Priming/Painting window frames

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:17 pm

I know several of you have done so over the past 2-5 years, including one guy (can't remember who) who repainted in white!! Mine have needed done for a while. Don't know if I will get them done this spring or in the fall, but wanted to find out how things are holding up for those who have done it, so I can decide what approach to take for mine.

My environment may not be as harsh as some of yours - Canadian sun is a 'tad' weaker than in Florida, and fresh water only so no concerns about salt...

So... for those who have done the job over the last while, how's it holding up? What did you use for paint? How applied (brush, roll/tip, spray)? What prep did you do? And how rough was it when you started?

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:20 pm

aluminum or metal? how rough? pitted are yours?

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:12 pm

Window frames on all the F boats are aluminum (as far as I know).

Mine aren't really pitted, its just a matter of 33 year old paint kinda losing its gloss, has a few scrapes and chips in it, and is stating to flake off in a few spots. She's gotta look purdy, and the frames are starting to detract from that.

Nancy · Post by **Nancy** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:21 pm

I painted the aluminum window frames on our F32 a few years ago, and all you real painters and purists are probably going to have a fit, but I just scraped and sanded lightly as needed and painted with Rustoleum gloss black. It looks great and is holding up beautifully. But remember - we're in fresh water. The paint wasn't in bad shape - just faded. So it was more cosmetic than anything.

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:29 pm

yea your lucky, aluminum pits bad in salt air. i have always been trained that you cant et your aluminum tools touch your metal tools. it is very real. jaguar porsche, etc so when you do sand your window frames, use new sand paper. Aluminum is like any other metal it needs etch primer. everything is the same as metal execpt that.. you cant join the two by transfer for any reason, the aluminum will get screwed up in time. clean sand paper, can of etch primer a light coat the paint. brush or spray wont matter. your base has been det and it will last. top finish is up to you! rattle cans always look cheap to me IMO. BUt rattle can ETCH primer is good enuf, its 5$ and you need it on your bare metal

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:33 pm

Nancy wrote:I painted the aluminum window frames on our F32 a few years ago, and all you real painters and purists are probably going to have a fit, but I just scraped and sanded lightly as needed and painted with Rustoleum gloss black. It looks great and is holding up beautifully. But remember - we're in fresh water. The paint wasn't in bad shape - just faded. So it was more cosmetic than anything.

good to see you Nancy, and yes you are correct! if your in fresh water then it probly never is a problem, it peels over time no corrision. if you need a real restore then yea it can be bad. Aluminum is funny and soft. I over kill but what I do last 10-15-20 years or i hope. new age ways are coming out all time.. I want show quilty darn look at those window frames

but I also know I wont have to deal with them again. IS JUST METAL

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:56 pm

Nancy wrote:I painted the aluminum window frames on our F32 a few years ago, and all you real painters and purists are probably going to have a fit, but I just scraped and sanded lightly as needed and painted with Rustoleum gloss black. It looks great and is holding up beautifully. But remember - we're in fresh water. The paint wasn't in bad shape - just faded. So it was more cosmetic than anything.

How many years ago? And did you just tape and spray it? And did you have any spots right down the raw aluminum that you just painted over?

Nancy · Post by **Nancy** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:19 pm

captainmaniac wrote:How many years ago? And did you just tape and spray it? And did you have any spots right down the raw aluminum that you just painted over?

I didn't use spray paint - I used real paint in a can and a good brush. I had to keep thinning it to keep the brush from dragging. There were a very few small spots down to bare aluminum, and I put a couple of coats on those areas. I'm guessing I did this three or four years ago - don't have my notes nearby at the moment.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:31 pm

I also use the Rustoleum ( brush) and it worked well , no primer and has held up well ( 5 years ) salt water . good stuff

trojanmanXS · Post by **trojanmanXS** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:29 am

first things first , to start the project you need a 17yr old son that owes you money

then once the debt is assertained you put him in thebasement with a palm sander and explain its not done until all the paint is removed " this will take 6-7 try's as you will have to keep stating thats not enough!. once he's got all the old paint removed I used grey primer spray paint and then scuffed and hit it with flat black spray can. looks great and holding fine so far .

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:41 am

Has anyone used an epoxy product on their frames?

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:45 am

I used self etching primer and Brightsides black on mine window frames last month

lawyerdave71 · Post by **lawyerdave71** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:31 pm

My F-30 frames are almost bare aluminum now.

I've done all the research and I am going with Rustoleum Glossy Black on outside and Flat on the insides.

Some have suggested a pitted glossy black - I have to look at a sample of that before making final final decision.

I am in Fresh water.

Key is to use a foam brush and roller on most of it to avoid brush marks