Painting Alum

[kartracer]

Almost finished painting topside now wanting to paint alum door and window frames. The frames are black and want to go back black. Do I have to etch before painting? Is there a better way to apply than a spray can?

 

[gaston]

If you want it to last you must use a etch primer then undercoat before top coat. I find those foam paint brushes do a good job with the etch primer

 

[dhays]

My dock neighbor has an older Bayliner (4588?). He just got back from the yard with new bottom paint, compounded and waxed hull, new canvas over all, AND freshly painted window frames, engine intake vents, and PH doors. It looked really sharp.

 

[bgillroy]

I would use the aluminum anodizing system the aviation guys use worked great on all my aluminum boat trim no need to paint

 

[Nomad Willy]

The Interlux website has lots of good information ....

On how to use their product. I painted an aluminum skiff including anti-foul and it was a lot of work. Old wood boats did'nt look so bad after that. Think it was 9 coats on the bottom.

 

[BruceK]

I repainted frames I think were anodized "silver" aluminum, on a previous boat. I sanded lightly and used etch primer. I may have done 2 primer coats, it does not apply well. Note Gaston`s advice to use a foam brush, conventional brushes don`t work well. I think I even sanded the primer smooth. I applied 2 coats of "silver" single part "epoxy"paint. Not sure how you can have single part epoxy but it was good paint to apply, with an excellent durable finish, very like the original.
Aluminum oxidizes fast, so prime immediately after sanding prep. This may be less of a problem with repainting than with bare metal. Ever seen an alloy Muir windlass cover without large bubbles under the finish? Perhaps prompting the change to a composite cover/case.

 

[FF]

I have had great luck with the Rustoleum aluminum primer.

Most paint primers will not work as a top coat , yet this stuff has been unpainted for 2 years , with no hassle.

It is a water based product that DOES accept an oil finish if desired.

The yellow or green aircraft primers are expensive and harder to work with ,

 

[bgillroy]

For aluminum a better choice is to stop oxidation. Henkel Products...Clean with Alumiprep 33 or Metal prep 79. Then apply Henkel Alodine 1001 coat.