To clear coat or not - Polished metal

[jedibiker]

Hey all.

I recently stripped my grab rail back to Ali as it was shitty paint and metal looks good. (im sure you suggested it)

But its shiny til touched, then grubby. So, do i need to clear coat it or use a different product. Will clear stick to bare metal.

cheers

[husoi]

What on earth is Ali???

[jedibiker]

its what us yorkshire folk call Aluminium but you knew what i meant

[husoi]

Well.

Al is the element symbol Ali could also mean Aliexpress or 1000 other names

Hopefully you didn't remove the anodisation coating that prevents aluminium from corroding.

Clear coat will adhere to bare metal but you should give it a pass of 400 grit (or lower) sandpaper to help with adherence because there is no chemical bonding between metal and varnish (clear).

[jedibiker]

Well.

Al is the element symbol Ali could also mean Aliexpress or 1000 other names

Hopefully you didn't remove the anodisation coating that prevents aluminium from corroding.

Clear coat will adhere to bare metal but you should give it a pass of 400 grit (or lower) sandpaper to help with adherence because there is no chemical bonding between metal and varnish (clear).

 

But grabrails are only made of steel or Aluminium? or so i thought.

The metal was wire wooled, sanded, polished so no doubt ive stripped it right down.. lol

[husoi]

If Steel then you really want to have proper rust protection. clear coat is a thin layer that will only look shiny and will do buggerall to prevent rust.

Al on the other hand still does corrode by reaction to acid and alkaline solutions (the white powder we see on Al mostly near the sea) so it will also need some protection before the clear coating

[Six30]

lacquer it with aerosol , light coats , let each coat dry first

[raesewell]

400 grit is way to coarse 800 as a minimum.