Can I paint polished billet aluminum?

[TX Mudder]

I have a small part that is 6061 billet aluminum, polished and very pretty. Problem is I want it black.

What can I paint it with? It does not have to be perfect, but it needs to be weather resistant. And should I rough up the polish or...?

edit: BTW this is an electrical switch and I cannot disassemble it.

I thought about POR, but I don't know if it will stick to nonferrous metals.

 

[Bullet]

Not 100% sure, but I think you would have to scuff the surface to get the paint to stick.

 

[jakeslim]

use a very fine paper...maybe 1000 grit or something like that, then prime it, then paint

 

[ryoken]

red scuff pad works nice for parts like that.. the course 3M ones.. clean with denatured, rattle away... a piss coat of zinc is best, and available in rattle, but paint might hold up..

 

[Resurrection_Joe]

Welcome to CK5, where custom billet accesories are painted flat balck and dragged across rocks.... /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

 

[jakeslim]

[ QUOTE ]
Welcome to CK5, where custom billet accesories are painted flat balck and dragged across rocks.... /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif

 

[cybrfire]

How about powder coat?

 

[Cmoe]

Aniodize..... is the way I would go.

 

[TX Mudder]

Anodizing and powder coating and out of the question since I cannot disassemble the part.

[ QUOTE ]
a piss coat of zinc is best, and available in rattle, but paint might hold up

[/ QUOTE ]

What do you mean by zinc in a spray can? I looked through the spray paints last night and didn't see anything like that.

 

[ryoken]

zinc chromate or similar self-etching primer... try a marine supply place if the auto place doesn't have it.... i know Tempo makes one... also U.S Paint...

try this link

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=72294

if that one doesn't work, go to http://www.westmarine.com and put zinc chromate in the search...

 

[spearchucker]

[ QUOTE ]
zinc chromate or similar self-etching primer

[/ QUOTE ] Isn't that what the Metal-Ready used with POR-15 is made of?

 

[rjfguitar]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a small part that is 6061 billet aluminum, polished and very pretty. Problem is I want it black.



[/ QUOTE ] Why? /forums/images/graemlins/screwy.gif Leave it purdy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[m j]

why cant you take it apart??

 

[dustyk5]

No disrespect,but you're all wrong,kind of.
1.is it clearcoated or polished?
2.if it is clearcoat clean it with dish soap and water,sand with 280 or 320 grit wet paper,wipe with lacquer thinner and immediatley prime with the rattle can primer of your choice,then a couple coats of similar black spray can.(the lacquer thinner softens the old finish just enough to greatly improve adhesion)
3.If it is polished clean Thoroughly twice with lacquer thinner and sand with 180 to 220.prime with a zinc rich primer as suggested,let dry and sand with 320.prime with standard primer and topcoat with black.

Dusty(paint man for almost 15 yrs.)