Painting galvanised trolley

[LittleSister]

I have a new galvanised dinghy launching trolley which I wish to paint with some distinctive marks to reduce the likelihood of its theft.

I read that is is difficult to paint galvanising. I am looking for suggestions as to the best paint (and primer if required) to do this, and what solvent to use to degrease the galvanising before painting. (Or whether I am on a hiding to nothing in attempting this.)

I am not looking for a perfect finish. Time, patience and cash is in short supply. The trolley has never yet been in the water.

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[cherod]

Get some rattle cans and go for it

 

[Poignard]

The mast step on my yacht is made of galvanised steel.

When I wanted to paint it I contacted International Paints and received very detailed advice on which paints to use .

The advice was good because that was more than 20 years ago and it is only in the last year or so that it has begun to show signs of needing repainting.

 

[crewman]

I think Hammerite Special Metals primer is suitable for galvanised steel.

 

[Zagato]

Degrease and etch prime first... Halfords rattle cans...

 

[Davy_S]

I used Hammerite paint on a boat trailer that was used to launch a boat over the beach into the sea, it lasted for years, i think it is important with Hammerite to brush it on thick and leave no voids where water can get in and lift the paint, i simply wire brushed it with a drill, then slapped it straight on.

 

[Rappey]

Zinssers exterior satin, oil based. Can paint it on nearly anything without primers. Great stuff.

 

[reeac]

The traditional advice was always to to allow the newly galvanised surface to weather for a year or so before painting. This wouldn't suit your motive to make it distinctive but maybe you could just paint on some distinctive stripes initially and then repaint all over in a years time.

 

[vyv_cox]

Etch primer is needed. Car shops sell aerosols of it, only needs a fine coat, enough to attack the surface slightly. Top coatcwill then adhere well.

 

[LittleSister]

Thanks for those suggestions.

Would petrol be a suitable degreaser?

 

[Catalina36]

Use whatever you've got, then when it wears off do it again. Don't think too hard. If it gets nicked you'll never see it again so what does it matter what you use?

 

[Adrian62]

For all painting on galvanised I use T wash .Give it a couple of coats wash and the galvanised is ready to paint . The t wash cleans and etches the galvy . Have used it on landrovers for years and never had a problem with it peeling .

 

[Jim@sea]

Squirt expanding foam into the chassis. Use ordinary Hammerite on frame top. different colour on sides and underneath. Take a wheel home.everything helps to stop theft.