ETCHING PRIMER - Rattle cans

[Pigford]

A few of you have mentioned the use of ETCHING PRIMER.....

This is for alluminium I believe...... so is it available at most common paint stores : eg Halfords

Wots the sequence.....

#1 degreasing
#2 rubbing down
#3 ETCHING PRIMER
#4 colour paint/top coat...

[Redbeard]

Halfords do this one, as for the whole process I'm not too sure...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165625

[Ginger Bear]

Piggy,
You've got it spot on there! I used 'etch' primer on me wheels cos me paint supplier recommended it. I believe it 'sticks' better than normal stuff. Don't know what it's like to remove though?

[MaineKZ]

HI Mr P

FROST Auto Supplies is where I shop - all done on line and top notch gear.

The paint contains a chemical etching agent which eats in to the surface of the ali - means the paint bonds better. That's the theory - seems to work OK!

Your sequence is correct. If you're rubbing back between coats, best to do that between top coats - try not to break the coverage of the primer.

[Pigford]

Cheers chaps

Graham, I may well give Frost's a try

[chrisu]

er - did you mean Chris ?

[Pigford]

Opppppps, Yes CHRIS sorry, cheers Chris

[Rich]

Mark I did it to that sequence and two years later it started to "crack" between the etch primer and colour coats.

After making enquiries - Use the etch primer on alloy only and only in a thin layer, then put normal primer over that and flat back.

Do not use etch on glass fibre (irrespective of what it says on the tin) as the acid makes the gel coat swell which causes it to shrink and craze alarmingly (and stay relatively soft) most automotive paint mixers sell aerosol etch primer, just ring round.

Use a mask.

[Ginger Bear]

Bl**dy hell Rich,

I wish I'd read this yesterday, Before I did these


I'm gonna be stressing for the next two years now, wondering if they are gonna crack up.

[compo z1r]

piggy ive etched the engine on my z1r before the final paint in black after speaking to a painter who said it will stop paint flaking to the edge of the fins and make the paint harder over the years to come.