Painting aluminum chassis

[Eddy Swynar]

Hi Terry...

I've had the best of luck by adhering (no pun intended!) to the following
steps:

1) Thoroughly scuff-sand the surface to be painted with a palm sander;

2) "Wash" the surface with mineral spirits/turpentine & a cloth---let it dry
thoroughly;

3) Spray prime it with galvanized metal primer---NO OTHER KIND!!! (two light
coats, to prevent runs);

4) After it has air-dried (overnight), bake the assembly in a conventional
oven for 30-45 minutes at about 225 degress F., and,

5) Apply the final coat in two light layers. Let air dry (overnight), then
bake it for 30-45 minutes at 22 degrees F.

That's it!

You'll get a tough, durable finish that WON'T flake off with your finger
nails (NOTE: The key to success in all this is the primer: ordinary metal
primary will NOT do! You MUST use special primer designed for
aluminum/galvanized metal).

Good luck!

~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ






----- Original Message -----
From: "Terry Perdue" <k8tp at HOME.COM>
To: <HEATH at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV>
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 12:31 AM
Subject: Painting aluminum chassis


Sorry for being a bit off-topic, but I'm sure someone here will have an
answer, which could benefit a number of us homebrewers and restorers.

I've been having trouble getting satisfactory results with painting bare
aluminum panels and chassis, and would appreciate advice on surface
preparation, priming (if necessary), and specific products. Years ago when I
lived in the midwest, I used to use a brand of paint that I found at a
department store chain there (don't recall the brand), and had perfect
results every time. Surface prep involved roughing up with sandpaper, and
washing with soap and water. There was a gray primer, which I followed with
the final coat. I remember putting the piece in the oven at lowest temp to
bake the paint on, but the instructions didn't say to, and it probably
wasn't necessary. The paint job was always beautiful, and very durable.

That was many years ago, and I don't live in the midwest anymore. Lately, I
can't seem to get anything to stick well enough that I can't easily scrape
it off with my fingernail after it's dry. I've tried several brands, and
even tried a zinc chromate primer spray, only to find that even it doesn't
adhere.

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Just before starting this post, I
tried a can of black 'stove and barbeque' paint that I happened to have.
It's just been a few minutes, and It's already dry and sticking fine. It's
too dull a black, but scratching with my fingernail just makes a shiny
mark - at least it doesn't come scrape off. Can I assume this would be a
good primer then?

I know there are lots of homebrewers on this reflector, and someone must
know how to get a good paint job.

Thanks for any help.

Terry Perdue

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