The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Finish for aluminum?

Can anyone recommend a clearcoat that could be applied directly to sandblasted aluminum? I want to apply something to my T5 transmission. First thought would be just to clear coast it if possible. If not, are there good primer/paint products are out there that would stick to aluminum and be resistant to automotive chemicals?

I used a product from POR15 that I believe isn't available anymore on some aluminum wheels. [on edit] I just remembered what it was - Glisten-PC. [/edit] It has stood up fairly well to that service, which is more harsh than on a transmission.

I would think a standard clear coat would work pretty well if it's sandblasted and cleaned.

I've called a few companies so far and they didn't know about applying directly to aluminum. One suggested etching with an acid first. Don't want to get into using acid. There has to be something out there. I'm not opposed to painting it. May go that route if I can't find a clear that I know for sure will work.

I had a guy at a car show tell me about a product that is supposed to keep aluminum clean, but I haven't tried it yet. Maybe someone has heard of it.
He said it works well and his intake looked good.

http://www.nyalic.com/

Thanks, I'm going to look into that.

It is up to you, but I wouldn't worry about the case of the T5 at all. Aluminum oxidizes very rapidly and this makes painting sort of challenging (because of the layer it forms). However the interesting thing is this oxidation actually protects the metal. What happens is when it is exposed to oxygen, a hard layer of aluminum oxide forms and over time it can continue getting thicker...which keeps it from oxidizing any further. Unlike rust it normally does not change the appearance of the aluminum. Usually the oxide is grayish.

The time-honored primer coating for aluminum before painting is zinc chromate, the ugly green stuff. Recent horror stories by the tree huggers claim that if you get within 100 feet of a can of zinc chromate all your kids will be born naked! Like most of the rest of the stuff that really works, I believe it's been regulated out of existence.
Jerry

Like creosote, and pressure treated lumber that actually lasted...

Jon, I'm quickly discovering it may not be worth the effort, so I might just do as you suggest and not bother.

I wouldn't use an acid etch. If you've sandblasted it, then it's already etched, and would be a good substrate for about any type of paint.
BTW, I recalled what I used on the aluminum wheels - it was called Glisten-PC.

B-52s were full of it.

The challenge for getting anything to stick to a used aluminum transmission would be prep work.
The best way, maybe the only practical way would be to start with a completely stripped down case, degrease it, hot pressure wash it and spray it with self-etching primer. Then you can paint it with whatever paint of your choosing.
I use Rustoleum rattle can self-etching primer for aluminum parts.

I’ve used this stuff and have been happy with it. It is a semi-gloss. I sprayed the valve covers and blower 2+ years ago. They haven’t been through heat cycles but still look good. Even the stuff I have put through heat cycles, I’m happy with. It’ll darken the aluminum and almost makes it look like magnesium.

KBS Coatings has a direct to metal clear which I used on my polished aluminum gas tank but it has a gloss finish. If you spray it on from a distance, it might kill some of the gloss

If you look at the picture above, you'll see that it is a KBS product, which also comes in satin.