Painting aluminum hull that already has a coat of paint. Couple of questions,

[adamjr]

While I have the outdrive off of my Holiday I want to paint the transom. The paint I am going to use is the rustoleum metal paint. I found this Rustoleum product at Lowes this weekend:

http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=523

My hull has what I believe to be the original paint plus the "touch up" the previous owner did with a rattle can. He did not cover anywhere near completely. The surface is mostly smooth. I figured I'd use 150 grit sanding discs to do a quick ruff and scuff. Beyond that starting step I need the painting gurus to step in with some advice.

Since I am not going down to bare metal do I still use vinegar as an etchant before priming?

Do I use the aluminum primer that I linked to or do I just use the standard quart cans of primer that rustoleum offers?

Do I use a coat of the aluminum primer first followed by the other rusto primer or just two coats of either one? Which one is best for that application?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Painting aluminum hull that already has a coat of paint. Couple of questions,

I believe etching primer is only needed for bare aluminum.

My guess is that other tin lovers here are going to try and convince you to strip her all the way down before painting it.

 

[adamjr]

Re: Painting aluminum hull that already has a coat of paint. Couple of questions,

I believe etching primer is only needed for bare aluminum.

My guess is that other tin lovers here are going to try and convince you to strip her all the way down before painting it.

I'm with you on the idea to strip her all the way down. Painting, for this season, is something I want to do but I don't HAVE to. It's more for experience. Once she's back in wettable shape I just want to enjoy her. I'm working on some garage space for the winter to re-deck her and to do a proper paint job.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Painting aluminum hull that already has a coat of paint. Couple of questions,

The roll and tip method is pretty easy and straightforward, so no need to practice on your boat. Probably not worth the time and money to paint her....only to strip it all off to repaint in the future.

 

[adamjr]

Re: Painting aluminum hull that already has a coat of paint. Couple of questions,

Agreed on redoing the work. I am only looking to paint the transom while I have the outdive off. I have an HVLP sprayer that got pretty good remarks for spraying automotive finishes that I want to try out.

So I suppose what I am asking is since I am doing a rough and scuff do I still need to prime before applying the top coat?

 

[BonairII]

Re: Painting aluminum hull that already has a coat of paint. Couple of questions,

Agreed on redoing the work. I am only looking to paint the transom while I have the outdive off. I have an HVLP sprayer that got pretty good remarks for spraying automotive finishes that I want to try out.

If that's the case, then by all means.....shoot paint til your heart's content.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Painting aluminum hull that already has a coat of paint. Couple of questions,

If you're just doing the transom and there's no bare aluminum, I'd roll some Rustoleum on there and be done with it. If you're doing the whole boat, I'd scuff it all up thoroughly, hit any bare spots with a light coat of etching primer (I got Duplicolor's in a rattle can from Pep Boys pretty reasonably) prime it with Rusto clean metal primer then top coat with Rusto. I rolled mine and it came out awesome. Unfortunately I didn't prime so I'm having major adhesion issues.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Painting aluminum hull that already has a coat of paint. Couple of questions,

It won't hurt it to shoot it with a coat of that aluminum primer after you sand, I've used that primer http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=523 and it's good stuff and will be good for any spots in case you happen to get down to bare aluminum while sanding.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Painting aluminum hull that already has a coat of paint. Couple of questions,

Be aware though, Rusto has a weird aluminum primer that actually says it's latex on the can. I can think of no good that could come from using that. The rattle can stuff should be fine.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Painting aluminum hull that already has a coat of paint. Couple of questions,

Since I am not going down to bare metal do I still use vinegar as an etchant before priming?

Vinegar is not an etching solvent ..

If your not going down to bare alum .. then just use whatever primer is recommended with the end topcoat product your going to use ..

Denatured Alcohol is fairly not evasive for a wipe down for your primer .. I would not use acetone or some other heavy solvent to wipe down for your primer. .. after that follow your primer directions for wipe down.

YD.