Painting aluminum

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Explorer 19TV
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Painting aluminum

Post by Explorer 19TV »

Would really like to get some input on painting aluminum and it sticking :doh:

On the scooter I would like to paint all the aluminum such as, lean post, grabrails cooler racks ect. I am fabricating them myself but I have never been successful at making paint stay. Thanks for your help.

I've tried some of the etching primers in the can but haven't had much luck.

Fuzz
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Re: Painting aluminum

Post by Fuzz »

No help with your question but it is good to see you back posting. I was just wondering how you were doing today.

fallguy1000
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Re: Painting aluminum

Post by fallguy1000 »

Explorer 19TV wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:32 pm Would really like to get some input on painting aluminum and it sticking :doh:

On the scooter I would like to paint all the aluminum such as, lean post, grabrails cooler racks ect. I am fabricating them myself but I have never been successful at making paint stay. Thanks for your help.

I've tried some of the etching primers in the can but haven't had much luck.
You need to use an etching primer. I really liked the Interlux program. Vinyl lux...brightside primer..great stuff to use
My boat build is here -------->

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=62495

Larry B
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Re: Painting aluminum

Post by Larry B »

I've had good luck with this:
Moeller Zinc Chromate Primer
I'm only in fresh water but I repainted my pontoon aluminum and used this first and 5 years later it still looks good.
Larry B
Completed: FL14, OD18

fallguy1000
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Re: Painting aluminum

Post by fallguy1000 »

Thin to win as well.
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Noles309
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Re: Painting aluminum

Post by Noles309 »

I work in the sign business and we paint a lot of aluminum.
We sand with 180 grit, etch with this product https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... miprep.php
It is diluted 50/50 in a tank sprayer, sprayed on the surface and scrubbed with a red scuff pad and then rinsed thoroughly. Following that it is primed with etch primer and then painted.https://www.matthewspaint.com/Products/ ... 770SP.aspx
All that said I would powder coat rather than paint. It is more durable.
Last edited by Noles309 on Fri Jul 03, 2020 9:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
Gary
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fallguy1000
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Re: Painting aluminum

Post by fallguy1000 »

Noles309 wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 9:46 am I work in the sign business and we paint a lot of aluminum.
We sand with 180 grit, etch with this product https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... miprep.php
It is diluted 50/50 in a tank sprayer, sprayed on the surface and scrubbed with a red scuff pad and then rinsed thoroughly. Following that it is primed with etch primer and then painted.
All that said I would powder coat rather than paint. It is more durable.
Powder coating is never recommended for any saltwater stuff. Your post on balance is very good.
My boat build is here -------->

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=62495

Noles309
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Re: Painting aluminum

Post by Noles309 »

People say the same about paint. There is no perfect solution and it mostly comes down to surface prep for either system as to how the item withstands the environment.
Gary
GF-16 Completed

fallguy1000
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Re: Painting aluminum

Post by fallguy1000 »

Noles309 wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:01 am People say the same about paint. There is no perfect solution and it mostly comes down to surface prep for either system as to how the item withstands the environment.
Paint is worse.

The best way to treat ally is ACF-50. Also far easier.

I want to do a partial retraction. I was told by numerous people powdercoating was bad, but I recall reading later that is is bad if the prep is not perfect and that it is common to be done poorly under no expectation of saltwater environments.
My boat build is here -------->

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=62495

Noles309
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Re: Painting aluminum

Post by Noles309 »

fallguy1000 wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:14 am
Noles309 wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:01 am People say the same about paint. There is no perfect solution and it mostly comes down to surface prep for either system as to how the item withstands the environment.
Paint is worse.

The best way to treat ally is ACF-50. Also far easier.

I want to do a partial retraction. I was told by numerous people powdercoating was bad, but I recall reading later that is is bad if the prep is not perfect and that it is common to be done poorly under no expectation of saltwater environments.
You can't paint over ACF50. It's great for bare or previously painted aluminum though.
Gary
GF-16 Completed

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