Paint Her Fire Extinguisher Pink! (or Any Other Color...)

What to give the brave culinary experimenter who has to have everything in pink?

Pink blender? yep.
Pink kitchenware? of course.
Pink bakeware? check.
Pink apron? two of them.
Pink fire suppression device?......

It started out as a joke, and just might be the perfect Valentine's Day gift... (we'll see)

Materials:
Fire Extinguisher
Blue Painter's Tape (or masking tape)
600 grit waterproof sandpaper
Rust-Oleum "Painter's Touch" - #1950 Berry Pink
Rust-Oleum "Painter's Touch" - #1901 Gloss Clear (optional)
Isopropyl alcohol
Rubbing compound
Plastic bags (use hardware store bag from above purchases)
Paper towels

Tools:
Eye protection
Nitrile gloves
Respirator, or Particulate air-filter
Razor, X-Acto, or really sharp knife
Scissors
Bucket

Step 1: Prep School

See that brand spanking new extinguisher?

Mask off the label with the blue tape, use the razor to cut around the corners of the label.

Tape around the safety ring to secure it to the handle. Mask off the nozzle, handle, and gauge assembly.

Cut the 600 grit sandpaper into 4-inch wide strips.

Fill the bucket halfway with water.

Start sanding the exposed areas of the tank. The goal is to level the surface we will be painting, and to give the paint a slight texture to adhere to. The sandpaper loses it's "bite" as the dust clogs it's abrasive surface. Rinse the sandpaper in the bucket to keep it free of paint build up.

Stop sanding when the entire tank feels smooth to the touch. It will have an evenly dull sheen. Make sure you don't leave any glossy spots, as the paint may not stick well to these areas.

Clean the tank using paper towels and alcohol, allow it to dry completely before the next step.

Step 2: Paint by Numbers

Take the plastic bags and cover your bucket or painting stand (I used a folding stool).

Shake the spray paint until it feels like your arm is going to fall off.

Put the gloves, eye protection, and respirator on.

Place the extinguisher on top of the pink spray-can's top.

Spray the tank long even strokes, make sure you get around the bottom edge and around the neck. The first coat should be fairly light, don't try to lay down a thick layer as it will run. Spray two more coats, make sure each coat covers all of the tank.

Let dry a couple hours, or overnight, the paint should be dry for the next step.

Step 3: Wet Work

Fill the Bucket halfway with water again.

Cut your Sandpaper into 4-inch wide strips the length of the paper, drop them in the bucket.

Take the wet sandpaper and sand the tank gently. Rinse the sandpaper frequently, the water will turn pink from the dust. The goal is to smooth out the imperfections in the paint, take care around the label and neck areas of the tank. Be careful not to sand through the paint layer.

Clean the tank again using paper towels and alcohol, use new paper towels until they dont pick up any more pink dust. Allow it to dry completely before the next step.

Step 4: Clearly Impressed

Set the tank back on the paint cap, and on the covered paint stand.

Lightly spray the gloss clear on evenly, make sure to cover the entire tank. Spray on 3 more coats, as the clear dries a lot faster than the color coats.

Allow the clear coat to dry completely. You can skip the next step if the clear dried glossy enough for you. (lucky you)

Step 5: Rub It Right

Gently wet-sand the clear coat, just as you did the pink.

Again, rinse the sandpaper frequently to keep the paper working smoothly.

The sandpaper should have light-gray/white dust, if you see any pink you've gone too far...

Remove the masking tape and clean the tank using paper towels and alcohol.

Polish the tank using rubbing compound and paper towels. Work in 3-4 sections, rub until you can see yourself in the reflection.

Se Fini

Step 6: Bling!

Embellish as desired, google "couture" for what this is supposed to look like :-p

I hope she likes it...

Comments

[dia]

This is amazing. Thanks for the idea! My boyfriends birthday is coming up. He loves fire and plays with it too much. So I think I'll make him a dark gothy fire extinguisher.

[Kringga]

Make your custom extinguisher, but then buy another, unmodified extinguisher and make it easily accessible. That way you also have an extinguisher that meets fire standards.

[ve2vfd]

Well, it's quite cute, but just be aware that *any* modifications to an extinguisher will void it's conformity to any and all standards and fire codes.

It will most probably work fine, but if you have laws, ordinances or insurance requirements for extinguishers, the painted one will not "count".

[Kiteman]

Maybe it would be OK if this was the "spare"? Keep the pink extinguisher handy when cooking a romantic meal for two, but rely on the professionally-installed Halon system for full-scale family meals?

[lemonie]

Can you still get Halon systems? I'd though these were no longer permitted (maybe it's just EU?) due to their ozone-detroying effects. I like the use of 'her' - my dad bought my mum an extinguisher (which WAS used - dry-powder). Always seems to be women who have the most problems with fire... or does it?

[Kiteman]

(Clears throat) Ahem, it was a joke...

BTW, it seems Halon is illegal after all.

[Derin]

HTTP/1.1 404 Object Not Found

[Kiteman]

That link is well over a year old...

[chipster]

This is 100% correct.

[Kiteman]

Nice, but won't your intended take it the wrong way? What must you think of her kitchen skills if you think a fire extinguisher makes a romantic gift? ;-)

[gelstudios]

Story goes, my friend nearly burned her newly built apartment down the first time she used the oven. I noticed the manual (well ashes by then) was still in the oven when I got there. Sworn to secrecy, but don't think this counts :-p

[dia]

That anecdote made my day. Thank you!

[Kiteman]

:-D

[LasVegas]

According to Alton Brown, a Fire Extinguisher is the only Uni-tasker that is required in all kitchens.

[zuixro]

It's not a Uni-Tasker, I'm sure he has used it in at lest one episode for something else... Like an ice crusher... or a meat tenderizer... or.... umm... heavy weight.... I'm almost positive that he's used one for something before. Great instructable.

[davidbacsik]

Nope, he doesn't want to mess it up, which is why it's the ONLY unitasker. It serves one purpose. To put out fires. It's like some modern day fireman in a tank.

[theRIAA]

nice paint job.