Etch ?

[MAXXIE]

I contacted the Durabank Co. awhile back asking about prep involved in applying their product to a galvanized trailer. They said the metal needed to be "etched" first & then it can be applied. What is etching & how is it done?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Etch ?

etched = dipped in acid

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Etch ?

Etching prepares the surface so it holds to applied product better. Usually the idea is to roughen it up a bit giving the product some extra surface area to grab. Very often some type of acid is used.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Etch ?

Acid treat the entire trailer? Guess I'll just wire wheel some of the surface rust off the fender & leave it at that. Thanks, MAXX

 

[Bondo]

Re: Etch ?

Acid treat the entire trailer? Guess I'll just wire wheel some of the surface rust off the fender & leave it at that. Thanks, MAXX

Ayuh,... Galvanizing is an aluminum product...
It has to be treated exactly like painting aluminum....

 

[robert graham]

Re: Etch ?

A surface can be etched for painting or zinc galvanizing by sandblasting it down to the bare metal, then prime and paint. There is a zinc "cold galvanizing paint" that can be bought and applied, but it's probably not near as good as real dip-tank zinc galvanizing. No need to spend more time and money on a trailer than it's worth, especially if it's all eat up with rust and corrosion. Sometimes the worst corrosion is on the inside of the channels, tubes, rails, and you can't even get to it with paint.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Etch ?

Ayuh,... Galvanizing is an aluminum product...
It has to be treated exactly like painting aluminum....

Galvanizing is a zinc product.
The galvanizing forms a somewhat unseen oxide layer that can be rubbed off by hand.
If that oxide layer is not removed just prior to painting, the paint tends to peel off as it has only really stuck to the oxides.
Etching with acid can be done via wiping it down with an acid soaked cloth.
The paint or coating manufacturer should be able to provide the name of the exact stuff that works best with their coating.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Etch ?

I'd hit the whole thing with a light coat (just a dusting is needed) of this http://www.duplicolor.com/products/selfEtchingPrimer/ $5 at Pep-Boys.

 

[Cannondale]

Re: Etch ?

I'd hit the whole thing with a light coat (just a dusting is needed) of this http://www.duplicolor.com/products/selfEtchingPrimer/ $5 at Pep-Boys.

I've used that stuff before, and while it works well, it's made for bare metal, not trying to self-etch through galvanizing.