[Public-List] Natural aluminum finish for mast/boom

[Michael Connolly]

Christian,
I too was surprised that all responders missed the point. To keep it natural is what I would like to do myself. Once painted spars become yet another maintenance issue. Originally the spars were anodized. This comes in colors like those tumbles you purchased cottage cheeze in during the 1950's Anodizing is accomplished in a controlled environment. This is so the protective corrosion layer is uniform and not with lapses. Normally done just after the extrusion process by the mfg. Smaller parts, i.e., window frames can be done after market, but long items like spars I just don't know. First all surfaces are striped and super cleaned. Then without hands touching the part is anodized.

For Albergers and other sailboaters I have seen folks clean the spar and then polish to a high luster with a metal polish. Super clean all polish residue and then allow to slowly oxidize naturally. The key is to remove all blemishes, stains, sealants, adhesives to have a pure clean aluminum surface to then reoxidize. It the surface it notfree of blemishes then the reoxidization will not be uniform. Blotches will form and I have heard that people who know metallic chemisrty will say the the defects in the reoxidized surface will become anodic to the blemish free intact oxidized surface.

I mostly have sweet water experience with this. Salt water Will make a uniform reoxidation more difficult.
Michael

> On March 13, 2019 at 9:05 AM Christian Douglas via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org mailto:public-list at lists.alberg30.org > wrote:
> 
> 
>     I don’t want to paint it. I’m stripping it to leave it natural. Just wanna
>     be sure if I need to treat it with something or leave it alone to oxidize
>     naturally.
> 
>     On Wed, Mar 13, 2019 at 08:31 Gordon Laco via Public-List <
>     public-list at lists.alberg30.org mailto:public-list at lists.alberg30.org > wrote:
> 
>         > > Yacht painting too… aluminium is not a problem to paint so long as
> >         procedures are followed.
> > 
> >         Gordon Laco
> >         www.gordonlaco.com
> > 
> > 
> >             > > > On Mar 13, 2019, at 8:29 AM, americo silva via Public-List <
> > > 
> > >         > > public-list at lists.alberg30.org mailto:public-list at lists.alberg30.org > wrote:
> >         >
> > 
> >             > > > get info on airplane painting they have it down pat
> > > 
> > > 
> > >             On Tue, Mar 12, 2019 at 7:02 PM Michael Grosh via Public-List <
> > >             public-list at lists.alberg30.org mailto:public-list at lists.alberg30.org > wrote:
> > > 
> > >                 > > > > aluminum is tough to paint. The oxidation can be considered a protective
> > > >                 barrier (that is what the anodizing process is as in anodized spars).
> > > > 
> > > >             > > > 
> > >         > > The
> >         >> problem is paint doesn't stick to that well without fairly aggressive
> >         >> priming-it's an acid process.
> >         >>
> >         >> On Tue, Mar 12, 2019, 15:57 Christian Douglas via Public-List <
> >         >> public-list at lists.alberg30.org mailto:public-list at lists.alberg30.org > wrote:
> >         >>
> >         >>> I stripped my spreaders last night and just started on the boom. The
> >         tops
> >         >>> of the spreaders barely had paint left on them. The boom has lots of
> >         >> paint
> >         >>> flaking off. Looking for recommendations about leaving the aluminum
> >         >>> natural. Would I need to get rid of the current oxidation? Does the
> >         >>> aluminum need to be treated in any way? Clear coat? Any help on going
> >         >> this
> >         >>> route would be appreciated.
> >         >>>
> >         >>> Christian
> >         >>> Kittiwake #76
> >         >>> _______________________________________________
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