Painting Aluminum

Post by **muskymatt** » Sun May 31, 2009 6:00 pm

I am doing some boat mods and have several pcs of bare aluminum that I am goint to need painting. All the info I get off the internet have a five stage chemical process to paint it....My question is..

Does anyone have any experience with painting aluminum???....Maybe a paint product that they know of that can eliminate this process.

I have had aluminum anodized for work in the recent past but it's $$$$ and would like to avoid it if possible.

Thanks

Post by **Lunker Larry** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:24 am

Hey Matt. 15 years ago I painted the aluminum soffit/facia (sp?) on my house with what was then called Weather Guard from Colour Your World. Not one sign yet of peeling, wear or anything and it's scrubable. I've used the same paint on vinyl also with the same results. It is recommended for those products. The Weather Guard has a new name which I can't recall (Dura Guard or something like that), but the dealer would know. Not sure where you're going to use it or the type of finishes they have but it might be worth checking out.

Post by **esoxseeker** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:12 pm

I painted my boat just before I sold it.

I sanded the boat down to bare aluminum and used a self etching primer, it was recommended to do it. I then painted right over top of the primer. I still see the boat at the ramp and she shows no sign of wear. I have also heard that the aluminum can be treated with a vinegar water solution, but am not sure how it will work as I have never done it.

Post by **zarbat007** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:43 pm

Try Dupont's DTM epoxy primer/sealer.

http://pc.dupont.com/dpc/en/US/html/vis ... _25X0S.pdf

coated with a coat of single stage urethane.