Modding painting a BIX²

hello,

what paint I must use to paint de outside of a BIX² raditor ?

 

Any kind of automotive paint will be fine, as long as it's in a can form, also make sure you get some primer too.

 

and if I repaint de radiator, will the performences be deferent ?

 

I think paint adds a layer of insulation between the copper/aluminium and therefor limits the heat exchange. The more insulation you have, the warmer the copper/aluminium remains, and the less it cools.

NOTE: I have no proof about this, but logic tells me this

 

but there must be special paint for it !? How can they doing that in the beginning

 

I too think it will affect the heat exchange, but if you can find 'thermally conductive paint' it wont be an issue.

 

Just don't paint the fins if you want to keep normal performance.
Painting the outside isn't a problem.

 

If you add any sort of insulating layer to the radiator, it will affect performance; painting the fins will inhibit the transfer of energy from the metal of the radiator to the air. As mentioned above, you will have to use thermally conductive paint or just not paint the fins.

I believe that it's anodised initially rather than painted - the oxide layer deposited by the process has similar conductivity to the metal itself. I reckon that you could probably have it anodised again if you removed the existing deposits, but that's probably a lot more trouble than it's worth.

 

that's what I want ! Only the outside

 

Thats fine. Just use Masking tape to stop the fins being painted.

 

Originaly they are either, electrostackly painted or powder coated. Painting the fins will change the heat exchange properties, because it does add a little coat of paint and may block some fins up, but thats if your really spraying a lot of paint. Just make shure you lightly sand the surface you want to paint, and use light coats near the fins, (only one coat should do it there). You will be fine

 

If you just don't want to risk it, don't paint it at all

 

If you could find some acid that won't damage the aluminum or copper you could probably burn the paint off. It would be cool just to paint the shroud so do it.