Painting anodized aluminum

[Colin]

I've Googled this but found conflicting opinions. I have two gold anodized aluminum picture frames that I wish to spray-paint black. Is it necessary to use anything special, or will paint adhere to it just fine?

 

[SignosaurusRex]

Scuff with ScotchBrite & prime lightly with Zinc Chromate primer. You can find the Zinc Chromate primer in spray cans, usually available from an auto body supply. Some NAPA dealers also carry it.

 

[Colin]

Thanks. What do you think of post #3 here?

 

[SignosaurusRex]

I'm in agreement with it, but I still like to give the anodizing a bit more tooth by using ScotchBrite. If it gets through the anodizing to bare aluminum...no worries, the primer takes care of it. It may be a little overkill....but that's just me, how I have been doing it for many years. I have, on some occasions painted anodized aluminum frames without scuffing and priming with good results.

 

[visual800]

Same opinion here but we like to use a 2 part automotive epoxy, not a bad product to have around

 

[2NinerNiner2]

... or you can bike just down the lane to Viking or the Museum and ask the pros

 

[MikePro]

we've never had issues painting anodized aluminum.
+1 to scuffing with scotchbrite. as with any surface, it never hurts to give it a bit more "tooth" for the primer/paint to bite into.

 

[Mosh]

Roll down to the thrift store and buy two black frames...

 

[Colin]

Roll down to the thrift store and buy two black frames...

Way ahead of you Mosh. I got these two 25" x 32" frames with nice re-usable white mats and with glass for $10.00 ea. at the thrift shop. The gold anodized frames scream "the 80s/90s", so with a paint job and a nice B&W print of one of my photos, they'll be transformed into something quite nice.

I've been quite busy doing this in the last week now that I have that fancy mat cutter. I just walked in the door with more frames from other thrift shops. It's great fun, and I plan to sell them. Somehow.

Thanks for the comments on the painting fellas.


Here's one I just finished.....

 

[Mosh]

good job!

 

[Colin]

Gah! I lightly scuffed up the anodized aluminum frame(s) and they don't hold paint worth a darn. Oh well.

While we're at it, does anyone know of a good picture frame wholesaler with killer bulk pricing? Retail prices (even when on sale) are just silly, even for cheap Chinese stuff.

 

[SignosaurusRex]

...Zinc Chromate......

 

[qmr55]

Hit it with etching primer! Will do the job perfectly. Eastwood has it cheap here. They have the aerosol can type, but I've never used that....just bought it by the quart/gallon and sprayed it on before painting.

 

[2NinerNiner2]

The folks at any of the shops at the airport will have the method and you can probably get the supplies there as well

This is an outfit in Calgary that I am aware of for wholesale-only frames and supplies.

http://www.cimarronsales.com/

 

[S'N'S]

I use etch primer.

 

[visual800]

Im guessing you didnt prime or etch

 

[signmeup]

Remove the anodize with oven cleaner (lye) then use acid etch primer. You can get a spray can of it at NAPA. Use it outdoors... it is nasty stuff to breath. (this stuff actually makes you feel bad right away... so will the lye) You can prime it with zinc chromate paint after if you like but I doubt you need corrosion resistance on a picture frame. (BTW... real zinc chromate is an electrochemical process not a paint.)

If you have access to a blast cabinet you could just blast it with aluminum oxide and paint it with Kylon Fusion directly.