Re-painting aluminium

AliceW

A few years ago I bought 2 black hanging basket brackets. The paint has worn off and I need to repaint them, but don't know how to do this because I think they are made of aluminium. I don't want to struggle trying to take them down to paint them, so not looking for an aerosol paint. Does anyone know if  there a one-coat paint I could use--- or would I need to use a primer first on the worn away bits.  I have some Hammerite direct to rust in my shed,  but I don't think this is right for aluminium. Any advice would be great.

FreeBear

Aluminium needs an etching primer, and must go on to a clean surface. Looks like your bracket is corroded, so ideally it wants to come down, shot/grit blasted, and then primed & painted.

Quick & dirty method - Wire brush all the loose stuff off, then give it a couple of coats of Hammerite/Smoothrite. Replace in five years or so.

TychoTMA

I'm not normally a fan of Hammerite stuff these days, but they do a Special Metals primer, which is suitable for use with aluminium and I've had very good results from that. Will need a top coat of something suitable.

AliceW

Thank you. Just found this on a Hammerite website:

. Does Hammerite need a primer for non-ferrous metal? Direct To Rust: In order to use this on non-ferrous (non-rusting) metal you must first apply one coat of Hammerite Special Metals Primer.Direct To Galvanised:

No primer is required on weathered / old galvanised steel or aluminium, copper or brass.

#

I wonder if my aluminium brackets are weathered enough to be able to take the Hammerite direct to rust I found  in my shed.

Maxson

I would use zinsser all coat. You can paint most things outside with it.  

Maxson

I wonder if my aluminium brackets are weathered enough to be able to take the Hammerite direct to rust I found  in my shed. 

I would definitely give that a go. Even if it's not ideal it will probably last a few years anyway.