Painting anodized aluminium for a racing rig

[apostoly]

Hi all,

I am building a racing rig and using Aluminium profile as the base for the seat.

The black anodized stuff is just always out of stock and little bit more expensive so i just went with the normal anodized grey color.

I'm thinking of painting it a matt black myself, but from what i have gathered, the anodized aluminium is abit tricky to properly prime and paint.

Anyone know or have some experience with this stuff?

Paul

[Eaglezsoar]

Hi all,

I am building a racing rig and using Aluminium profile as the base for the seat.

The black anodized stuff is just always out of stock and little bit more expensive so i just went with the normal anodized grey color.

I'm thinking of painting it a matt black myself, but from what i have gathered, the anodized aluminium is abit tricky to properly prime and paint.

Anyone know or have some experience with this stuff?

Paul

I have had good luck with aluminum painting by first applying etching primer. You can find it in spray cans.

[apostoly]

Hi all,

I am building a racing rig and using Aluminium profile as the base for the seat.

The black anodized stuff is just always out of stock and little bit more expensive so i just went with the normal anodized grey color.

I'm thinking of painting it a matt black myself, but from what i have gathered, the anodized aluminium is abit tricky to properly prime and paint.

Anyone know or have some experience with this stuff?

Paul

I have had good luck with aluminum painting by first applying etching primer. You can find it in spray cans.

I have had good results with etch primer on aluminium before also but that was just normal aluminium such as bullbars etc

Apparently the anodization makes it really hard even for etch. i guess trial and error is that way with this sort of thing.

[Flateric]

I do alot of anodizing personally and would very much recommend AGAINST etching anything anodized.

The purpose of anodizing in the first place is to protect the part from future corrosion and allow it to take color and resist chemicals.

The crystal structure created during the anodizing process is very tough. VERY. And the level of anodizing generally signified by black color is a military grade anodize and really is the best you can get. There are however some marine and cosmetic levels that get artificially made black.

I suspect that if your aluminium is a light neutral grey in color you have a cosmetic level anodize. It might also be uncolored or rather dyed at this point. Most anodizing is dyed with ink rather than colored because then you are actually coloring the metal (coating) itself rather then a less preferable painted coating on top of that.

Generally I have found that anodized aluminium takes and holds paint extremely well due to the porous and rough nature of the crystalline stucture anodizing creates. The big trick to it and it cannot be just half assed is to get that part super clean.

Anodizing will pick up finger print grease extremely well. Wear rubber gloves from the start of cleaning to the very end of painting.

Cleaning. Use alot of acetone and or 99% alchohol to remove any anodizing electrolyte residue and soapy residue from the anodizing process. The part should dry to a even matte finish.

Keep the part clean and dry and warm during the painting process. The application of spray paint can cause the part to cool from the decompression of the paint and begin to repel the paint.

I would not etch it with anything since by doing so you are removing the nice protective layer of anodizing that cannot be matched with any paint.

The absolute best solution however is to order the black pre-dyed aluminium and leave it be.

The second best way would be to dye it yourself. Which is beyond the scope of a quick message here in the forums. But very easy to do if you follow the steps outlined on many anodizing blogs and sites elsewhere.

[apostoly]

Thanks for that in detail response

I have already ordered the normal anodized aluminium. I might just leave it the way it is. I really dont mind the look anyway

Thanks

[mhackney]

How about powder coating? It is really easy to do and doesn't require a lot of equipment to do a basic job.

[apostoly]

How about powder coating? It is really easy to do and doesn't require a lot of equipment to do a basic job.

i could powder coat it, but i really just want it too cost as minimal as possible or else i would have just ordered the black and waited a little longer for it.

[enggmaug]

Guys, I really learn a lot, reading your comments, and searchnig the terms you refer to that I don't know about...

Just wanna thank you for that...

[RAMTechRob]

Yes, please do some research, alot of anodizing is done half assed and will look like crap and not last 5 years. For $65 lot charge, you can bring it to a real shop and they can strip and re-anodize in class 2 black.

[apostoly]

Guys, I really learn a lot, reading your comments, and searchnig the terms you refer to that I don't know about...

Just wanna thank you for that...

Its a wealth full of knowledge on here. If it wasn't for this forum i probably wouldn't have been this into 3d printing.