painting anodized aluminum

mroskothen · #1 (**permalink**) 08-13-2003

It seems like in order to paint an aluminum mast one has to sand it blank and then apply etcher -> primer -> paint.

Today I started sanding my traveler and the anodized surface is VERY tough. I used 80 grit and not much came off. Then I used my grinder a little bit and I got down to the blank aluminum. Grinding my traveler and eventually my mast seems a bit too much. Has anyone experience with painting anodized aluminum? How do you get rid of the anodized layer?

The traveler is not painted, just anodized.

Thanks, Markus

GordMay · #2 (**permalink**) 08-13-2003

Don''t remove anodizing, just prime or etch it with Zinc Chromate (''green'' outdrive primer) or Oxalic Acid (Aluminum ''brightener'').
Gord