FJ Cruisers of Northern California

Is powder coating aluminum necessary?

MAAS brothers in Livermore wanted $250 to powder coat my aluminum bumper. Too steep for my pocket book if you ask me. Can I just rattle can it and just touch it up as needed?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hope on June 4, 2013 at 7:46pm

Aluminum will not corrode, it will oxidise, but that is a one time coat unless you grind it off, it will then re-seal itself with another layer of oxidation. I weld alumunim regularly, both with the Tig process and the Mig process.

You can anodise aluminum with a color of you choice and it will last a long time and give hardness to the surface.

You can powder coat it too, but that is best as a coating for steel, lasts forever.

The coating of choice on a raw aluminum bumper (mill finish) if you are going to see vigorous off-road duty would be to get a chemical from a good paint shop, or H-D, Lowe's, etc called aluma-prep. Spray or wash the aluminum with this solvent, then wash with clear water, and dry. Buy a good quality epoxy primer and sporay the bumper. When dry rattle-can with your favourite color and touch-up as necessary later when you get scratches. The primer will hold and the rattle cans are cheap and easy to match. Especially good for skid-plates

Steve Hope

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Permalink Reply by DX FJC on June 4, 2013 at 7:50pm

Yeah anodized would look good and it will make the surface a bit more scratch resistant too.

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Permalink Reply by tsy87 on June 4, 2013 at 11:40pm

the little bit of scratch resistance anodizing may offer is completely negated by slamming down on rocks hahaha.

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Permalink Reply by F@kken FJ on June 5, 2013 at 10:59am

That's the one thing I was afraid of with the aluminum bumper. Having it crushed like a soda can.

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Permalink Reply by DX FJC on June 5, 2013 at 8:03pm

Nothing will stop that... I'm talking setting a coke can on the bumper or rock chips from the highway or whatever.

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Permalink Reply by Back in Black (FJ4 Tahoe) on June 4, 2013 at 8:38pm

Sounds like Steve knows his aluminum...are you able to fab up some customs aluminum skids???

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Permalink Reply by F@kken FJ on June 5, 2013 at 10:58am

Thanks for the insight Steve! Sounds like I'll be saving myself a few bucks! Would you recommend using 50 50 vinegar and water solution to clean the raw aluminum?