# Paint (or what else) for stenciling fuel cans?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-or-what-else-for-stenciling-fuel-cans/485203>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 10, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-or-what-else-for-stenciling-fuel-cans/485203 "2009-02-10T13:07:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-or-what-else-for-stenciling-fuel-cans/485203/1 "2009-02-10T13:07:49Z")

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What kind of paint would be good for labeling cans for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, using stencils? Or, maybe it shouldn’t be paint?

It’s important that it work neatly with stencils and that it resist being dissolved by fuel spills. The cans are painted steel

I was figuring on using a good brand of spray paint, like Rustoleum. Is there anything better for this?

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-or-what-else-for-stenciling-fuel-cans/485203/2 "2009-02-10T13:46:48Z")

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In the USA it’s customary that cans for the fuels you mention be painted the following colors:  
Gasoline-RED  
Kerosene-BLUE  
Diesel Fuel-YELLOW

So no labels are needed. 😃

The plastic cans sold for the purpose are molded in the appropriate colors.

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**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-or-what-else-for-stenciling-fuel-cans/485203/3 "2009-02-10T14:13:33Z")

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You’d want some type of enamel paint I’d say.

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**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-or-what-else-for-stenciling-fuel-cans/485203/4 "2009-02-10T14:53:19Z")

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FYI, [Harbor Freight sells stencils.](http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=stencil)

Personally, I’d clean the surface well, scuff with 320 grit and then brush on Rustoleum.