Well, I picked up my 2 Honda 750CB's this weekend and they are a bit rough, but the price was good and I think in the end I can make one bike out of them.
My question is about rattle can paint jobs....I am just looking for down and dirty flat green and black that is easy to touch up, so wonder if there is anyway to paint the aluminum or alloy rims and hubs and get the paint to stick to it. ??
if you use a decent quality primer first,..the cheap paint will still stick to it,..I rattle canned mine, over the gel coat with a simple caot of primer first, 3 seasons later I'm still planning a real paint job,..good luck, crawf.
They make rattle can primer for Alum and it's important to use it or as you have seen it will flak off, the primer has a mild acid in it that etches the serface and lets the primer adhere to the alum which is what you need if the paint is going to stick.
Scrinch, I have used the "self-etching" primer on the shaft/foot of an aluminum outboard motor with acceptable results.
Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox
Ditto - I used the self etching primer on chrome and then painted it a semi gloss black. Worked fine.
If you got the money . it is a good time to buy stock in self etching primer. I will be using quite a lot of it between the rusting chrome and aluminum.
As I recall:
Acid solvents etch ferrous metals and alkali based solvents etch aluminum.
For the best results different based primers are used for either metal.
Lonnie
Originally written by Hack'n on 3/10/2009 11:59 AM
RE: Painting aluminum
Zinc Chromate is a recognized undercoat for aluminum. It retards
the corrosion factor of aluminum and is used on aircraft skins.
Per Concho:
"Zinc Chromate is a recognized undercoat for aluminum. It retards
the corrosion factor of aluminum and is used on aircraft skins."
That's right, and Inorganic zinc coatings are used on steel.
The main point is to use a primer designed for the type of metal involved. One type doesn't fit all applications.
Surface preparation is the most important step, then the proper primer and topcoating system follow for a lasting finish.
Lonnie
Amen to surface prep. 80 to 90 percent of the job is in the prep. I used to spray boats, wood, fiberglass, steel and aluminum and they all take a different primer. We used Awlgrip paint and all of their primers. A bit expensive, but what a great job. And then there is clear coating. Won't go there.
Uber
Thanks for the advice. As my dad used to say, Any job worth doing is worth doing right. so I will make sure I get it prepped well.
At first I thought I would just mask stuff and give it a quick paint job , but now I am into tearing the whole bike down anyway so might as well do her up right.
Had exactly same requirement to paint aluminum last summer. Went to local town airport's aircraft supply shop; picked up spray can of zinc-based primer for aluminum[was NOT zinc chromate; EPA or local authorities have banned use of this formula]. TTFN.....Old Tom in NH
