Cylinder Black

Any decent enamel paint will do fine. So will Dulux oil-based gloss black in fact. Beware aerosol cylinder black. Looks wrong and doesn't last.

BBQ paint

All a matter of opinion. I use aerosol stove black ( from the wood-stove shop), a couple of coats, about 1/2 hour apart, gives an even satin black finish with excellent heat dispersal properties (as it was designed for). Use the wrong black gloss and it will bubble with the heat. John.

If you can afford it and there are suitable workshops nearby (lucky for me there are!) get it gritblasted (or whatever medium you prefer) and stove enamelled. Norman White has had twin cylinders done at my local shop so he must think it's worth the 40odd mile journey here. Cheers, Lionel.

One tiny caveat with stove enamelling (which is of course the proper way) - some enamellers really get a good (read excessive) coat of enamel on the barrels and then you wonder why your engine overheats... Hmm.

The first time I visited Trestan Finishers, near where live, there was a very shiny blackNorton twin barrel waiting to be picked up. When I asked,they said Norman used them for stove enamelling. Until then I had no idea that stoving was an option for barrels. I use the same engineering company herecommended in Winchester for rebores etc. They also faced down my radiussed cam followers and made them nice and flat! The 'usual suspects', often mentioned in the forums, said they wouldn't do it.

I'll just chuck some alcohol in to keep the "Cool Runnings". Do you reckon 60% ABV would be useful? (Ask no questions and I'll tell no lies! )

Back in the old days I used cylinder black but, like all paints, it relies on getting a perfectly rust & grease-free, clean surface if it's going to last for more than 5 minutes. Now I know that it really means getting it blasted.

Cheers, Lionel

Previously wrote:

Can anyone give me advice on painting a cast iron cylinder in durable black?The machine is a 1956 Dominator 99.

Thanks,

Tony

Granville cylinder black or PVH hight temperature spray paint clean all surface area well before use , your ajd

I have had cylinders blasted and powder coated with good results.