How to paint aluminium calipers

ELIMINATOR

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• Apr 19, 2007

• #1

OK, what paint should I use? I was hoping just to use Smooth Hammerite, now after doing some research, it looks as if I've also got to use an aluminium primer More bloody time. Has anyone painted bike calipers, what did you use?

 

snoopy

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• Apr 19, 2007

• #2

Zinc primer, expensive but does work. You are best of getting them annodised - lots of companies will do it cheaply.

 

snoopy

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• Apr 19, 2007

• #3

Reread - Powder/plastic coating is your best bet as paint and annodising will get chipped from the stones. The plastic coating has minimal rebound properties, but enough to resist chipping.

 

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• Apr 19, 2007

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Anodising to an industrial standard won't chip, trouble is that (in the process we have done at work) it adds 0,025 to external surfaces, as well as penetrating by the same amount. Don't fancy getting this done though

I've tried tapping out G1/4" thread after anodising, completely knackered the tap.

Should have said, it's a rear caliper, so more protected from stone chipping.

 

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• Apr 20, 2007

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Asked the painters at work........................... "What, you mean like what's in this spray can?"

 

Mech

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• Apr 20, 2007

• #6

Etch primer for aluminium . Any good trade motor factors will sell it in an spray can

 

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• Apr 20, 2007

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Theirs was free , Not wanting to buy a whole can just to use such a small amount.

 

Pukmeister

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• Apr 21, 2007

• #8

ELIMINATOR said:

Anodising to an industrial standard won't chip, trouble is that (in the process we have done at work) it adds 0,025 to external surfaces, as well as penetrating by the same amount. Don't fancy getting this done though

I've tried tapping out G1/4" thread after anodising, completely knackered the tap.

Should have said, it's a rear caliper, so more protected from stone chipping.

Click to expand...

The process of anodising also hardens the outer skin of the aluminium by a factor of 10,000 (yes, ten thousand) which is probably why your taps had problems. It's not electroplating, its a surface conversion process which alters the structure of the metal.

 

Jinxit

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• Apr 21, 2007

• #9

If your going to paint don't forget the calipers get hot so you really need heat resistant paint.