wire brushing and applying rust inhibitor/ converter to the metal roof supports, then the least I can do is finish off with paint substantial enough to protect the metal from the kind of atmospheric conditions you tend to find in a draughty, 1960s sectional concrete garage.

 

[robinbanks]

Hammerite may be used on plastic drainpipes:

https://media.firstfence.co.uk/products/64a7e08761f4ad76d1127da5/docs/9a4a77e9-cbe2-4aea-b94d-4c666067c114.pdf

T&E sheathing is the same kind of plastic

 

[amfisted]

Hammerite may be used on plastic drainpipes:

https://media.firstfence.co.uk/products/64a7e08761f4ad76d1127da5/docs/9a4a77e9-cbe2-4aea-b94d-4c666067c114.pdf

T&E sheathing is the same kind of plastic

Thanks once more, but I remain convinced that demounting of the cables before treating and painting the metal roof supports is the best way forward in the circumstances.

 

[JohnD]

Hammerite may be used on plastic drainpipes:

https://media.firstfence.co.uk/products/64a7e08761f4ad76d1127da5/docs/9a4a77e9-cbe2-4aea-b94d-4c666067c114.pdf

T&E sheathing is the same kind of plastic

No, it contains contains plasticisers.

Drainpipes are Upvc.

The trouble with cables is when they harden and crack, or sometimes go soggy.

They can do it just from being in contact with other materials such as expanded polystyrene.

 

[foxhole]

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

I would question your inclination , you are creating a potential problem while doing nothing would seem the best option.
Steel roof supports will last years even with rust .

 

[amfisted]

I would question your inclination , you are creating a potential problem while doing nothing would seem the best option.
Steel roof supports will last years even with rust .

Yes, I get that. The job will be onerous because of the need to either move or put dust sheets over a fair amount of stuff, and it could be wasted time and effort if we do get the roof replaced in the next couple of years. Food for thought which I’ll take on board.

 

[@tlan]

"metal supports for the asbestos roof panels "
Wouldn't advise spraying anywhere near asbestos as the pressure is liable to disturb the lying asbestos fibres into the air.
Asbestos is better left undisturbed until complete removal. It is a silent killer.
Would be bettter painting the trusses when the sheeting has been professionally removed and properly disposed of.

@tlan.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Yes, I get that. The job will be onerous because of the need to either move or put dust sheets over a fair amount of stuff, and it could be wasted time and effort if we do get the roof replaced in the next couple of years. Food for thought which I’ll take on board.

I agree with Foxhole, you are wasting your time and effort unnecessarily, on a none problem. Unless the steel is continually subjected to wet, then the surface rust, will not become worse. Every garage I have seen, which uses steel roof supports, has had some surface rusting of the steel.

 

[amfisted]

"metal supports for the asbestos roof panels "
Wouldn't advise spraying anywhere near asbestos as the pressure is liable to disturb the lying asbestos fibres into the air.
Asbestos is better left undisturbed until complete removal. It is a silent killer.
Would be bettter painting the trusses when the sheeting has been professionally removed and properly disposed of.

@tlan.

I won’t be using spray, but instead applying a multi surface paint with a brush. But thanks anyhow for the heads-up.

 

[amfisted]

I agree with Foxhole, you are wasting your time and effort unnecessarily, on a none problem. Unless the steel is continually subjected to wet, then the surface rust, will not become worse. Every garage I have seen, which uses steel roof supports, has had some surface rusting of the steel.

Again thanks, but I’ve decided to proceed with the job. It’s an itch I’ve wanted to scratch ever since we moved here 4 years ago and I’ve just ( carefully, with all the necessary protection) wire brushed the surface rust from 6 of the roof supports and painted them with rust converter. Another 6 supports to go, then paint the lot, job done and move on to another itch.

 

[Wayners]

I painted a phone cable and it melted around 2000.
Solvent paint.
It took me a day to replace it.
Made me nervous to do that again.

I think cables should be in trunking. Paint that if you want

 

[amfisted]

I painted a phone cable and it melted around 2000.
Solvent paint.
It took me a day to replace it.
Made me nervous to do that again.

I think cables should be in trunking. Paint that if you want

When we moved into this bungalow the cables were attached to the garage roof supports with short pieces of twisted wire. I called an electrician in to sort out a number of jobs, and he secured the cables to the roof supports with cable ties. I assume that he knew what he was doing, so I'm happy to continue with that arrangement, but thanks for your response anyhow.

 

[morqthana]

Hammerite may be used on plastic drainpipes:

https://media.firstfence.co.uk/products/64a7e08761f4ad76d1127da5/docs/9a4a77e9-cbe2-4aea-b94d-4c666067c114.pdf

T&E sheathing is the same kind of plastic

No - it's plasticised.