jamfred
New Member
Is there any specific paint to use on a trailer? I have multiple rust spots that need taken care of and need to know the proper way to repair them.
Trailer Paint?
- Thread starter jamfred
- Start date
Nope, nothing special is needed. You can get expensive paint if you want, but not needed. Don't think of it as painting a trailer. You're just painting steel. Prep would be no different because it's a trailer, either.
Henry Boyd
Well-Known Member
- Apr 24, 2007
- 6,014
- Boat Info
- ‘09 Sabre 38 Hardtop Express “Serenity”
- Engines
- Volvo D6 w/IPS450 Pods
Dennis is right, if the trailer was originally painted, i.e. just painted steel.
If you are trying to cover rust spots that have appeared on a galvanized trailer you will need to use a primer formulated specifically for galvanized metal. While any primer will stick to the metal that has rusted (after being properly de-rusted by grinding or blasting), you will need to use an etching primer for the area of galvanized that will be covered. If you don't use an etching primer, the paint will fall off. Since rust spots on galvanized means the zinc has been converted to zinc oxide and fallen off the trailer, the galvanized layer around the rust spot will tend to be very thin and you will want to paint it, or you will eventually have painted spots with a rust ring.
Henry
If you are trying to cover rust spots that have appeared on a galvanized trailer you will need to use a primer formulated specifically for galvanized metal. While any primer will stick to the metal that has rusted (after being properly de-rusted by grinding or blasting), you will need to use an etching primer for the area of galvanized that will be covered. If you don't use an etching primer, the paint will fall off. Since rust spots on galvanized means the zinc has been converted to zinc oxide and fallen off the trailer, the galvanized layer around the rust spot will tend to be very thin and you will want to paint it, or you will eventually have painted spots with a rust ring.
Henry
