Painting aluminium is really easy.

Posted by Mark Kelly (M) on October 3, 2005 at 18:56:31

In Reply to: Best way to finish an aluminum chassis? posted by tommytube on October 3, 2005 at 09:55:18:

This methods works and lasts forever.

Get some good quality laminating epoxy - the sort used for fibreglassing. Don't use vinyl ester, it must be epoxy.

Clean the aluminium (I stick it in the dishwasher) then wearing polythene (not rubber) gloves place it on your work surface and coat it in epoxy. Now take an abrasive cleaning pad (3M type) and scrub the surface of the aluminum while the epoxy is still wet. Scrub hard enough to remove the thin oxide layer on the surface of the aluminium but not so hard you displace the epoxy. When you've finished, allow the epoxy to set. The surface will not reoxidise because epoxy has very low oxygen permeability.

You can then top coat with whatever you like - I use hammertone spray paint for a retro look. If you use an epoxy based coat remember to protect it from UV - two part linear polyurethane is the best for this.

More is learnt from one bold error than from a hundred craven equivocations - Daniel Dennett

Mark Kelly

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Best way to finish an aluminum chassis? - tommytube 09:55:18 10/03/05 (14)

thanks for all the interesting ideas (nt) - tommytube 07:31:57 10/05/05 (0)

Here is how I do it.... - tubesforever 14:50:25 10/04/05 (3)

Navel jelly - Alex M 08:57:20 10/05/05 (2)

Navel jelly and Navel Lint - tubesforever 09:11:31 10/05/05 (1)

Traditional naval jelly is phosphoric acid (same compound as in coca cola), nt - Montobo 20:09:15 10/05/05 (0)

Spray Can... - Bare 08:30:57 10/04/05 (0)

Re: try this .. - Antonn 23:00:12 10/03/05 (0)

Re: Best way to finish an aluminum chassis? - jnorv 19:17:52 10/03/05 (0)

Painting aluminium is really easy. - Mark Kelly 18:56:31 10/03/05 (3)

Question........thanks - bouncy ball 21:42:22 10/03/05 (2)

That's the idea. - Mark Kelly 03:05:43 10/04/05 (0)

curiously, I have one to do as well. nt - dave c 00:45:43 10/04/05 (0)

Re: Best way to finish an aluminum chassis? - pkell44 11:34:22 10/03/05 (1)

And going the extra mile... - Tin Ear 12:04:31 10/03/05 (0)

Follow Ups

Painting aluminium is really easy. - Mark Kelly 18:56:31 10/03/05 (3)

Question........thanks - bouncy ball 21:42:22 10/03/05 (2)

That's the idea. - Mark Kelly 03:05:43 10/04/05 (0)

curiously, I have one to do as well. nt - dave c 00:45:43 10/04/05 (0)

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