Painting Aluminum

[quackaddict1]

Hey guys, a question for you all. I recently picked up a 1974 Grumman sport boat, its in decent shape (I have repaired a few rivets, and need to put a transom in it) but the paint sucks, I have spent most of the last couple days grinding it off with a flap disk on a grinder. Now that I am getting close to paint, what is the best way to go about getting good adhesion to bare aluminum?

What presteps do I need to prep everything after im done grinding? The inside of the hull has no paint, will a regular car wash soap get the scum off of it?

What kind of primer is best for this application? I have had very mixed results with etch primer from a rattle can, will a two part epoxy primer be better? Im not afraid to spend some cash on paint and primer, I just want the stuff to stick.

I am also planning on putting a bedliner kit in the bottom of it, where it will see the most abuse, I have done this on another boat and am very happy with it, I will then paint over that to match.

Any comments you guys have are appreciated.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Painting Aluminum

Hey guys, a question for you all. I recently picked up a 1974 Grumman sport boat, its in decent shape (I have repaired a few rivets, and need to put a transom in it) but the paint sucks, I have spent most of the last couple days grinding it off with a flap disk on a grinder. Now that I am getting close to paint, what is the best way to go about getting good adhesion to bare aluminum?

What presteps do I need to prep everything after im done grinding? The inside of the hull has no paint, will a regular car wash soap get the scum off of it?

What kind of primer is best for this application? I have had very mixed results with etch primer from a rattle can, will a two part epoxy primer be better? Im not afraid to spend some cash on paint and primer, I just want the stuff to stick.

I am also planning on putting a bedliner kit in the bottom of it, where it will see the most abuse, I have done this on another boat and am very happy with it, I will then paint over that to match.

Any comments you guys have are appreciated.

you need to use a zinc chromate on bare aluminum.

on my starcraft, i just hit the whole boat with 220, then spot primed and rolled on the paint. mine is in no way professional, whole paint job cost me $20 for supplies (got the paint free).

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Painting Aluminum

Welcome Aboard..

Zinc Chromate is a self etching primer that would be best..
RickAirmed has a great paint job going..
Take a look at North Beach's amazing paint job on his tin can as well..
AndyinNY just turned and burned his in a month and looks fantastic as well..

I didnt have to prime mine..old paint was decent enough, just scuffed it with a sanding sponge and rolled on rustoleum.

Glad the bedliner product worked, but it is heavy, hot and if you ever have to acess a rivet in case of a leak..it will be a major PITA..

Others smarter than me will chime in with their opinions as well

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Painting Aluminum

OK one more from the Strcraft club . I agree with the above you need Zinc on an aluminum hull . I used the pro brand in rattle cans from Napa ( TECnique Zincrom primer ) . You dont want a heavy coat of Zinc just a nice light coat you should still be ble to see through it after its applied it will just be tinted by the Zinc. I am going overboard on my paint job ( for a cheap Rustoleum ) paintjob . You can see my boat in the link at the bottom of my post theres decent pictures of my recent progress in the last few pages. Kev and Andy also have links to their Resto's and Northbeaches is in the Completed forum just below this one . Andy used Interlux ( the lucky bastage got it free ) Kev and I are the rustoleum crew .



Rick