painting aluminum correclty

[RENEGADE76254]

i work at a metal fab shop and we do mostly sheetmetal and diamond tread aluminum. the only thing is aluminum is not made 2 be painted, so we never paint it. but i have a extremely oxidized alumin tool chest for my truck and am painting it black. i have dissassmebled the latches and cleaned and lubricated them. i put paint stripper on the chest 2 remove the fiberglass ressin on it (it was preciously used to store fiberglassing equipment at a local company) and next i was gonna go over it good with some fine grit steel wool. then spray it with self etching primer. and lastly paint it black. i will be added some mounts to it for various stuff in the future but thats no biggy. my question is am i doin this right, i did lots of reasearch on painting aluminum and i was told by sherwin williams and a few autoparts stores that this is the best way since i dont have a compressed air spray gun only rattle-cans. all input is appreciated.
thanks in advacne.

[Bear]

Sounds like a good plan! But you need to make sure and use a stripper that will address the oxidation as well. You can also use a medium grit steel wool prior to the fine grit, in the same fashion you would if you were using sand paper on a surface.

also for a harder finish, use a clear coat as your final layer.

You should be able to find an automotive type paint outlet that will actually put automotive type paint in rattle cans for you. I used to do that all the time. If you find such a source you should be able to get a really good etching primer as well, instead of that normal B.S type of rattle can primer which would not be the best for your purposes.

go back to your sherman Williams store, they should be able to tell you which paint outlets will provide that service for you. They are out there, you just have to look for them.

[RENEGADE76254]

well its just a toolbox, im not tryin 2 have a show truck. i got some rattlecan stuff etch primer for like 10 bucks at napa made by same ppl sherwin williams gets there rattle can stuff from, i just would 2 have had 2 buy a case from sherwin. only needed 1 so i with napa. medium grit what do u mean exactly like what grade of wool or what # value on sandpaper?

[ShowStop]

I use etching primer for most things I paint and it works awesome as a base coat. Usually two coats of etching primer and two coats of paint to do the job. All rattle can stuff.

[Bear]

you have fine, medium and coarse grades of steel wool, much like you have various grits of sand paper.

[tacotoby]

I used a dewalt buffer w/ buffer pad to scuff the aluminum steering box I put on my boat, and painted w/ rattle cans. It'll get scratched, sure...just finish off the can of paint and good as new again.

[rojodiablo]

Use zinc chromate primer. It is found at boat stores. It is the primer for outboard motors. Then, use a good spray paint. Try the Stuff meant for the boats. It is tougher than the Rustoleum, and years better than Krylon. They have boat US, or Boater's world in the Carolinas. For sure, one in Hatteras. Good luck. That is the best primer for aluminum I have ever used.

[Ditrut]

zinc chromate primer is a self etching primer. as for sandpaper, i would hit it with a 4 or 500 grit. you'll see no scratch marks at all then.

[rojodiablo]

zinc chromate primer is a self etching primer. as for sandpaper, i would hit it with a 4 or 500 grit. you'll see no scratch marks at all then.
Thank you for that info. I was always told it reacted to the aluminum to attach better, but never got any good insight as to why it was better. All I know, is that it works tons better than most primers for alum.

[RENEGADE76254]

have cleaned it all up. hope 2 paint tomorrow after work (get off at lunch) and hopefully can post a good report on how it went. thanks for all advice so far.

[TacoDell]

have cleaned it all up. hope 2 paint tomorrow after work (get off at lunch) and hopefully can post a good report on how it went. thanks for all advice so far.


Check your PM's... :)

[RENEGADE76254]

hey guys, got off work, i wire brushed it down, some steel wool on it 2, then a good wash of laguer thinner. the box looked promising by then. 2 coats of the self itch primer, the can was empty by then so i tossed it, came in and grabed a drank. went back out and put 1st layer of paint on, oooo its so purddy. i a fixin 2 grab the digi and snap some pics after the next coat, just inside checkin email and stuff and figured i'd post up an update. be back in about 30-40 mins with some purddy pictures 4 yall.

[RENEGADE76254]

heres the pics....

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/101stWinters/51e5584c.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/101stWinters/1dc71fd8.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/101stWinters/38214898.jpg