re-paint a windlass

[simon_sluggett]

hello all! first post so here goes.
the white plastic coating on my manual windlass has all flaked off and I need a way of recoating the aluminium casting as its a bit corroded. Obvious ones are powder coating/ anodising but wondered if there was a DIY product siutable for aluminium.
As it still works well I didnt want to replace it but it looks scruffy.
Excellent forum by the way!! Thanks

 

[chas]

Welcome! I did mine with three coats of Hammerite. It has so far lasted three seasons without flaking or any other visible damage.

 

[Norman_E]

I second the use of Hammerite. Some metals, notably brass, newly galvanised steel, and most aluminium alloys are difficult to paint, but Hammerite seems to stick, where most others fail. Hammerite do make a smooth white paint, but do not be tempted to apply it over old paint or plastic coating. Get down to bare metal, and scrub it with a stainless steel wire brush to key the surface. After that I would use the traditional silver hammered finish paint. Try to get a stainless steel brush to key the aluminium. (the people who supply aluminium welding kits sell them) An ordinary steel wire brush can leave fragments, which rapidly turn into rust spots. If you have to use emery cloth to key the surface you must take precautions to stop the abrasive grit getting in to the works. The only really safe way to do that is to dismantle, paint, then reassemble.

 

[simon_sluggett]

thanks guys- down to B&Q I shall go!

 

[twisterkai]

I think Hammerite recommend using their 'special metal primer' for non ferrous metals. Not sure what it actually is, but it's red in colour & definately works - we used it a few years ago after an engine rebuild on the aluminium heads. After a couple of years there was still no sign of it coming off.

 

[cliff]

They definitely do recommend it and it definitely does work.
The primer contains an acid to etch the surface of the Aluminium. It can be over-coated with smoothrite (same as hammerite without the hammer bit) which is available in white.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"

 

[paulrossall]

Used Hammerite smooth after useing the Hammerite primer for aluminium (might be primer for other metals as well). OK after 5 years.

 

[Ardenfour]

second the other posts-just done mine, after removing all old paint with a cup brush in a grinder, degreased with acetone, hammerite special red primer, then several coats of smoothrite spray. I was concerned halfway through the job when the red primer could be scraped off with fingernail, but the white topcoat seems very tough and hard - time will tell!