I agree- there is not much out there paint-wise that provides as durable a
finish as galvanization. If it's tired looking there are plenty of products
out there that'll spiff it up. If you try to paint it...my bet is that
you'll end up with an uglier mess and a whole lot of time and effort wasted
then before you started.

B

"Bryan" wrote in message
et.cable.rogers.com...
I agree- there is not much out there paint-wise that provides as durable a
finish as galvanization. If it's tired looking there are plenty of
products
out there that'll spiff it up. If you try to paint it...my bet is that
you'll end up with an uglier mess and a whole lot of time and effort
wasted
then before you started.

.....and his wife will never let him forget it, either. :-)

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"Bryan" wrote in message
et.cable.rogers.com...
I agree- there is not much out there paint-wise that provides as durable
a
finish as galvanization. If it's tired looking there are plenty of
products
out there that'll spiff it up. If you try to paint it...my bet is that
you'll end up with an uglier mess and a whole lot of time and effort
wasted
then before you started.

....and his wife will never let him forget it, either. :-)



Every car is galvanized and painted in the floorpan and fender wells,
probably a lot more of the car's sheetmetal also.

True- but cars are generally made from sheet steel. Trailers are usually
aluminum. Every tried to paint aluminum siding? Never looks pretty
(unfortunately speaking from experience).

Bryan

I think you're a little mixed up there Bryan, if it is galvanised it is made
of steel. If it is made of aluminum it could be anodised but not
galvanised. Similar process in some ways but not the same. Most trailers
I'm familiar with are galvanised steel. Or course I live next to the
ocean...
--
Ken Heaton & Anne Tobin
Cape Breton Island, Canada
kenheaton AT ess wye dee DOT eastlink DOT ca

"Bryan" wrote in message
et.cable.rogers.com...
True- but cars are generally made from sheet steel. Trailers are usually
aluminum. Every tried to paint aluminum siding? Never looks pretty
(unfortunately speaking from experience).

Bryan

Nope- I'm not mixed up. My trailer is made from extruded "galvanized"
aluminum I-beam. Aluminum is very susceptible to galvanic corrosion. You are
partly right though. Iron/steel is traditionally galvanized (zinc treated)
and aluminum anodized.
Recently, aluminum manufacturers found they could produce a galvanized
aluminum product that was more cost effective, equally, if not more, durable
and had a more polished or finished look that was perfect for outdoor use
and required very little care/maintenance. But don't believe what I
say....do a search on "galvanized aluminum" and you'll find numerous uses in
industries from aircraft manufacture, to outdoor lighting, to food container
coatings, and yes....even boat trailers.

B

"Calif Bill" wrote in message link.net...
"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"Bryan" wrote in message
et.cable.rogers.com...
I agree- there is not much out there paint-wise that provides as durable
a
finish as galvanization. If it's tired looking there are plenty of
products
out there that'll spiff it up. If you try to paint it...my bet is that
you'll end up with an uglier mess and a whole lot of time and effort
wasted
then before you started.

....and his wife will never let him forget it, either. :-)



Every car is galvanized and painted in the floorpan and fender wells,
probably a lot more of the car's sheetmetal also.

When did they start doing that to ANY cars? I agree that it's
a good idea, but I've never owned a car that was galvanized.

Acid will readily attack and disolve zinc. Acid rain can
destroy a galvanized coating, but if it's hot-diped and not
electroplated it may be thick enough to last a good long time.

If you insist on painting it, Rustoleum used to make a galvanized
metal primer. I had good luck with it on ductwork in the basement
and downspouts outside. After priming you cna use regular paint
for the topcoat. But that was a very long time ago before there
were VOC restictions on paints. I dunno is an equivalent is
available today.

--

FF

Audi has been manufacturing a galvanized aluminum car (the A8 and S8 for the
last 8 years or so). Acid rain, or just plain old "rain" as we've come to
know it today, can destroy just about anything given enough time. So IMHO
it's a non-issue in this respect.
Most paints for that type of application are regulated, highly toxic,
generally not available at a home-depot type store, and very expensive. I
still say, not worth the hassle. Aluminum is one of those surfaces that
needs perfect prep, perfect application environment and still does not last
as long as traditional rust paint on steel applications.
I did try one of those "comparable" paints (don't remember who it was
made by, but was not cheap) when I ventured into repainting the aluminum
siding at my cottage 3 years ago. I followed directions to the letter and
waited for the perfect day. The results looked mediocre at best. Today, I am
looking into vinyl siding. All my effort has yielded flaking, bubbles and
cracking whenever you put pressure on a spot on any of the slats. No....I'll
never paint aluminum again.

B

"Fred the Red Shirt" wrote in message
When did they start doing that to ANY cars? I agree that it's
a good idea, but I've never owned a car that was galvanized.


Say what?
My 95 Voyager made much of the use of galvanized panels in the doors, back
hatch etc.
As a mater of fact, I'll quote the brochure which I still have.

'Corrosion Protection Extensive use of galvanized steel; lower bodyside
chip-resistant coating"

The only visible rust is on my 'liftgate'. the #$$%# handle flexes the sheet
steel and the paint peeled off to reveal galvanized steel. I, very stupidly,
sanded the galvanized coating and used a touch-up brush. The new paint
didn't hold and I now have surface rust instead of a galvanized look. D'oh!

Don't feel too bad Don, apparently Chev can't get the paint over galvanized
right either. Paint came off the from of the hood and the rear lift gate of
my 89 Blazer in no time at all!

surfnturf

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Fred the Red Shirt" wrote in message
When did they start doing that to ANY cars? I agree that it's
a good idea, but I've never owned a car that was galvanized.


Say what?
My 95 Voyager made much of the use of galvanized panels in the doors, back
hatch etc.
As a mater of fact, I'll quote the brochure which I still have.

'Corrosion Protection Extensive use of galvanized steel; lower bodyside
chip-resistant coating"

The only visible rust is on my 'liftgate'. the #$$%# handle flexes the
sheet
steel and the paint peeled off to reveal galvanized steel. I, very
stupidly,
sanded the galvanized coating and used a touch-up brush. The new paint
didn't hold and I now have surface rust instead of a galvanized look.
D'oh!