Painting aluminium?

[rick201]

Hi,
I have a project to paint aluminium flat bar stock pieces in a wrinkle finish type paint.
Question is do I anodise the parts which will give a better surface to adhere paint to but is it worth sealing the aluminium as it will be oversprayed with cellouse paint ?
And does sealing the aluminium spoil the surface adhesion for the paint?
Best Regards
Rick.

[destroyer125]

I would believe sealing the aluminum would ruin the effect

[jrow]

rick201,

I used paint stripper on an aluminum valve cover, stripped the paint off, cleaned it up, sprayed wrinkle paint on, and then clear. It came out beautiful!
NOTE: All wrinkle paint is not the same. I shot some VHT brand paint (I believe), on an air cleaner, the more coats you put on the more wrinkled it got, I was not happy with the results.

John

[sswee]

My 2 cents,
I'd leave it unsealed.
SS

[rick201]

Hi All,
Well im thinking that unsealed would be better because if you think there are tiny holes or pores then by not sealing them and spraying the paint onto it hopefully the holes would provide a better base microscopically for the paint to stick to.
Im going along to the spray paint outlet tomorrow to check out the wrinkle finish paint I will buy it in a litre tin and use me spray gun.
Rick.

[-AAPB-Eric]

unsealed would be best, you can also beadblast or lightly scuff the aluminum and it will provide good adhesion. If your really getting technical you can get some metal primers from a specialty car parts store that has a paint section attached. Be sure to properly clean the surface still.