DIY: Refinishing a Bathtub
Modern fiberglass bathtubs should be replaced when they get worn and dull, but a classic old porcelain tub is often worth refinishing. One method is to degloss the porcelain surface with hydrofluoric acid, which allows the application of enamel paint that's specially formulated to refinish porcelain. Talk to your local home improvement store about ordering the right chemicals and equipment. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic tarps
- Masking tape
- Hydrofluoric acid etching compound
- Paintbrush
- Paint sprayer
- Porcelain primer
- Enamel paint for porcelain
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Instructions
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Cover the walls and floor all around the tub with plastic tarps, taping them in place place with masking tape. Tape or remove all fixtures on the tub that aren't porcelain.
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Open the hydrofluoric acid etching solution and brush it over the whole porcelain surface of the tub, using a paintbrush. Let it work for 15 or 20 minutes, then rinse. Let the surface dry overnight.
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Fill your paint sprayer with primer for porcelain. Apply the primer over the surface of the tub in a thin, even coat, spraying from side to side. Don't stop moving the sprayer at any point while it's spraying. Let the primer set for an hour.
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Apply a second coat of primer. Let it dry for another two hours. While it's drying, empty and clean the sprayer.
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Fill the sprayer with enamel paint for porcelain. Apply it in the same manner as you did the primer, in light, thin coats. Spray on four to six coats, letting it dry for two hours between each coat. Let the final coat set for 48 hours before reinstalling the fixtures.
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Tips & Warnings
Use extreme caution when working with hydrofluoric acid, as it is toxic and corrosive. Wear a respirator with facemask, coverall clothing and rubber gloves when working with it, as well as when using the paint sprayer.
