Painting/Refinishing Aluminium Spars

[savageseadog]

In the case of silver/natural anodised aluminium what does anybody suggest in the way of paint. There's the odd scrape that might need a filler or spray filler to get a perfect finish.
I've spoken to a non marine paint supplier who suggested a base coat plus 2 pack clear lacquer, I think a similar scheme is used for alloy wheels.

 

[tillergirl]

Have a look at Sailing Today September edition. There is a review on a paint job that their journalist Garth Cooper did on his boat - looks pretty good.

 

[orizaba]

it all depends on what it is your painting and how much abuse it is likely to get, eg if it was a mast i think you'll find it hard to apply any coating that will stand up to the wear and tear it gets as in a paint,i also think you have to do something to the old anodising before painting . if it was a deck fitting or rail you may get away with paint 'i've used 2pack basecoat and laquer at work,ally frames etc, but it scratchs and marks very easily,the other problem is it could be too hard and chip easily,once marked harder to repair
the only real answer is reanodise it or possibly epoxy powdercoat, if thinking of powdercoat make sure its epoxy as the polyester does not like uv and salt.
the other alternative is to sand it down proggresivly finer and then polish it ,you can use powered buff wheels on it to polish it up ,or see if you have a local metal polisher and ask his advice.

 

[Salty John]

I wire-brushed mine, then used an etch primer - horrible green stuff that clung tenaciously to the aluminium and made a super base for the paint. I painted with two coats of Petit Urethane, a polyurethane paint. It still looked great after three years cruising.

 

[savageseadog]

[ QUOTE ]
I wire-brushed mine, then used an etch primer - horrible green stuff that clung tenaciously to the aluminium and made a super base for the paint. I painted with two coats of Petit Urethane, a polyurethane paint. It still looked great after three years cruising.

[/ QUOTE ]Is that the special for aluminium green MOD etch primer I've seen on ebay? What top coat colour did you go for, do you think it's possible to finish in a light colour?

 

[alldownwind]

[ QUOTE ]
Have a look at Sailing Today September edition. There is a review on a paint job that their journalist Garth Cooper did on his boat - looks pretty good.

[/ QUOTE ]
I saw Garth's boat at the Levington Classics Regatta- those spars look extraordinarily realistic. Finish is wearing very well, too, he said.

 

[William_H]

Most spars here when new are painted white by the spar maker. They use an etch primer and sometimes an alodine treatment bfore using urethane 2 pack paint. The finish is superb.

However if it is like my mast they get a lot of abuse. Scratches occur from spin poles wire halyards etc. So I used an ordinary brush on enamel paint. ie oil based gloss one pack. This is easy to use and is easy to touch up the scratches every winter. It looks ok from a distance. In my case it is a dark blue. And I don't get stressed if it gets scrtatched. olewill

 

[Salty John]

I don't remember the brand of etch primer, I bought it at the same shop that stocked the paint. I used 'tan' for the mast which is the same colour as the cabin area. There's a picture of the boat at the beginning of the sail handling article on my website.

 

[Poignard]

Just a thought. Seeing as how modern aeroplanes are made of aluminium rivetted together, is there any reason why the sort of paint used on them wouldn't be ok for masts and spars?

 

[ianabc]

Whatz wrong with natural aluminium?

 

[oldharry]

Nothing in theory. In practice it goes a dull grey, and eventually becomes covered with granulated aluminium oxide. Its the same stuff as is used on certain types of sandpaper, is extraordinarily difficult to remove, and being sandpaper finish is not too nice to handle, and would wear any ropes rubbing against it.

Had a mast like that once back in the 70's. I suppose it would be possible to keep it bright and prevent it roughening up by regular polishing, but mine had gone too far before I had it.