Hi All,
After +25 years my Hobie 17 aluminium details: front and rear beams, boom and rudder details doesn't look good. I don't see any cracks or structural problems, it's just for they eye.
Still I'm thinking of a black matt paint job.
Anyone here with paint job experience?
What pre-job needed?
etc...
Photos appreciated
//Mats
I live in Florida the Black looks great but no fun to touch after being out in the sun.
I live in Florida the Black looks great but no fun to touch after being out in the sun.
What pre-job needed?
etc...
Aluminum can be tricky to paint. Anything, even a rattle can will look good, for the first week, after that...
One of the reasons anodizing is so prevalent with aluminum, (besides preventing your hands from blackening when handling it, & corrosion protection), is is readily absorbs die. Anodizing leaves a neutral color, all those blues & reds you see on AL products are the result of the anodizing absorbing a die.
I would leave it alone.
If you are really set on changing the color, start Googling the subject, & research how & what prep needs to be done, especially prep for an item that ia anodized.
E C Hilliard
Nacra 5.7
Bombardier Invitation
Ed is correct that painting aluminum is challenging, but it is not impossible. I just did my mast, beams and all of the aluminum components on my Nacra 5.2. I used Awlgrip products and followed their procedures carefully. This involves the use a 'prewash' coat, epoxy primer and then a top coat. I did several videos on the various stages my project went through. Here is one of them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzqTrXFF6yU
These are all very toxic finishes and are generally considered for use by professionals, but I was able to work through the steps quite successfully. My aluminum now is all Jet Gray and looks great. This finish is not as tuff as anodizing, but is seriously good.