restoring turn signal housings- a few questions
 

I am restoring some 70-73 front turn signal housings. Today I used aircraft paint stripper to remove the old flaking finish. I'm now down to bare pot metal. I'm either going to use Rustoleum cold galvanizing spray or maybe a chrome metal spray. My question is do I use the same type of primer regardless of which top coat ? I was thinking of using a self-etching primer. Is this the right primer ? Any other tips ?

I used Rustoleum primer followed by Rustoleum chrome, and it came out great!

Any chance for a before/after photo? I'd like to see how it turns out.

Do you remember which primer you used ? They make several.

I'm past the before as they are already stripped. Just picture crappy looking metal with flaking white crap/chrome looking coating coming off.:D

Sorry, I don't. But I would imagine any metal primer would work fine. I just grabbed the one that was on my shelf.

I would use the Rustoleum Professional line. Then you can get the matching primer.

I do not see a chrome but I see an aluminum.

I like the stuff. Always flows nice and it is tough.

http://www.thepaintstore.com/Rust_Oleum_Professional_High_Performance_Enamel_p/752483.htm

Do not use etch primer on pot metal.

Paint Job - Mustangsandmore Forum Archive

Excerpt: Self etching primers contain phosphoric acid, a good thing, but not for pot metal pieces like headlight buckets

Bob K thanks for the post. I am familiar with the Rustoleum professional series of spray paints I've used them on other projects. Always had good results. I'll have to check out their aluminum spray vs. a chrome spray. Not really sure how reflective the surface really has to be ? I bought these housings for cheap but all of the interior finish was a wreck :(. One housing will also need some JB Weld repair but that's easy enough to do. I'll try to snap a pic of the raw housings and then a finished one to show the difference.

I restored mine in a similar way to what is being recommended here. The chrome paint works very well. The lights are clear and bright.

I used the chrome paint on my headlights and difference in brightness compared to my old faded ones was significant. I think you'll be fine with it.

Here's what I used -> RustOleum.com

It came out very bright. Not quite chrome, but much more reflective than silver.

I used non etching Rustoleum primer
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/563048-refinishing-turn-signal-housings.html
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/527326-blinker-housing-rebuild.html