A question for you painters.

[John Schmidt]

Recently had a box built of diamond plate aluminum for my one-wheel trailer. The bike is black and if it's not too involved I'd like to spray the box to match. What would be the process needed to spray it black, do I have to rough it up all over first with some sandpaper, or can I get by using a self-etching primer first then spray it black? It looks fine all nice and shiney the way it is, just would like to have the color match the bike is all.

[Ricky-D]

If the self etching primer will work on your material, I wouldn't give it a second thought!  Otherwise a little scuffing would be indicated.

[junior]

what you want is epoxy primer, wipe the alum. down with body prep and a scotch bright pad do a final wipe down, spray the epoxy. i have had the best luck with dupont ful-poxy. then you can spray over that with what ever you wanted

[JimC]

+1
on the epoxy primer after wiping down with some aluma-prep, (found at most automotive paint stores)  Dupont or PPG will work just great
Jim

[John Schmidt]

I have some scrap diamond plate, might experiment on that first before going for the real McCoy.