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Painting Aluminum?

Discussion in 'Armor' started by PaulK, Nov 1, 2015.

  1. Nov 1, 2015 at 6:32 AM
    #1
    PaulK

    PaulK [OP] Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid.

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    I just received my BudBuilt skids yesterday, and they look really good. I went with the 1/4" aluminum option to save weight, but they are still very beefy. I ordered them in bare metal because paint is cheaper and easier to touch up that powder coating, but I want to get as strong of a coating as I can...from rattle cans.

    So, what's the best way to paint bare aluminum? I was planning to scuff them with some steel wool, clean with degreaser then a strong detergent, spray on a self-etching primer, then a top coat from the same manufacturer. I was thinking Rustoleum, but I'm open to suggestions.

    Advice from advanced paint gurus is welcome, as are any other tips regarding the installation.

    Thanks!
    20151031_144022[1].jpg
     
  2. Nov 2, 2015 at 4:26 PM
    #2
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    Something in me tells me to bolt them up as is. Something kinda cool about having an almost mirror under the truck!

    @DoorDing -- Has some of these skids. I think he prepped them before painting.
     
  3. Nov 2, 2015 at 4:35 PM
    #3
    CRU

    CRU Well-Known Member

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    Line-x or some kind of bed liner spray should be as hard as you can get from a spray can.
     
  4. Nov 2, 2015 at 4:41 PM
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    ramonortiz55

    ramonortiz55 Not A Well-Known Member

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  5. Nov 2, 2015 at 4:50 PM
    #5
    PaulK

    PaulK [OP] Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid.

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    I thought about that, but they aren't smooth everywhere. Bud grinded on them around the welds, so I'd have to hit them with something to get the bare metal looking uniform.

    How did your prep it for paint?
     
  6. Nov 2, 2015 at 5:12 PM
    #6
    PaulK

    PaulK [OP] Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid.

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    Yup, I get it, but how did you prep the IFS skid for paint? What primer, etc.
     
  7. Nov 2, 2015 at 5:21 PM
    #7
    PaulK

    PaulK [OP] Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid.

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    Okay - thought you said a satin finish on the IFS.
     
  8. Nov 4, 2015 at 3:14 PM
    #8
    PaulK

    PaulK [OP] Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid.

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    So I think I'll do them in this bare satin finish, but I'd still like to put some clear on them. Fluid Film seems pretty popular on TW. Never used it and wonder if it will adhere to sanded aluminum and offer any protection. Thoughts?
     
  9. Nov 4, 2015 at 3:17 PM
    #9
    travis.diller

    travis.diller Well-Known Member

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    I don't know how it would work on aluminum, but on galvanized metal, the electro kind, you can wash them with vinegar to allow it to etch them a little bit. I works good on galvanized which is zinc. test a piece (not your skid plates) and report your findings.
     
  10. Nov 4, 2015 at 3:19 PM
    #10
    DrFunker

    DrFunker Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Nov 4, 2015
    Crom likes this.
  11. Nov 4, 2015 at 3:26 PM
    #11
    PaulK

    PaulK [OP] Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid.

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    Was thinking clear would make hosing them off easier and lessen the amount of stuff sticking to them...mud, road salt, etc. Not married to the idea.
     
  12. Nov 4, 2015 at 3:34 PM
    #12
    PaulK

    PaulK [OP] Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid.

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    Ya...think I'll just go bare satin and see how I like it. Can always pull and paint them later. Will use your method, but on all 4 skids because I'm anal.
     
  13. Nov 4, 2015 at 4:15 PM
    #13
    BadBrains

    BadBrains Spreading the Aloha

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    King, TC +2"LT, 35's, Aluminum this and that.

    Clears are gonna crack, peel, and possibly yellow. Just go over it with a scotchbrite pad to give it a satin look, it'll form an outside layer of oxide. If you scrape/gouge it, and feel like it, blend out the scratch with:s-l225.jpg or some sandpaper, and finish with scotchbrite again.
     
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  14. Nov 4, 2015 at 4:22 PM
    #14
    BadBrains

    BadBrains Spreading the Aloha

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    King, TC +2"LT, 35's, Aluminum this and that.
    If you do want to paint, I'd knock off the sharp edges, hit it with a palm sander/jitter bug, wash it with plain soapy water until the water sheets on it, no beading, allow to dry. Then in aviation, we alodine the aluminum (conversion coating), you can skip that. Wipe with a tack-cloth, primer, cure, tack-cloth, top coat.
     
  15. Nov 5, 2015 at 5:03 AM
    #15
    BadBrains

    BadBrains Spreading the Aloha

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    King, TC +2"LT, 35's, Aluminum this and that.
    The aluminum is 1/4" thick so it's going to take a while to start corroding. A little water displacing oil now and again will protect it even further.

    If you put a little self-tapping steel screw into the skid, the steel screw would corrode first since it's smaller, even though it's a cathode and should be tougher than the anode.

    Now if the aluminum gets painted and there's moisture between the paint and aluminum you'll see filiform corrosion start up. (Worm-like shapes of corrosion all over the surface of the aluminum)


    When I worked on C-17's I'd see them come in all the time with torn up floor panels(unpainted)from the Loadmaster's. So we'd find the gouges and blend them out and finish with a 3M pad like I stated above. For a well worn area like the skids, I'd just treat them like the C-17 floors. For an aluminum bumper, roof/bed rack, I'd probably paint out.

    Another solution I've thought about to blacken aluminum is using a patina. It's tougher to get a nice uniform black, but it would be an easy system to touch up. Blend, sand out the area, re-apply patina.
    It might be a good option for skids.
     
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  16. Nov 5, 2015 at 8:30 AM
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    PaulK

    PaulK [OP] Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid.

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    So is there a corosive threat to the factory metal from bolting these on unpainted?
     
  17. Nov 5, 2015 at 12:41 PM
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    BadBrains

    BadBrains Spreading the Aloha

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    King, TC +2"LT, 35's, Aluminum this and that.
    Shouldn't be, the factory metal is painted. I suppose you could use a sealant tape like Gore Skyflex, to further separate the metals, but I don't think it's necessary.

    Just wash them out from time to time and spray some water displacing oil on them, should be good to go. Probably don't even have to do that, but I've been doing that to my frame and suspension, so might as well hit the skid too.
     
  18. Nov 5, 2015 at 2:22 PM
    #18
    PaulK

    PaulK [OP] Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid.

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    WD40? What do you use for water displacement?
     
  19. Nov 6, 2015 at 6:38 AM
    #19
    BadBrains

    BadBrains Spreading the Aloha

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    King, TC +2"LT, 35's, Aluminum this and that.
    A gallon of CRC 6-56, and a spray bottle.
     
  20. Nov 6, 2015 at 6:46 AM
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    Boone

    Boone Vaginas are rad.

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    Maybe it's just me, but I thought the key word here was "skid" as in taking a fucking beating. I can see painting or coating them if they were steel, but Aluminum?
     

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