Aluminium primer

[Cyclone]

Comparing the price, aluminium is half the price of brass. I'm thinking of making wagon strapping out of aluminium, but I've heard it's a cow to paint.

Is this true?

The reason for aluminium over brass is also strength as the strapping needs to be functional.


Suggested ways are etching primer followed by couple of coats of normal primer then paint.

However platicote do an aluminium primer, any one got any experience of this?


Also on a side note, can you glue aluminium to wood and what would be best? Guess this is the deal breaker as if it won't attach to wood or plastic then it's a non-starter.

 

[bobg]

Ed, when glueing ali I've always found it best to remove the oxide and leave a rough surface (sandpaper) and C.A. or epoxy works well. You seem to have the paint side sorted.

 

[Tony]

Thin coat of etch primer one light coat of car aerosol primer tickle any dust with 1500 wet and dry if needed... if primer is dust free then you can put the top coat on as soon as the primer has flashed off ....2 light coats of top coat... use no nails or such to glue or any two pack glue (caravans are alloy glued on a wood frame)
the secret to any paint is thin coats of paint
Tony

 

[stockers]

Never had much luck with 'no nails' and metal. I find no nails a very brittle glue.

 

[Tony]

Never had much luck with 'no nails' and metal. I find no nails a very brittle glue.

i must admit ive really only used it on non moving items such as stainless steel trim in kitchen and not had any problems but i bow to your experience
Tony

 

[stockers]

Never tried that one Tony!. For models I suggest epoxy or, at a push, superglue.

 

[Cyclone]

Cheers guys. Done some searching as the glue bit only dawned on me as was typing.
As said above.

Only thought is I intend to stick plastic rivets on the aluminium strap, at what point would anyone recommend sticking them on.

I thought either after etching but might be better after a coat of paint using either epoxy or superglue?

 

[yb281]

I'd go for superglue, but spend a little bit more on the Gel stuff. It gives you a little while to move the rivet into exactly the right place.

 

[stockers]

Agree with Mel - Gel or 'thick' is the best stuff. It also gap fills.
Takes a bit longer to set but that can be useful.

 

[tramcar trev]

I use a glue called "Q Bond" its a cyanocralate and comes in a box with grey and black filler powders.... It is pure magic. On alluminium defiatley degrease and a rub with steel wool is good practise. The simplicty of this glue is that it wicks in; lay out the job, apply a drop at the places you want joined and presto.... for gluing little things eg bolt and rivet heads lay them out where you want them and do likewise but I hold them in place with the fine point of a scriber, a very small drop of glue at the edge and that's it.... and this stuff seems to hold anything that's glueable to anything else....
The filler powder is good too where you want to fill up a hole or whatever, put it in the gap, hole whatever and drop in the glue till it takes no more then you can sand, file or machine to clean up...

I'd reccomend an etch primer over any metal surface that is going to be handled before applying top coats....

 

[Cyclone]

Superglue FTW then.

Can you paint over superglue out of interest as I've read about using it as filler recently?

 

[stockers]

Can you paint over superglue ?

Sure can. I do it all the time with Pendlebury.