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How To Paint Brushed Aluminum?
In general, there are bonding primers available to allow proper paint adhesion over diverse surfaces. But those general primers are not adequate for use over metallic surfaces. It is because the metallic surfaces are non-porous & slick. Therefore, you might need special primers for painting metallic surfaces like brushed aluminum. Check out this guide on how to paint aluminum to get more information.
Using the right kind of primer will ensure that the paint doesn’t peel off or chip off the aluminum surface in the long run. So, if you intend to work with brushed aluminum, then you will require etching primer. This primer type will help you prepare the surface before you can seek to paint them. If you neglect this consideration, then the paint won’t stick to the surface.
Step 1: Get The Supplies Ready
You will need some of the tools and essentials to carry out your painting job over brushed aluminum. They are:
- Dish soap
- Coarse brush
- Etching primer
- Painter’s pot
- Oil-based brush
- Mineral spirit
- Latex paint
- Latex paintbrush
Step 2: Prepare The Brushed Aluminum Surface
The most important step to understand and implement for prepping aluminum for paint. Preparation is the key! Painting is always secondary. So, follow these preparatory measures on priority:
- First, you need to learn how to clean aluminum. Next, you need to scrub the brushed aluminum surface with plain water, dish soap, and a coarse brush.
- Now, rinse the metal thoroughly.
- Now, you need to dry out the surface properly before continuing to proceed with the paint job.
- Pour the etching primer onto the painter’s pot. For example, suppose you have a 1-gallon pot, then you must fill primer to just 1/3rd of it.
- Apply this primer to the brushed aluminum surface with the use of an oil-based paintbrush. Keep a vertical motion while applying the primer. Remember not to over-apply the primer, as it would start to drip. Hence this is the process of how to refinish aluminum to prepare it for painting.
- Let the primer dry & cure for around 4 hours.
Step 3: Applying The Paint To The Brushed Aluminum
- Get latex paint from any hardware or paint shop near you.
- You need to use the latex paintbrush for applying the same over the raw aluminum surface.
- You need to apply the paint vertically and similarly, as you did with the primer application.
- Do not over-apply, as it will start to run down or drip, giving a bad texture to the aluminum surface.
Here is a general video demonstration on how you can pain the brushed aluminum surfaces at ease. In this video, there is a spray etching primer used for the preparatory measures. But you can make use of the other form of applicable etching primer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Clean The Painter’s Pot And Oil-Based Brushes After Use?
You need to use the mineral spirits mentioned in the list of essential tools at Step 1. Make use you cleaning the brush at least three times with ideal mineral spirits. Similarly, clean the painter’s pot with the same type of spirit solution. But remember that latex paintbrushes do not need mineral spirits for cleaning purposes, which might ruin them. So, use only water for cleaning the latex brushes. If you want to learn how to clean paint brushes with mineral spirits, refer to this link.
Can I Spray Paint The Brushed Aluminum Surfaces?
Yes, indeed! Painting extruded aluminum surfaces with spray paint is a good option. There is a different process of approach for the same. You will need to take some health precautions, as spray paint releases fumes, which might be harmful to health. The paint mode might be different, but the preparation aspects should remain the same. Without primer, the paint won’t stick to the aluminum surface for long. Check up on the hardware and paint shops for any spray etching primer solutions as well.
Conclusion
Ensure that you have all of the essential tools and resources to approach for painting the brushed aluminum surfaces. Be patient when you are taking up the task of painting metallic surfaces. As you might need to apply multiple coats on it to give it the shine you seek. But you cannot just give rapid coats over & over again. Let one coat dry, and if you think it isn’t enough, go for another one! Be patient while painting brushed aluminum.
