Bill Turner wrote:
Does anyone have any suggestions for painting aluminum in a way that
will be tougher and longer-lasting than you get with the usual spray
can?

I have a small compressed air paint sprayer, and I'm wondering if
automotive paint might be good, or perhaps something else? Mainly
interested in black or shades of gray. What is the best primer for
aluminum?

--
Bill, W6WRT

Imeron; used on airplanes and a bit pricey.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove -spam-sux to reply.

Bill,

Best primer is zinc-chromate. There are some other tips and tricks but without
a valid email address I can't go into detail.

73s,

Evan

"Bill Turner" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have any suggestions for painting aluminum in a way that
will be tougher and longer-lasting than you get with the usual spray
can?

I have a small compressed air paint sprayer, and I'm wondering if
automotive paint might be good, or perhaps something else? Mainly
interested in black or shades of gray. What is the best primer for
aluminum?

--
Bill, W6WRT

Take yourself to your nearest general aviation airport (dont bother with a
huge airline terminal airport - its way too damn difficult getting in) -
find a maintenence company, they paint alumnium regularly.

"Roger Conroy" wrote in message
...

"Bill Turner" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have any suggestions for painting aluminum in a way that
will be tougher and longer-lasting than you get with the usual spray
can?


Dip it in ferric chloride for a couple of seconds then rinse with water, it
will then take paint perfectly. DO NOT LEAVE IT IN TOO LONG AND TAKE CARE.
suggest doing this in an open space as it will react much faster than
copper.

"Roger Conroy" wrote in message
...

"Bill Turner" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have any suggestions for painting aluminum in a way that
will be tougher and longer-lasting than you get with the usual spray
can?


Dip it in ferric chloride for a couple of seconds then rinse with water, it
will then take paint perfectly. DO NOT LEAVE IT IN TOO LONG AND TAKE CARE.
suggest doing this in an open space as it will react much faster than
copper.

wrote in :

Imeron; used on airplanes and a bit pricey.


Imron is very special and pricy stuff. It requires a hardener and can frost
up your lungs if you don't use the proper breathing apparatus. In other
words, you die. It costs over $100 a gallon.

I simply cannot believe that anyone would recommend this paint in this
newsgroup for painting a bit of metal. Do you use rocket fuel in your car
as well?

You paint aluminum like any other metal.

It seems that the Internet has invented something that could never have
survived previously - the instant specialist. This person repeats any and
all gossip, rumors and inuendo as if it's fact, with no experience
whatsoever.

donutbandit wrote:
wrote in :

Imeron; used on airplanes and a bit pricey.


Imron is very special and pricy stuff. It requires a hardener and can frost
up your lungs if you don't use the proper breathing apparatus. In other
words, you die. It costs over $100 a gallon.

I said it was pricey.

As for the danger, lots of things related to amateur radio can be dangerous
and can kill you.

Working on a KW amplifier is dangerous and can kill you if you don't know
what you are doing.

Doing just about anything with a tower is dangerous and can kill you if
you don't know what you are doing.

The paint, just like the tower, comes with safety instructions.

If someone is dumb enough to ignore safety instructions, well...

I simply cannot believe that anyone would recommend this paint in this
newsgroup for painting a bit of metal. Do you use rocket fuel in your car
as well?

You paint aluminum like any other metal.

The poster didn't ask HOW to paint aluminum, he asked about tough, long
lasting paint. Imeron is tough, long lasting paint.

It seems that the Internet has invented something that could never have
survived previously - the instant specialist. This person repeats any and
all gossip, rumors and inuendo as if it's fact, with no experience
whatsoever.

What makes you think I have no experience with Imeron?

Isn't it a bit condescending of you to decide what is too expensive or too
dangerous for someone else to use?

I credit the original poster with enough intelligence to make his own
decisions on that.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove -spam-sux to reply.

donutbandit wrote:
wrote in :

Imeron; used on airplanes and a bit pricey.


Imron is very special and pricy stuff. It requires a hardener and can frost
up your lungs if you don't use the proper breathing apparatus. In other
words, you die. It costs over $100 a gallon.

I said it was pricey.

As for the danger, lots of things related to amateur radio can be dangerous
and can kill you.

Working on a KW amplifier is dangerous and can kill you if you don't know
what you are doing.

Doing just about anything with a tower is dangerous and can kill you if
you don't know what you are doing.

The paint, just like the tower, comes with safety instructions.

If someone is dumb enough to ignore safety instructions, well...

I simply cannot believe that anyone would recommend this paint in this
newsgroup for painting a bit of metal. Do you use rocket fuel in your car
as well?

You paint aluminum like any other metal.

The poster didn't ask HOW to paint aluminum, he asked about tough, long
lasting paint. Imeron is tough, long lasting paint.

It seems that the Internet has invented something that could never have
survived previously - the instant specialist. This person repeats any and
all gossip, rumors and inuendo as if it's fact, with no experience
whatsoever.

What makes you think I have no experience with Imeron?

Isn't it a bit condescending of you to decide what is too expensive or too
dangerous for someone else to use?

I credit the original poster with enough intelligence to make his own
decisions on that.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove -spam-sux to reply.

Bill Turner wrote:
Does anyone have any suggestions for painting aluminum in a way that
will be tougher and longer-lasting than you get with the usual spray
can?

I have a small compressed air paint sprayer, and I'm wondering if
automotive paint might be good, or perhaps something else? Mainly
interested in black or shades of gray. What is the best primer for
aluminum?

--
Bill, W6WRT

Imeron; used on airplanes and a bit pricey.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove -spam-sux to reply.

Bill,

Best primer is zinc-chromate. There are some other tips and tricks but without
a valid email address I can't go into detail.

73s,

Evan