Painting copper pipes

[curiousorange]

What is the best way to paint copper central-heating pipes please? Does it make any difference if they are indoors or outdoors? Thanks.

 

[joe-90]

What are you doing with central heating pipes outside? I bet you are the guy responsible for global warming.

 

[Nige F]

NOT with emulsion paint

 

[Robbie uk]

Bare copper should be painted first with calcium Plumbate, this is an etch primer. Then undercoat and gloss to follows. This will stop the pipes going green.

 

[curiousorange]

A plumber told me that you just put gloss paint on the bare metal. Was that wrong? Thanks.

 

[joe-90]

He wasn't wrong but it tends to scratch easily - hence the etch primer.