How do you paint Aluminum?

[jrschmd]

Hello I'm working on a lightsaber and having problems with getting the paint to stick to the aluminum. I've sanded it, washed it and primed it first but still it flakes of easily. I know powder coating is the best option but I don't have that option available. Thanks for the help.

 

[jasonw2112]

Well after cleaning the surface, you want to use an etch primer. This will bite into the bare metal, and give your following coats of paint something to stick to. I could tell you about special cleaners and such for the aluminum, but for your application a spray can etch primer should work fine.
(shameless plug!) if you can find a Dupont automotive sales supplier, I would suggest part# A-4119S Self etching primer black.
you can get it in green as well, but the black dries to a satin black finish, and it's high quality stuff! Upol puts out a self etching primer as well, that works good. But they will cost you about $20.00 bucks a can.

Oh, and if it's cold where your painting, forget it! wait for warmer weather!

 

[vader1974]

I have always used a automotive paints with a good "self etching" primer. Aluminum is funny stuff. It does not like to be chromed either.

Brian

 

[franz bolo]

I used duplicolor black on a sword blade and it stuck really well. I didn't use a primer since it was mainly for shading.

FB

 

[cannibal869]

perhaps this link will help you?

Part Painting and Baking Tutorial

Personally, I discovered powdercoating my parts and will *never* go back to regular painting of lightsaber parts... Powdercoating actually isn't all that hard, but unfortunately it does require probably around $100 to get started (say about $50 for an oven and $50 for the gun)... But it's SOOOO much nicer, stays on better, and is more durable. Plus there's very little wait time for stuff to dry...

If you don't have a PC system, perhaps you can find someone who's near you who does? (kinda like how the happiest days you own a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it - better to have a friend with a boat you can use).

-C

 

[jrschmd]

Thank you for all the help.

 

[modelcitizen]

try not to roll the freshly painted item in a heavily used catbox before baking...mmmm...cookies

 

[sawduster]

We've used a automotive primer called veriprime, it's a self etching primer.

You can chrome aluminum, I had the aluminum windshield frame of my MGB chromed over ten years ago and still looks great.

 

[ARKM]

The tut that cannibal869 posted is the way to go. I have spray painted many custom machined aluminum lightsaber hilts. Primer, enamel based paints and baking the parts in an oven after painting is the key to making the paint stick.

I use regular Krylon primer (spray can) for my saber hilts and it works great. I have no idea if it is an "etching" primer or not.