Primer for Forks

So today I drilled out the front mudguard bolts so I could repaint the forks on my K3. I got the mirco thin layer of powder off and got all the corrosion off. I used standard grey primer, let it dry and started the top coat. It did not go well so i tried to wipe off the top coat with kitchen towel. As is did this the primer coat peeled off with it.

Is there a special primer for aluminium?

I got all the primer off again and started polishing one of the forks instead to see what it looks like, not sure polished forks suite the K3 onwards.

Tim

[jambo]

The forks are cast from a form of aluminium alloy. You can buy a special metals primer made by Halfords, Hammerite also manage something similar.

I believe Lozzo simily wet&dried his and then applied Hammerite smooth straight onto the forks.

Jambo

i wet and dry'd my bandit forks and sprayed em hammerite smooth black...looked great and no issues

Don't bother painting them, you will have to redo this whole process again in a few years. Strip them down and polish them, no need to lacquer them as an occasional wipe down with ACF-50 or WD40 will keep them corrosion free.

If you're going to paint aluminium, first you really need to grit blast the surface. Then apply an Etch Primer before applying the top coat.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by madness

If you're going to paint aluminium, first you really need to grit blast the surface. Then apply an Etch Primer before applying the top coat.

seconded, so I would follow Ddave's advice if I was you.