I am going to paint my mast but first I need to prep it. It has paint on it now but it is going to have to come off, it's in bad shape. If I sand off old paint do I need to etch the mast or can I prime it right away? Thanks
- Status
SailNet articles.
The Related Link is one answer on SailNet. But if you use their Article search engine with "spars" you will find several more. At any rate they say to etch before priming.
The Related Link is one answer on SailNet. But if you use their Article search engine with "spars" you will find several more. At any rate they say to etch before priming.
interthane plus system
I painted my mast using the two part Interlux Interthane plus paint and associated two part primer over a year ago. No etching, just sanding the chalk off trying not to go to bare metal where possible. Gloss is still like (or better than perhaps) new and there is absolutely no evidence of any paint flaking or chipping. The spar gets comments on its appearance often. The paint is unbelievably hard. Painted the pedestal as well as boat topsides and deck at the same time. Same result. Great paint. Absolutely essential to carefully follow directions as to prepaaration, thinning, application, keeping a wet edge, sanding between coats, etc.etc.. Great idea to do some dummy runs before tackling the real thing as there is a narrow range of paint and primer consistency that flattens out nicely and does not run. Painting a dinghy first is a good idea. Unquestionably the most challenging paint I have ever tackled but such a superior product when properly applied that its worth the effort. I just about got it down pat by the time I was finished after several batches less than perfect and making a lot of mistakes. Biggest mistake on the mast that I made was not protecting against dew ( I was painting outside) on the green paint. moisture on green paint cuts gloss drastically. Best application procedure I came up for my H33 Kenyon secion was to paint with roller with all hardware removed, supporting the mast on two sawhorses with a saddle support fitting the forward section of the mast. This way, The roller can pretty easily paint all the way round the mast for perhaps a couple of roller widths and still keep the requisite wet edge. Using this paint requires a lot of planning since the wet edge doesn't stay but a couple of minutes. Any misses just have to be left and sanded out and caught on the next coat. Good luck Terry
I painted my mast using the two part Interlux Interthane plus paint and associated two part primer over a year ago. No etching, just sanding the chalk off trying not to go to bare metal where possible. Gloss is still like (or better than perhaps) new and there is absolutely no evidence of any paint flaking or chipping. The spar gets comments on its appearance often. The paint is unbelievably hard. Painted the pedestal as well as boat topsides and deck at the same time. Same result. Great paint. Absolutely essential to carefully follow directions as to prepaaration, thinning, application, keeping a wet edge, sanding between coats, etc.etc.. Great idea to do some dummy runs before tackling the real thing as there is a narrow range of paint and primer consistency that flattens out nicely and does not run. Painting a dinghy first is a good idea. Unquestionably the most challenging paint I have ever tackled but such a superior product when properly applied that its worth the effort. I just about got it down pat by the time I was finished after several batches less than perfect and making a lot of mistakes. Biggest mistake on the mast that I made was not protecting against dew ( I was painting outside) on the green paint. moisture on green paint cuts gloss drastically. Best application procedure I came up for my H33 Kenyon secion was to paint with roller with all hardware removed, supporting the mast on two sawhorses with a saddle support fitting the forward section of the mast. This way, The roller can pretty easily paint all the way round the mast for perhaps a couple of roller widths and still keep the requisite wet edge. Using this paint requires a lot of planning since the wet edge doesn't stay but a couple of minutes. Any misses just have to be left and sanded out and caught on the next coat. Good luck Terry
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Thanks
Interlux also answered an email and suggested viny-lux etching. So, guess that's what I'll do.
Interlux also answered an email and suggested viny-lux etching. So, guess that's what I'll do.
Wait a Sec!
Hey Mike, Checkout the Photo Forum I'll post more info as to how I spray painted my mast. Since aluminum oxidizes almost instantly you might want to get to get the West system #860 Aluminum etching kit. It contains two liquids. The first is a strong acid to remove the aluminum oxide on the surface of your mast. Paint doesn't stick to aluminum oxide! Right after you apply the acid you hose it off and follow quickly with the chromic acid, which will neutralize the aluminum and give you a 2-hour window in which to apply the Interlux Viny-Lux. (Which is similar to zinc chromate) Then use a coat or two of the Interlux epoxy barrier coat (404/414 yellow can) followed by the Interlux Interthane. Remember PREP is 95% of painting!
Hey Mike, Checkout the Photo Forum I'll post more info as to how I spray painted my mast. Since aluminum oxidizes almost instantly you might want to get to get the West system #860 Aluminum etching kit. It contains two liquids. The first is a strong acid to remove the aluminum oxide on the surface of your mast. Paint doesn't stick to aluminum oxide! Right after you apply the acid you hose it off and follow quickly with the chromic acid, which will neutralize the aluminum and give you a 2-hour window in which to apply the Interlux Viny-Lux. (Which is similar to zinc chromate) Then use a coat or two of the Interlux epoxy barrier coat (404/414 yellow can) followed by the Interlux Interthane. Remember PREP is 95% of painting!
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Thanx Stirling.
That's a great Photo Forum posting. Thanks for taking the time to share. One problem. It makes my 1979 Kenyon mast look sooo bad!
That's a great Photo Forum posting. Thanks for taking the time to share. One problem. It makes my 1979 Kenyon mast look sooo bad!
Stirling....
Thanks for the Pic. I just bought the West products you suggested. A follow on question. I have a lot of pitting. Does the primer/paint level it out? Also, I found a GREAT paint stripper called Dad's at Walmart. I had 2/3's of the mast done in about 1 1/2 hours. Mike
Thanks for the Pic. I just bought the West products you suggested. A follow on question. I have a lot of pitting. Does the primer/paint level it out? Also, I found a GREAT paint stripper called Dad's at Walmart. I had 2/3's of the mast done in about 1 1/2 hours. Mike
Mast Pitting & Filling.
Hi Mike, Yes, I too had some pitting; Interlux 404/414 Epoxy barrier coat Primer will usually fill those voids. If after a coat or two those voids do not fill in then just use a filler (I recommend either West epoxy with 410 filler mixed to the consistency of peanut butter (light yellow). OR 3m Marine Filler, nice stuff but it is blue so you might need a ticker coat of primer to cover up the blue tone) Then sand it smooth and add one more coat of primer to those areas get everything white again prior to the top coat. Final sand those areas to blend the extra primer. I like the 3M 240 grit gold sandpaper with that primer, as it doesn't clog and I could do my whole mast with 1 sheet/quartered. Are you going to spray or roll/brush?
Hi Mike, Yes, I too had some pitting; Interlux 404/414 Epoxy barrier coat Primer will usually fill those voids. If after a coat or two those voids do not fill in then just use a filler (I recommend either West epoxy with 410 filler mixed to the consistency of peanut butter (light yellow). OR 3m Marine Filler, nice stuff but it is blue so you might need a ticker coat of primer to cover up the blue tone) Then sand it smooth and add one more coat of primer to those areas get everything white again prior to the top coat. Final sand those areas to blend the extra primer. I like the 3M 240 grit gold sandpaper with that primer, as it doesn't clog and I could do my whole mast with 1 sheet/quartered. Are you going to spray or roll/brush?
Stirling
Thanks for the info. I plan to roll and tip with a brush. Should get the etching and priming done next weekend. Painting about two weeks later.
Thanks for the info. I plan to roll and tip with a brush. Should get the etching and priming done next weekend. Painting about two weeks later.
Painting the Mast
I had the same problem on my 1984 H37 Cutter. I used Interlux (?) Brightside paint. I do not like heights so I bribed my daughter to go up the mast to sand all the corroded bare spots and prime them with aluminum primer. I do not remember the brand name but I bought it in West Marine to match the off white paint. The primer was a greenish/yellow colour. We just primed (no etching)the sanded bare spots and then lightly sanded the areas still covered with good paint. My daughter then painted the entire mast with a 3" paintbrush. It came out very glossy on the non-primed areas over the old paint and slighrly dull over the primed areas. That was three years back and it still looks good. I am going to put a second coat of gloss over the booms and the mast to about 10' up just to even up the gloss. It was definately worth the cost if you have someone to climb your mast. My cost was the paint (2 quarts) plus a Microsoft X-Box for my daughter. All-in-all a good deal. The best part was the cleaning of the spreaders. Now when I look up it is white under the spreaders which were almost black before the exercise. Don
I had the same problem on my 1984 H37 Cutter. I used Interlux (?) Brightside paint. I do not like heights so I bribed my daughter to go up the mast to sand all the corroded bare spots and prime them with aluminum primer. I do not remember the brand name but I bought it in West Marine to match the off white paint. The primer was a greenish/yellow colour. We just primed (no etching)the sanded bare spots and then lightly sanded the areas still covered with good paint. My daughter then painted the entire mast with a 3" paintbrush. It came out very glossy on the non-primed areas over the old paint and slighrly dull over the primed areas. That was three years back and it still looks good. I am going to put a second coat of gloss over the booms and the mast to about 10' up just to even up the gloss. It was definately worth the cost if you have someone to climb your mast. My cost was the paint (2 quarts) plus a Microsoft X-Box for my daughter. All-in-all a good deal. The best part was the cleaning of the spreaders. Now when I look up it is white under the spreaders which were almost black before the exercise. Don
What if!
Hi Don, So what if you gave your daughter a car, I bet you could have the entire boat painted, along with the bright work
Great story!
Hi Don, So what if you gave your daughter a car, I bet you could have the entire boat painted, along with the bright work
Great story!- Status