Letter 29686

Paint for old aluminum caravan

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I want to give a really old caravan a tidy look. It is aluminum and also partly painted with emulsion paint or similar. I would like to use a gold acrylic paint for most of it. Would this be OK over an all purpose metal primer?

Jennifer P
hobby - Winchelsea, East Sussex, UK

If the emulsion is water-borne (mixes with water), then remove it mechanically (sanding, etc.) or chemically with acid based paint stripper (it will bubble up in a few minutes). Why acrylic? Just wondering...was the surface primed? Either way, use a very good aluminum primer or wash primer with phosphoric acid to etch into the aluminum--use a very thin coat, spray or brush. Use whatever kind of paint you want except epoxy (if it is for outdoor use), epoxy will crack and look ugly--too brittle. Polyurethane and enamels "give" with the weather the best and you can clear coat it with acrylic if you like.

Bill W
- Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A.

Swift caravan repaint? Hello, i have a 22 ft swift caravan and i am living in the uk, can you advise me if it is possible to repaint the exterior or my caravan and what products are best to use, we tried with normal metal paint last year, but now it has began to peel. Any help will be gratefully received.

Julia M
caravan owner - norfolk uk

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