Paint and aluminium

Try Acid Etch #8

I found this after using two-part isocyante etch primer very cautiously for a number of small jobs on the RR. I got fed up with the mixing and having to use it out of doors with the target panel downwind!

Many years ago I saw an Ad. in the AWDC magazine for a substance that was claiming to convert the aluminium corrosion into something harder. But I couldn't find it when I wanted it and the publishers couldn't find it either.

Richard

Have you had a look at Steve's website

he'sthe paint guru nice bloke too.I got some etch from machine mart which is claimed to work on ally tho' I haven't tried it so far. Derek

International do an etch primer for aluminium. The surface must be abraded, degreased and rinsed prior to application.

As with all paint ;)

Stephen.

I've found Bondaprimer very good. White corrosion must be removed for best results - much as above. Universal in application works on ally, steel, GRP etc..

the the absence of a Bondaglass-Voss site)

Their address is

158 Ravenscroft Road Beckenham Kent BR3 4TW

Phone 0208 1778 0071

Bondaglass Primer is the mutt's nuts. Light years better than any other red oxide I have ever used.

Richard

Well, I toured round some likely places this afternoon looking for Bondaglass, but failed.

On the way home we passed a Halfords, so, in desperation, I popped in and found U-POL acid etch No 8 primer on the shelf, as well as some Finnegans "Special Metals Primer". I bought both and will experiment.

In my internet travels, I happened on the "Rustoleum" website, and saw that they advise not to use solvents when preparing rusty steel, but to wash it with soapy water. Apparently, with a solvent one is likely to spread a very thin oil film from the surrounding area to the decaying metal surface, and this may affect the rust proofing. Interesting in that it all seems contrary to what I've ever done.

Bill wrote: Apparently, with a solvent one is likely to

We do steel prep wth Flash Liquid !

Steve

What do you do on aluminium?

Clean it, etch it, prime it, paint it, scratch and dent it, start over.

Not just me then!

On a related note, where can i buy a spraycan of etching stuff?

I only want to spray my LR badge so really dont want to have to mix up some proper 2 part stuff in the compressor just for that! (and i'd rather just etch it rather than build it up with etch primer and loose the texture)

I've found this from frosts:

but it seems quite pricey.

Any other ideas for suppliers? Do halfords sell etch stuff?

How about a quick wash with aluminium cleaner*, dry it off and get a coat of ordinary paint on before it oxidises?

*eg

hmm. tis a bit cheaper isnt it. Reckon the paint will stick well enough over a surface etched like that?

It has done in the past for me - the main thing being to get it dried and painted pronto before any oxidation of the surface starts again.

On a related note ;-), I want to keep some aluminium visible (not painted). What should I cover it with?

Fred

Amazingly enough Paintmasters sell etch primer. or failing that a bodyshop ( I got my last tin from Morecambe ) google "Acid 8" or "U-POL Etch Primer" or

fleabay cheap as chipsDerek

I've never found anything that really works on vehicles - a layer of clear lacquer gets stone chips in it and look worse then doing nothing. Polishing regularly is the best answer I have found, and Blue Magic metal polish is the easiest I've found to date.

Halfrauds

Steve