Paint for aluminium

[kentishvanman]

Looking for a paint for aluminium, preferably aerosol. Any suggestions please?
Alternatively can one use a paint for aluminium and then put an oil or acrylic or water  based paint over the top so as to obtain the colour required.
Thanks

[Mocki]

I’m not sure but i think you need a etch primer before painting aluminium , as with all painting, prep is the important bit

[kentishvanman]

I’m not sure but i think you need a etch primer before painting aluminium , as with all painting, prep is the important bit

I am hoping Combi Colour will work  'cos it has a range of colours and according to the web site it has built in primer. Have emailed Rustoleum to ask them. Going to clean with thinners and then rub down with fine abrasive; the aluminium not me.

[Rosie n' Jim]

I my youth I used to work at an aircraft respray company. After paint striping, the aluminium was scrubbed clean with an acid wash and fine wire wool. Then after drying and masking, sprayed with an acid etch primer. This was a very watery green coat that gave the surface a green hue. Then a standard two pack primer, no rubbing down between. Put whatever you like on top of that.

[kentishvanman]

Thanks for that.
I have obtained some etch[ing] primer and will use Hammerite over that. Experiments proving ok.
CombiColor do a larger range of colours but expensive. Black/white etc. available in small tins,and cheaper. All other colours too larger tin for my needs

[t25adict]

worth doing a test on something ally first, not so much for the primer. More for the hammarite on top. I've found hammarite can sometimes reactivate primers that may not work with it.  I sure hammarite will have a technical page on their website.

[Rosie n' Jim]

I realise you can't buy it in a  aerosol, but if you can use two pack primer, it will not be affected by any paint type. Alternatively, put the top coat on in several thin layers with several mi utes between each. This will reduce the likely hood of the thinners desolving the primer.

[ZsZ]

You can find aerosol 1K etch/wash primer in autobody paint ranges. Like HB Body has a yellow tinted one for sure. I used it, works fine. Not sure if yoz can buy it in the UK

Roller applicable 2k is more common in boat coating, there are a lot of choices

[cobblers]

Hammerite is not a good paint for any application. It seems to have gained a good reputation over the years, but the formulation has changed since it's "glory days" and it is now just a strange, poorly performing paint that isn't compatible with most traditional automotive paints and primers. It's best avoided.

Aluminium forms a very hard oxide on it quite quickly (hence why it doesn't rust) but this hard oxide makes paint adhesion poor. You need an acid etch primer - it'll chemically etch into the surface, "roughing it up" on a microscopic level. You only need a very thin coat of this, then you can use whatever top coat you prefer.