Q: I live in Huntington Beach and would like to have my oven knobs painted red, but I want to keep the lettering (temp, high, low, etc.). Is that possible?
A: I think red oven knobs would be a groovy addition to anyone’s kitchen. Accomplishing this while maintaining the lettering will take some precision work.
Let’s talk about the coating first. Oven knobs will no doubt get splashed with food products and condiments, so a tough coating is requisite. The knobs will require regular cleaning to ensure their spiffiness for your guests to admire. Hence, a powder with excellent chemical resistance is mandatory. I suggest either a polyurethane or an appliance-quality hybrid. A garden-variety polyester just won’t do.
The surface of your knobs must be perfectly clean before powder application, so I would recommend a thorough scouring with a reasonably strong solvent. Acetone is a very good choice. You’ll want to ensure that there is no residual grease or dirt on the surface. Make sure the solvent has completely evaporated before applying the powder.
As for maintaining the graphics on the knobs, this will require some precision masking with an appropriate tape. Two grades are commonly used: silicone based and polyimide based. I would use the polyimide type because it has higher heat resistance than the silicone types. The tape will have to be surgically sliced to the width of your lettering – no simple task. This will take patience and a steady hand. Make sure that the tape is completely adhered before proceeding to the powder application step.
I would apply the powder and then gel it in the oven. This will take about 5-7 minutes at the recommended cure temperature. Remove the knobs from the oven, let them cool and then carefully detach the masking tape. You probably want to use a hobbyist knife to accomplish this.
After the tape is removed, pop the knobs back into the oven and cure them fully per the powder manufacturer’s recommendation. The reason for pulling the tape after the powder has gelled, but not cured, is because a fully cured powder will bridge and encapsulate the tape, making it impossible to remove. If you remove the tape while the powder is still in its powder state, on the other hand, the powder will fall back onto the graphics and negate the function of the masking.