Painting aluminum parts correctly can make the difference between a professional looking, long lasting painted surface and a paint job that cracks and peels within a short period of time. Aluminum parts are used in a variety of applications, from airplanes, boats and cars to outdoor kitchens, and you can paint them any color. Painting aluminum parts at home seems difficult at first, but with the right tools and instructions, you can transform your plain, unpainted aluminum parts for only the cost of the conversion coating, primer, paint and a few other inexpensive items.
Clean the part with wax and grease remover and allow it to dry for 30 minutes.
Sand the aluminum part, to bare metal, using 80-grit sandpaper attached to a sanding block.
Remove scratches created by the 80-grit sandpaper by sanding the part with 180-grit sandpaper on the sanding block.
Sand the part, again, with 400-grit sandpaper on the sanding block.
Spray the part with conversion coating and allow the part to sit for 30 minutes before washing the coating and oxidation off with water.
Cover all of the areas of the part that will not be painted with painter's tape.
Spray three thin, light coats of high-build primer on the part. Allow the primer to dry for 30 minutes between the first two coats and six hours after spraying the third coat.
Sand the part, under running water, with 600-grit sandpaper on the sanding block.
Sand the part,again, under running water, with 800-grit sandpaper on the sanding block.
Clean the part with wax and grease remover to remove all of the sanding dust and metal particles and allow it to dry for 30 minutes.
Spray three coats of heat-resistant metal paint onto the part. Allow the paint to dry for 30 minutes between the first two coats and six hours after the third coat.
Sand the part, under running water, using 1,500-grit sandpaper on the sanding block.
Sand the part, again, under running water, with 2,000-grit sandpaper, on the sanding block, until a dull finish is achieved.
Apply three coats of rubbing compound to the painted part by applying the compound to a clean dry cloth and rubbing it onto the surface of the part. Follow the directions on the bottle for drying times between coats.
Polish the part with metal wax applied to a soft cloth.
