Painting aluminum?

[rbl2]

I'm having a new trunk lid for my 26 fabricated out of aluminum. Is there anything I should know or do regarding painting it?

Thanks,

Bill

 

[grumpyvette]

GREAT QUESTION

theres info in the links but the main factors are that aluminum needs to be washed, have the surface slightly textured , to help adhesion ( lightly sanded) pressure washed again with a slightly acidic wash helps at times to etch the surface slightly,and the surface needs to be completely dry before the PRIMER is applied (the yellow/green stuff you see on aircraft interiors frequently) remember even aluminum that looks clean if its been sitting for a couple days has an oxide coating you can,t see that won,t hold paint well.
"Zinc chromate is better on aluminum than zinc oxide, but the surface preparation is critical. The air force and aerospace industry use strontium chromate primers, and it is not likely to be phased out anytime soon. However, chromates are toxic and painters MUST wear the appropriate respirators. Once the primer has been applied the dry coating film is not toxic until or unless it is sanded off at some time in the future."

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sku=278956

http://www.paintcenter.org/rj/jul02k.cfm

http://www.karmy.com/rv9a/reference/Primer%20Wars.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_4494698_prepare ... nting.html

http://exp-aircraft.com/library/alexande/painting.html

http://www.azom.com/news.asp?newsID=6934

http://www.paintcenter.org/rj/may04ii.cfm

http://www.paintcenter.org/rj/jun05k.cfm

http://www.finishing.com/1200-1399/1318.shtml

http://www.paintcenter.org/rj/oct03i.cfm

http://www.macraesbluebook.com/search/p ... de=5443650

http://www.ronjoseph.com/painting-aluminum.htm

http://www.ronjoseph.com/Q&A/B2001_pain ... uminum.htm

http://www.farwestpaint.com/Catalog/INDEX1-1.htm

http://www.experimentalaircraft.info/ar ... rosion.php

http://www.topsecretcoatings.com/aircra ... rimer.html