Prepping and coating aluminium

[Razorbill RIBs]

As per the above.....will be removing the ali frame and the engine vent covers etc (all aluminium) from the pacific as they need stripping and repainting.....

The a frame has had a plastic coating which will need removing.....

I am guessing....bead blast the aluminium to remove all paint etc??....then??

Do i use an etch prinmer and then a hand paint OR get it sprayed or powder coated????

Any advice on what works well /will be most robust appreciated.....

Thanks

[diverbert]

Hi,
Just talked about it with my father and some freinds, because i think i will build my own (avon like) self righting Frame.
Freind of mine (who's welding the frame) said sandblast it and powdercoat it. My father (had something to do with Aluminium in the past (hydraulics) he had an etch primer but said that wouldnt work. (said so on the tin but he treid it as you can never know were dutch)

So i think powdercoating is best. we have here on our Searider club a few members with powdercoated frames and all holding up perfectly.

reg.
bert

[martini]

Another vote here for Powdercoating, you don't want something that will chip too easily as that will trap water in there and cause the White fluffy stuff.

Bead blasting will give the perfect key but if the frame has got old Powdercoating on it then the blaster will hate your guts as it's a pig to get off!

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by martini

Another vote here for Powdercoating

Yep...just make sure that the powder coat is onto a clean, well prepared surface and that the coverage is 100%. I've seen powder coating in the past that has been thin or pin-holed on tight radii, crevices or over weld spatter.

[nugent]

fyi
even powder coatring ali it must have a coat of zinc chromate to ensure good adhesion, if not one chip and before you know it it will be peeling away in big flakes

[Lux_wales]

Personal preference for ali, bead blast followed by 'sea jet epoxy bonding primer 017' for aluminium and a nice coat of jotun polyurethane topcoat 'hard top xp'.

[captnjack]

Bead blast sure but skip the paint altogether and let it age gracefully with the sea and the spray...