Fridge Logo

[Blackfeather]

Hi all,

First let me say thanks to Denise for pointing me in the direction of this site. Very impressive indeed. I'll be adding to my bits when I have more time for sure.
Ok....on to my questions. I need help on painting the Pittsburg Steelers logo on a bar fridge door. I've been told to treat the surface as I would a car hood. Only thinner. Metal is metal right? The surface of the door is white and smooth. Does this mean I'll have to use a scotch brite pad to scuff it up a bit to give it some tooth? I'll be using my HP-C and createx paint. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone. Be cool ;)

Blackfeather

[blinddog 99]

Hi Blackfeather, welcome to the board! I look forward to seeing some of your work when you are ready to share.

Yep, sounds like enamel or powder coat, either way, a good even scuff to allow the paint some grip and you should be good to go.....

[josie]

HI Black welcome to the board

[AirDave]

As long as its not one of those new fangled fingerprint and stain retardent surfaces, it should be an oven baked enamel.
Treat it like an automotive finish, or
if you have ever worked with metal Sign blanks or metal License Tag blanks, its the same finish process.
Scuff the surface to remove the gloss and imperfections and create a "tooth" for the paint. Even Acrylic enamels should adhere (like Createx AutoAir) if you don't want to use enamels or urethanes.

Might I suggest, I saw a simple way to deal with fridge doors.
Lay 1"-2" tape around the door (on the face).
Paint your logo.
Reclear the door face.
Leaves a simple border on the door around the clear.
Saves sanding, prepping and clearing more of the fridge.
The bordered clear actually looks pretty cool.
(works for logos, pics within the front door)

[Whit]

Off topic ,,, but,,,
These refridgerators are $$$ in your pocket
when picked up at garage sales,,, etc...
Home game rooms and garages are crying
for custom fridges !!!
Anything from school mascot stuff to a
person's choice of beversge stuff sells !!!
Can pick these lil babies up for $50,,,
paint ,,, name your price !!!
(well,,, may have to negotiate price)
but there is a market there !!!
Now,,, back to the thread !!!

[Blackfeather]

Thank you very much Whit. Oh and btw...nice to meet you :) Actually the fridge I'm painting is for my mother in law's "sports basement". This is the first fridge I've done so I'm not charging her. There are however a lot of sports nuts at work. How much would someone be willing to spend on a custom sports fridge? In your opinion of course. You could even go further and do movie themed ones as well. Music, even television would be great. Thanks again for the comments. Have a great day :)

Blackfeather

[redhouse]

here's a 1957 coldspot fridge that i restored for my shop. i completely stripped it to bare metal. the outside was baked-on enamel but the inside is a hard ceramic coating. you can treat the outside like any other finish and wet sand with 600 grit to get good adhesion. BUT DO NOT TOUCH THE INSIDE. for all intents and purposes it is a basically a kiln fired finish and you'd have just as much luck painting a toilet bowl.

[Pepe Custom]

Cool fridge. I have a late fifties/early sixties fridge that I planning to paint like a giant tiki idol. I will post pics when the time comes.

[waykool]

I have been doing mini bar fridges 4.4 cubic ft. size when done they look great but tought market to sell and make money in here is couple of samples that have been done. I think the idea is great i love it but the trick is getting them marked right and for rite $$$$$$$$$$$$

[Pepe Custom]

I have been doing mini bar fridges 4.4 cubic ft. size when done they look great but tought market to sell and make money in here is couple of samples that have been done. I think the idea is great i love it but the trick is getting them marked right and for rite $$$$$$$$$$$$
Nice. Have you thought about marketing them to car dealers? I could see that in a saleman's office or in a service waiting room, etc.

[colourshift]

I brew my own beer, on occasion...and the place where I get my supplies asked me if I was available to do kegger fridge doors...nothing's come of it yet (seems like something that might be lucrative, judging by what Whit said), I'll nudge em when I get this triumph tank done. (posts to come when I get off my dead a**)
But! Will be painting a 1937 (?) dodge pickup front end (restored, nice and shiny onto my bosses pole barn fridge in the spring (michigan folks, it's nippy here). It'll be all black, red and chrome. I'm geeked. He's geeked. Painted 500 rivets on faux drywall beams to give em an industrial look this past summer, 20 feet up.
I'm excited about doing the fridge though...

Oh, one more meandering thought (sorry, tired this morning and train of thought has long since been derailed)... for those of you who might of attended a Mickey Harris Demo or class...you'll know what I'm talking about...he shows this down and dirty woodgrain technique using AA and a scotchbrite pad, torn edge for more pronounced graining, & a little relief/fake carving embelllishment - then goes on to say that custom painting front entry way doors is going for something like 600-1000. Same technique can be used for refinishing coffins, 10,000. Kitchen cabinets...all sorts of things.