How To Spray Paint Aluminum?

[~JM~]

Is there anyone here who is real sharp on paint & painting aluminum?

I want to paint my new front brake lever to try & match the rest of the controls. I have several cans of various types of paint in my collection to choose from. I have had the lever blasted & it has a nice "tooth" to it right now. Should I prime the aluminum before I paint it? Or should I just use the color? Should I use Enamel paint, or should I use Lacquer? Here are a few pics of the lever & the types of paint that I have. Maybe I need something that I don't have. If so, what would that be? I want to make sure that the painted lever has a strong finish on it that won't wear off or flake, peel, etc.

I'm looking forward to any paint wisdom that may be out there.

Thank you
~JM~

[rktmanfj]

Honestly, I don't know of any spray paint that would stand up to the wear on levers.

If it were mine, I'd either polish them up, or perhaps try having them powder coated.

[~JM~]

I was originally going to have it powder coated, but I can't disassemble it enough to remove the plastic adjustment knob.

The powder coater didn't want to risk it & even if I were able to take it apart, it may not fit back together after the coating was applied.

Thanks
~JM~

[1tinindian]

I painted aircraft while I served in the USAF and have a lot of experience painting aluminum, so the first piece of advice I'll give you, is to get rid of the spray cans.
There is so little in the way of solids in a spray can, you can never get a high enough film thickness to make it last very long.
Spray cans are mostly solvent to get the paint out of that pathetic small opening in that nozzle.

Aluminum also needs a pretreatment prior to priming, specific for aluminum, and then it should be a two part epoxy primer, followed by a catalyzed top coat of urethane if there is any chance of it lasting.

Like Randy said, I'd polish them, (as I have done) for such a "high traffic" area like your control levers.

A body shop should be able to spray those for you with the right products for not much.

Leon

[Pat Conlon]

Try the paint, you can always strip it off.
On the high friction area, put on a shrink wrap lever cover on it.
I have them on my front brake levers and I love 'em, especially in damp/wet conditions.

[FJscott]

I think I would polish them however if you must paint them you are best to go with a Zinc Chromate primer then I high quality
enamel. its expensive but if you go to a marine hardware store EG...West Marine they will have it. its used for painting aluminum
housings on outboard engines.

another option is Plasti-dip tool dip. it comes in different colors as well. if you go with the dip, don't dip the pivot area.

Scott

[rktmanfj]

I think I would polish them however if you must paint them you are best to go with a Zinc Chromate primer then I high quality
enamel. its expensive but if you go to a marine hardware store EG...West Marine they will have it. its used for painting aluminum
housings on outboard engines.

another option is Plasti-dip tool dip. it comes in different colors as well. if you go with the dip, don't dip the pivot area.

Scott

The nice thing about the dip is it can also be sprayed, and easily removed at will.

www.dipyourcar.com/‎

[Tiger]

  For many years now, I have used good old Heat Shrink on my levers

You can prime and paint the levers first...slip over a cut length of decent quality heat shrink, apply heat and VOILA!!!

It comes in various colours, is scratch resistant, water proof and stands up well to general wear and tear. If it gets a wee bit tatty over the years, peel it off and reapply some new stuff

John.