Painting Aluminum tunnels

omullinger · Aug 6, 2012

I was thinking about painting my tunnel for the fun of it and see how it turns out. My question is has anyone had any success painting tunnels or aluminum for that matter, what did you use for prep, etc? Or any words of discouragement from people that have painted aluminum as well.

pistonbroke800 · Aug 6, 2012

If you want your sled to look like a piece of crap go for it. If you want your sled to look nice take it apart and get all the aluminium anodized or powder coated.

moyiesledhead · Aug 6, 2012

Ya, aluminum is notoriously hard to paint if you don't know what you're doing. It's all in the prep. Lot's of info on the web.

Bnorth · Aug 6, 2012

I've painted a fair bit of cast aluminum, wheels etc, and it's easier if they're already painted. If not then sand and clean really well, use etching primer, then paint and clear.

Edit: and since it's a tunnel it will probably look like hell within 2 seasons.

neilsleder · Aug 6, 2012

I to want to paint my tunnel. But am worried that it will look like sh!t after a few rides. Would really like to get it powder coated but that's alot of work! I was thinking of taking my sled to a decal shop and see if they can put a big decal over the hole tunnel. That way if it doesn't hold up I can just peal it off.

omullinger · Aug 6, 2012

Ive painted cars so I know the whole prep work side. I just have never painted aluminum. Im starting to lean on the powder coat side though for the tunnel and all the other parts painted. Decal seems ok but I just don't like spending 300+ on decals

krash · Aug 6, 2012

omullinger said:
I was thinking about painting my tunnel for the fun of it and see how it turns out. My question is has anyone had any success painting tunnels or aluminum for that matter, what did you use for prep, etc? Or any words of discouragement from people that have painted aluminum as well.

You'll be better off powder coating it. IMO I'm getting mine done this week so I should have some pics up next week or two. :beer:

omullinger · Aug 6, 2012

When you get it done would you mind sending me completed pics on a pm? I haven't had many days off to check S&M

krash said:
You'll be better off powder coating it. IMO I'm getting mine done this week so I should have some pics up next week or two.

krash · Aug 7, 2012

omullinger said:
When you get it done would you mind sending me completed pics on a pm? I haven't had many days off to check S&M[ Don't mind at all. it might be abit yet the powder come in all lumpy and hard so its NFG. gotta order some new stuff.

MonsterM8Turbo · Aug 14, 2012

I have seen it done before u need to take a pail of warm water with some soap and sand most of the scratches out with a medium coarse sandpaper then repeat with a finer paper, after it dries blow it with compressed air to get most of the metal filings off, then wipe with alcohol. I reqimend the tunnel be warm. The apply thin coats of pain to prevent streaking, and allow the paint to dry between coats. After your satisfied with the coats usually three four then clear in a coat or two......

Teth-Air · Aug 15, 2012

Last season I got 2 sleds (tunnels) and my truck deck (sides) wrapped by a local sign company. I think it was about $300-$400 total and it held up really well and no snow would stick. This was with custom graphics too so you could decide if you want gloss black, or go wild. Definately will do the same this year to the new sleds and in addition I will ask for some spare material to see if I can get it to stick inside the tunnel where snow builds up. This is the only way to go when you compare price v.s. labour to paint.

adamjohn · Mar 18, 2018

Teth-Air said:
Last season I got 2 sleds (tunnels) and my truck deck (sides) wrapped by a local sign company. I think it was about $300-$400 total and it held up really well and no snow would stick. This was with custom graphics too so you could decide if you want gloss black, or go wild. Definately will do the same this year to the new sleds and in addition I will ask for some spare material to see if I can get it to stick inside the tunnel where snow builds up. This is the only way to go when you compare price v.s. labour to paint.

What company did you use?

catrutt · Mar 18, 2018

Just buy wrap from amazon and wrap it yourself

catrutt · Mar 18, 2018

You can buy bulk carbon fiber wrap for cheep and it works great .

sledneck__11 · Mar 18, 2018

Did this a few years back on my little bros sled, held up over 2 seasons no prob and had the orange powder coated. Seen this sled on kijiji earlier this winter and unless guy touched it up still looked great. Wrap the tunnel def way easier tho this was before wraps ever took off

slededjr · Mar 18, 2018

Painted some over the years with good success. Prep is key

butthead1 · Mar 19, 2018

scuff, etch, alodine prime and then paint.
i work on aircraft

skegpro · Mar 20, 2018

butthead1 said:
scuff, etch, alodine prime and then paint.
i work on aircraft

Where could a guy find alodine in Edmonton?

And are you talking alodine 1201?

What would you recommend for follow up primer and finishing coats?
Rattle cans?

Painting Aluminum tunnels

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