I have a galvanized steel trailer, is it paintable?

If so,
- what is the proper procedure?
- and what kind of paint should I use?

Thanks

I asked a simmilar question in a thread titled " What happens if you paint a
galvanized trailer??"
that was started on Oct 18, 2002 here in rec.boats. If you Google it there
is some interesting information and ideas in that thread.

Galvanizing is the most durable "finish" that can be applied to metal that
is going to be used in an environment that is rust friendly.(i.e.,salt
water) Don't paint zinc, just leave it alone and let it do it's anodic
job.

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

I asked a simmilar question in a thread titled " What happens if you paint
a
galvanized trailer??"
that was started on Oct 18, 2002 here in rec.boats. If you Google it
there
is some interesting information and ideas in that thread.

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.

I neighbor back in Waco painted a galvanized trailer once.
Looked like mucho Sh1t. But then he did it himself.. WITH A BRUSH!
UGH! heh

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

"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