Pretty much anything you can spray or brush on that pot is going to outgas something awful and probably be toxic as well. Not like lead pain, of course, but nasty nonetheless. The high temp black paints are graphite and some binder that sort of tolerates heat - somewhat. Even the very expensive ones made for exhaust headers don't weem to last worth a damn on the outside of my forge, which only gets to maybe 500 degrees.
Fired enamel (porcelain, etc.) is safe, as long as you stick with the colors that don't have heavy metals in their makeup. They're also a pain to fire evenly unless you have a proper enameling kiln with ramp controller. It can be done, though. Probably not worth the hassle, in my opinion, but I'm lazy. I'd just shine it up, blue it with heat or acid, then rub it with cooking oil and let it be.
Pretty much anything you can
Pretty much anything you can spray or brush on that pot is going to outgas something awful and probably be toxic as well. Not like lead pain, of course, but nasty nonetheless. The high temp black paints are graphite and some binder that sort of tolerates heat - somewhat. Even the very expensive ones made for exhaust headers don't weem to last worth a damn on the outside of my forge, which only gets to maybe 500 degrees.
Fired enamel (porcelain, etc.) is safe, as long as you stick with the colors that don't have heavy metals in their makeup. They're also a pain to fire evenly unless you have a proper enameling kiln with ramp controller. It can be done, though. Probably not worth the hassle, in my opinion, but I'm lazy. I'd just shine it up, blue it with heat or acid, then rub it with cooking oil and let it be.