Anyone have the lowdown on how to paint galvanised steel and get a decent result that will wear well? I have heard of a few different approaches. Let us know your secrets to success.
There may be a better way. But I just use vinegar and steel wool. Then a good primmer and sealer. I've had no problems. But will looking to see what others do? Ron...
rustoleum does a Gal primer, any primer thats specially for Gal will work if you follow the directions, you can powdercoat straight over Gal.
I've used Ospho on it first, then prime and paint. This has worked for the few galvanized items I've painted.
Many years ago we used zinc-chromate ( galvanize is a zinc coating) , the yellow stuff , there are industrial coatings also . white vinegar acts as a mild etch & is used on ga!vanized . mild phosphoric acid mag be used to etch galvanized.
I made a floral metal sculpture for our town square It was galvanized prior to being painted with automotive enamels so it will withstand many years outdoors. After a mild phosphoric wash we used conventional primer and it has held up after many years of weather.
My Dad had his own body repair/spray painting business most of his life and I did my apprenticeship with him. We used an etch primer on zinc and zincanneal truck bodies. I have no idea what brand it was but it looked and smelt like contact cement like you'd use on upholstery. It was fairly thin in consistency so you put some in a spray gun and did a coat that you could see through, waited till it felt tacky and then shot a coat of normal acrylic primer over it. We never had a single comeback and we did hundreds of truck bodies and diecast body parts this way. I've still got some at home that I've used on zincanneal trailer bodies.
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