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01-28-2022, 11:19 AM
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#1 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Orcas Island Washington
Posts: 5,881
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Painting an aluminum radiator?
I have a couple of the Chinese aluminum radiators and I do like them and the price. About 225.00 and free shipping. Before I install this next one I would like to paint it a satin black. Scuff up the tanks with scotchbrite? What do I prime with? Does paint on the fins hinder cooling? Any advice? Thanks. GB
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Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1946 Tonner Pickup with 226 H six, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, now wearing 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson) |
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01-28-2022, 11:25 AM
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#2 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 563
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Painting an aluminum radiator?
I looked into this once, and what I found while was there is "special" radiator paint available the radiator shop and repair guys suggested the idea is they simply like to use a well thinned out black paint, basically.
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01-28-2022, 11:54 AM
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#3 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 1,786
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Go to a paint store and get some alodine. It is a conversion coating which prevents corrosion, and more importantly for you, acts as a primer. It leaves a very thin film. Thinned black paint would work over this, test for compatibility. Eastwood does or did have "soecial" radiator paint.
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I dig coal, which provides motivation for EVs. |
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01-28-2022, 11:59 AM
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#4 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 7,647
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
paint holds very well to aluminum. you dont need any special prep.
with that said, yes it does hinder your cooling to some degree. my suggestion would to be to put on a very light coat....... I was a house painter for years and aluminum loves and holds paint well. |
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01-28-2022, 12:47 PM
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#5 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Coral Springs FL
Posts: 11,604
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Wonder how the black paint for Bar-B-Q grilles would work. It's thin and covers good.
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01-28-2022, 01:07 PM
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#6 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6,370
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
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01-28-2022, 01:16 PM
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#7 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,909
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Aircraft have been painted forever using a binding primer. Aluminum boats also. Newc
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01-28-2022, 02:05 PM
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#8 |
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Davenport, Ia.
Posts: 2
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
I was told you should use self etching primer on aluminum. Is that not necessary?
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01-28-2022, 03:57 PM
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#9 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Hartford, Ct
Posts: 5,898
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Any time I want a satin black finish on bare steel or aluminum I use this.
No sanding, just de-grease to clean, no top-coat required.
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DON'T RECALL DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIKES OR DISLIKES |
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01-28-2022, 04:01 PM
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#10 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Orcas Island Washington
Posts: 5,881
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
I will be in town this afternoon. I think I saw some self etching primer by rustoleum a couple months ago at our hardware store. Maybe a light coat of that and some bbq black. And the scotchbrite can't hurt, right?
__________________
Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1946 Tonner Pickup with 226 H six, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, now wearing 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson) |
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01-28-2022, 04:39 PM
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#11 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,200
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Just read the label carefully as some BBQ type paints need to get very hot to cure the paint.
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01-28-2022, 05:01 PM
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#12 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: St. Augustine, Fl.
Posts: 438
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Quote:
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IN GOD WE TRUST - SEMPER FIDELIS John 
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01-28-2022, 05:11 PM
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#13 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 794
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Quote:
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01-28-2022, 05:14 PM
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#14 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,259
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Some claim black-anodized aluminum radiators are where it's at for the ultimate in corrosion resistance, lasting beauty & high thermal emissivity. 8^)
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01-28-2022, 05:46 PM
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#15 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SoCal-Redlands
Posts: 3,413
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Eastwood sells radiator paint. Kind of pricey.
https://www.eastwood.com/ew-radiator...in-finish.html Also available from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Eastwood-1034.../dp/B003CRM9CU IIRC there is at least thread on the HAMB about painting aluminum radiators.
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Making the simple complicated for over 30 years. |
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01-28-2022, 09:40 PM
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#16 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia
Posts: 7,082
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Eastwood's shipping is out of this world.
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Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm". |
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01-28-2022, 10:41 PM
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#17 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SoCal-Redlands
Posts: 3,413
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Quote:
Amazon says free delivery but takes 6-10 days to ship. Probably have to add at least a week on top of that for the actual shipping cross country. And then it has to get on the ferry to Orcas Island. Maybe get it but Easter? 
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Making the simple complicated for over 30 years. |
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01-28-2022, 10:44 PM
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#18 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Orcas Island Washington
Posts: 5,881
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Too late for an anodized rad.....
__________________
Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1946 Tonner Pickup with 226 H six, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, now wearing 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson) |
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01-28-2022, 10:49 PM
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#19 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Orcas Island Washington
Posts: 5,881
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
Tommorow gonna pick up the primer and bbq paint..... If my wife gives me a little rope it may be running by Sunday night. But... I am not gonna push the issue because she is pretty GD cute.
__________________
Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1946 Tonner Pickup with 226 H six, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, now wearing 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson) |
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01-28-2022, 11:12 PM
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#20 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,025
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Re: Painting an aluminum radiator?
I put BBQ paint directly onto a couple aluminum radiators; seemed to hold up well. Even when removing bugs from the one in my roadster.
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