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I have three cast iron radiators I’m soon going to paint them and want some finish ideas. Two of them have new fittings installed by a plumber so they can easily be removed and painted in a separate area.

I’d like to hear some ideas for available color finishes.
From what I’ve read, the high-heat paint (example: Rustoleum) is the type to use. I’ve used this paint before in both the spray and the can…it is very thin paint made to leave a thin paint film for maximum transmission of heat.

The Rustoleum I’ve seen only comes in three colors: white, almond, metallic. The metallic color is a bit uninspired…it just looks like the blah aluminum paint you see on most repainted radiators.
Are there any other products or finishes out there that have some more character? The radiators themselves are sort of interesting and certainly can be made to be more so with the right paint treatment.
Some sort of patina’d cast iron look, or pewter, or slightly weathered bronze…or perhaps something with color? I recall reading Farrow and Ball literature that their paint is acceptable for use on radiators.
Ideas? Pics?

One last question: a heat riser I did a year back is starting to rust through the metallic paint. I used a grinder with a wire wheel and sand paper on that riser to strip it down to bare metal (took time and made a mess). Finished it before it oxidized with Rustoleum high heat metallic paint. Another riser finished in similar fashion is doing fine.

Thanks.