Painting Aluminum

[Por_sha911]

I'm wanting to paint an aluminum dead pedal black. After I use a self-etching primer, what paint do you recommend so that it won't wear off quickly? A friend of mine suggested spray can epoxy paint. Any idea where I can find that?

[kstylianos]

You can find it in a can at most decent home improvement stores. It's also called appliance paint (it's an epoxy). Although, I haven’t seen it in any color other than beige.

Also, consider brake caliper paint. Very tough/durable.

[Por_sha911]

OK, that's a new option. Any special prep ideas or just self-etching primer?

[kstylianos]

Many calipers are Al. I'd follow the instructions on the can. I would rough up the dead pedal with some sand paper first if its smooth and reflective.

[Zeke]

AllI can add is use the darkest color primer you can find if your top coat is black. Why not powder coat it?

[911pcars]

Powder coating should be pretty durable. They can also hard anodize aluminum in black or brown which has a tougher film surface than red, yellow, green, etc.

Sherwood

[aigel]

I'd have it anodized at a local machineshop. Short of that, make sure you roughen the surface before painting. Fine sand paper or some bead blasting. (careful it won't deform from the blasting). Increased surface area and some mechanical interlocking will improve adhesion of the paint.

George

[Porsche_monkey]

Go to an aircraft shop. They will have everything you need.

[304065]

Yeah, paint it with Randolph's Wing Walk compound.

[Por_sha911]

Good ideas. I wonder if brake caliper paint will work. I need something that will hold up to contact (not just heat). What do you think some of these things will cost? I am not looking to spend $100 on a dead pedal since I can buy one in black for $50. I have a can of self-etching primer but it is in grey. Do you think this will be a problem?

[aigel]

Joe:

Don't sweat it. Sandpaper, primer and a good can of semi gloss spray paint. Worst thing that can happen is that you have to repaint it in a few years.

George

[klaucke]

Just a thought, but you could paint it black and then add some black griptape, like is used on skateboards, to the top, it's ultra durable, and gives a slight "performance" gain in that there's more traction on the dead pedal. Then you could use just about any paint b/c you won't really be in contact with it.

[Por_sha911]

klaucke-that is an awesome idea!