Painting raw aluminum

[FLYNCLD]

I tried searching for this, and I don't know if it's just me, but the search function does not function! Anyway as part of our interior restoration, we replaced some of the interior panels with new aluminum. My question is, do we need to do any special preparation such as ruffing or etching the surface before we apply the primer coat to the metal? As always, I look forward to a knowledgeable answer from the forum!

FLYNCLD

[markdoane]

If you were doing the outside, I would recommend you etch and use an aluminum primer, but. . .

Since it's inside, I would try a direct-to-metal tintable acrylic primer such as Devoe "DevFlex PF" You can get it in flat or semigloss. Sure is a lot easier than going through the whole etching process.

Should be available at any dealer who carries ICI & Glidden products.

[bibbs]

I have had best results when i gave the surface a quick sanding and wipe down with prep solvent,just before primeing.

[Crusty]

A mono layer (a layer one atom thick) of aluminum oxide forms on the surface of freshly exposed aluminum at standard temp/pressure in about an hour. The oxide layer is what causes most coatings to fail since the coating is adhered to the oxide layer rather than the metal. Once the aluminum is exposed you have to go into turbo mode to seal it off from the oxygen in the air to stop the oxide formation.

[Jim Foster]

Originally Posted by bibbs

I have had best results when i gave the surface a quick sanding and wipe down with prep solvent,just before priming.

I agree....Why treat aluminum any different than any other metal when it comes to painting. I would sand with 600 wet-or-dry paper, metal prep, prime and paint. If you don't give the metal a "tooth", the primer will not bond. I believe that is why the clear coat on the outside goes away in such a short time.

[FLYNCLD]

Thanks for the tips. I sanded down a test section, used a pre-cleaner and applied the primer (BTW- A special Low-VOC metal primer) with great success. Onward!

[FLYNCLD]

PS- Finally found this link to a previous thread, but only by searching Google, not the Forum. From previous experience the Google search is much more likely to produce results on the Forum than the Forum search is. Am I doing something wrong??!!???


http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...ior-44433.html