Rust-Oleum Specialty Paints and Coatings

Rust-Oleum Specialty is the line for jobs regular paint can't do: refinishing appliances and bathtubs, painting metal that gets hot, turning a wall into a chalkboard, dry erase board or magnet board, frosting glass, and making things glow, reflect light or stand out under a black light. Each product does one job, so the table below shows which can fits which project. Everything on this page comes from Rust-Oleum's product pages and safety data sheets. Orders of $35 or more ship free.

Which Rust-Oleum Specialty product do I need?

Project Product What Rust-Oleum says
Refinish a refrigerator, dishwasher or washer Appliance Epoxy Spray, White Gloss, Black Gloss or Stainless Steel, 12 oz Ultra-hard, moisture-resistant, washable finish for the outside of indoor metal appliances. Lightly sand glossy surfaces first. Not for appliance interiors, stovetops or surfaces that stay underwater.
Fix a small chip or scratch on an appliance Appliance Touch-Up Paint, White Gloss, 0.6 oz Touch-up size from the Appliance line for small chips and scratches.
Refinish a bathtub, sink or tile walls Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit, White, Quart Epoxy-acrylic coating for ceramic, porcelain, fiberglass, cast iron, steel and some acrylic tubs, shower walls, backsplashes and sinks. Indoor only. Brush, roll or spray, applied in one day; let it cure 3 days before it gets wet. Walls and tubs only, not tile floors.
Grills, wood stoves, fire pits, engine parts High Heat Spray, Silver, 12 oz; High Heat Ultra, Black Semi-Gloss or Aged Copper Semi-Gloss, 12 oz Both are rated to 1200°F (648°C) on the outside of hot metal; most Rust-Oleum paints handle about 200°F. High Heat air dries satin and heat cures flat. High Heat Ultra is a semi-gloss rust-preventive enamel that keeps its color and sheen after repeated heating. No primer needed. Not for areas directly in the flame, like the inside of a grill, fireplace or oven.
A chalkboard wall, door or sign Chalkboard Spray, Black, 11 oz; Chalkboard Brush Paint, Black or Green, 30 oz Turns metal, wood, masonry, drywall, plaster, glass, concrete, unglazed ceramic or hardboard into a chalkboard. Indoor only. Roll the brush paint on with a foam roller, and after it cures, rub chalk over the whole surface and erase before first use.
A dry erase wall or memo board Dry Erase Paint Kit, White Gloss Smooth, hard gloss finish you write on with any dry erase marker and wipe clean. Indoor drywall, wood, cement and metal. Rust-Oleum suggests a white primer base coat first.
A magnetic wall for notes and photos Magnetic Primer, Dark Gray, Quart Base coat that holds basic magnets on wood, metal, masonry, drywall and plaster. Indoor only. Mix well, apply several light coats, test magnetism between coats and let dry 3 days. Leave it as is or top coat with latex paint or Chalkboard Paint.
Privacy or etched-look glass Frosted Glass Spray, 11 oz Semi-transparent frosted coating for glass and mirrors, for privacy or decoration; use stencils for a custom-etched look. Indoor only; spray the inside face of windows and glass doors.
Paint plastic chairs, planters or mailboxes Plastic Primer Spray, 12 oz Primer that gets plastic ready for any Rust-Oleum top coat. For polypropylene, polystyrene, resin, PVC, fiberglass and vinyl. Some polyethylene items, like storage bins, may not hold paint well, so test a hidden spot first.
Glow in the dark decor and markings Glow in the Dark Spray, 10 oz Green glow after charging in light; Rust-Oleum says the spray glows up to 2 to 4 hours. Wood, metal, drywall and plastic, indoors or out (reapply outdoors from time to time). Spray over a white or light-colored base.
Night visibility on mailboxes, gates and posts Reflective Finish Spray, Clear, 10 oz Semi-transparent coating that lights up when headlights or direct light hit it. Metal, wood, plastic, concrete or masonry, indoor or outdoor. Several light coats, shaking every 15 seconds.
Safety markings, signs and black-light projects Fluorescent Spray, Green, 11 oz High-visibility color that glows under UV black light. Indoor or outdoor; weather-durable over flat white primer, and brightest over a flat white coat. Apply in several light layers.
Camouflage on stands, gear, sheds and boats Camouflage 2X Spray, 12 oz Non-reflective ultra-flat finish for camo patterns on metal, wood, plaster or masonry, indoor or outdoor; lasts longest over primer. Leaves and twigs work as stencils.
Bright silver on frames, candleholders and decor Metallic Spray, Silver, 11 oz Made with real metal leafing flakes for a bright, reflective finish on wood, metal, plaster, masonry or unglazed ceramic. Indoor only. Use a Rust-Oleum primer first, and don't put a clear coat over it, which dulls the shine.

Before you start

Most of these go on in several light coats rather than one heavy one. Prime first where Rust-Oleum calls for it: plastic gets Plastic Primer, and glow, fluorescent and dry erase paints look best over a white base. The spray cans are extremely flammable aerosols, so work with good airflow away from flames and sparks.

Shop related: all Rust-Oleum paint and coatings, Rust-Oleum Stops Rust, Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch, spray paint and art finishes, and metallic and specialty finishes.

FAQ

Can I paint my refrigerator or dishwasher?

Yes, the outside of it. Rust-Oleum Appliance Epoxy is made for refrigerators, dishwashers, laundry machines and other indoor metal surfaces. Lightly sand glossy spots first. It is not for appliance interiors, stovetops or anything that sits in water.

Can I refinish a bathtub myself?

Yes. The Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit works on ceramic, porcelain, fiberglass, cast iron, steel and some acrylic tubs, sinks and tile walls. Follow the cleaning and sanding steps on the package, apply in one day, and wait 3 days before using the tub. Don't use it on tile floors.

How hot can High Heat paint get?

Rust-Oleum rates High Heat and High Heat Ultra to 1200°F (648°C) on the outside of grills, stoves, fire pits and engine parts. Neither is for surfaces in direct flame, such as the inside of a grill, fireplace or oven.

Glow in the dark, reflective or fluorescent: what's the difference?

Glow in the Dark stores light and glows green on its own in the dark. Reflective Finish shines back when headlights or another light hits it. Fluorescent is a bright color that pops in daylight and glows under a UV black light.

Can I put chalkboard paint over magnetic primer?

Yes. Rust-Oleum says Magnetic Primer can be top coated with any latex paint or Chalkboard Paint. Let the primer dry 3 days first.

Can I return these?

Spray cans are flammable aerosols and can't be returned under our refund policy, so check the product before you order. If an item arrives damaged, defective or wrong, email Store@projectweekenddiy.com with photos and we will make it right. Orders of $35 or more ship free.

Sources: Rust-Oleum Specialty product pages (Appliance Epoxy, Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit, High Heat, High Heat Ultra, Chalkboard, Dry Erase, Magnetic Primer, Frosted Glass, Plastic Primer, Glow in the Dark, Reflective Finish, Fluorescent, Camouflage 2X, Metallic), read Nov 3, 2026; Rust-Oleum SDS for items 7716830, 203000, 342600, 7881830, 7886830, 7887830, 279175, 301438, 241140, 209460, 342417, 214944, 241169 and 241232.

20 Products

Build the full project cart

Use this collection to choose the core product, then add the prep, applicators, cleanup, and finish supplies from Weekend Project Carts. For a common starting point, open the Paint Cabinets Project Cart, or read the Project Guides.

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