Help For First Timer on Steps

[DanvilleTrain]

Hey guys, I'm new to the board as I recently bought my first jon. its a 1448 and I'm beginning the conversion. I've read a lot of topics on painting and I've seen a lot of different suggestions and ways to go about doing it. Apologize for being redundant, but if any of you guys could give me a detailed step by step process of it that'd be huge as I'm trying to finish before summer. Basically, please let me know if this is wrong of if I'm missing anything:

1. I've already finished sanding it. Got some scratches and its down to mostly bare aluminum except for a few small patches
2. Use a degreaser to clean it after I've hosed it down?
3. Use an aluminum based self etching primer? I know nothing about primers, but from what I've read on here I need an aluminum oxide or zinc chromate...Also, is this the only primer I need?
4. Paint the boat and let it sit for a couple weeks

 

[Brine]

Welcome aboard DT.

When you get a moment, please update your profile with your location. It's nice to see what part of the world our members call home.

Looks like you've got a good plan. Take into consideration, that once you expose the bare aluminum, it will start to oxidize (form a protective barrier) so if you plan to leave it exposed for a while before you prime, I'd give it a quick once over again before you do. After you've sanded, I'd blow it off and then wipe it down with some acetone and a lint free cloth. I don't see the value in using a degreaser and washing it if you've sanded it down to bare aluminum. If you only have a few small patches of paint left, I'd take the time now to get rid of it. With paint, prepwork determines the quality of the finished product.

Zinc chromate is what you want. Keep in mind that it is toxic, and you will not want to be inhaling it while applying it or sanding it. Paint the boat within 24 hours of priming.

Good luck with the project.

 

[DanvilleTrain]

Brine,
That's a huge help, I appreciate it. At first it was confusing trying to figure all the specifics out but I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[FishingBuds]

Welcome aboard and congrats on the boat, i want to move up to a 1448 myself soon


Looks like Brine has got ya set 8)

 

[DanvilleTrain]

I definitely would, I've had no complaints with mine so far (though I'm just starting the conversion). I'm definitely glad I saved up the extra dough for it.

Brine or anyone else- I'm a little hesitant to use the zinc chromate due to how toxic it is. Also, since it's still so cold here in Virginia, I'd like to store the boat in my basement where its warm and with a huge factory fan running so that I can have it dry and ready for the spring.

Is it possible to use a self-etching primer or any other approach with bare aluminum before painting? If zinc chromate is the only route I'll obviously go in that direction and wait til the summer hits. I realize zinc is the most professional look, and while I want to do as good of job as possible, if there was an option other than zinc chromate I think I'd prefer that at this point.

Thanks for all the comments and advice, it's much appreciated.

 

[natestep]

I used regular rattle can primer. The stuff I got was like $5 a can and it took about six cans. I put two coats on mine. You can check out my paint job on the 85 Rhyan Craft spruce up post.

 

[FishingBuds]

i used ecth primer spray from walmart, its located in the automobile section.

3 years and still counting

 

[DanvilleTrain]

roger, yea i just bought the same stuff off amazon. also, I resand the primer once it dries before I paint it correct?

 

[Nussy]

I used a single coat of Rattle Can Etching Primer then painted right over it without sanding. Then sanded the first coat of paint before applying coat #2.