Paint Process for new Struts?

[TimHicks]

My new struts are on the way.
Univair says that they come covered with "red oxide primer".
What process should I use for finish painting them?
PPG, the paint people, are recommending a "1-part" Urethane color-matched paint (even though it needs a "hardener" which would seem like it would be called 2-part).
They also suggest chemical stripping the existing Univair primer off and starting over with a 2-part epoxy primer.
But I don't have any confidence that the person I talked to knows anything about airplanes. Does this look right to everyone?

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Paint Process for new Struts?

Tim,
I hope astjp2 follows us over here. I just thought that zinc chromate was such great stuff because it is what we used in the military, but come to think of it, we always used it on non ferrous metals.
SOOO, red oxide is what I want to use to prime the freshly welded fuselage? THAT I know I can get from wag-aero. Brie

[whake]

Re: Paint Process for new Struts?

We just recieved two sets of struts from Univair. We have a friend who spent his life doing decorative spraying. Today he oversprayed the red primer with two part epoxy primer, he used MEK as a solvent, it drys within 30 minutes. All eight struts are primed. Tomorrow he will apply the finish coat. One set will be off white for my friends T-craft. My set will be Cardinal Red a standard eurothane paint from Porter # 4119 available from Ace hardware. These struts should last forever.

[Gary Snell]

Re: Paint Process for new Struts?

Don't see much if any benefit with the mess of stripping off the oxide. It will only expose the bare metal to potential oxidation. Epoxy over the red oxide is a good idea before color coating.

[fearofpavement]

Re: Paint Process for new Struts?

Well, last time I was at Aircraft Spruce they had aerosol cans of zinc oxide and zinc chromate primer. (not all that long ago).

[TimHicks]

Re: Paint Process for new Struts?

Thanks to everyone for your feedback. I'm going to do like Walter did:
Shoot epoxy primer over the Univair red oxide primer.
Then Urethane color coat on top of that.

What about the threaded fittings in the ends of the rear struts? I'm going to take the removeable fitting out. But should I protect the threads from getting paint on them? Any idea how?

[jmvolpp]

Re: Paint Process for new Struts?

When my struts were repainted after inspection, what little overspray reached the threads was not a problem. I applied anti-seize and put 'em back together.

Mike V.

[R. Winger]

Re: Paint Process for new Struts?

I'm on the wait list for struts from Alaska. I am very glad they come in a Boeing 2 part primer. Absolutely follow PPG's recommendations and remove the red oxide primer, after all they should know what they are talking about. Red oxide primer is only a primer to help the paint adhere. It is not a sealer and will allow moisture through to the metal in a very short time. I'd remove it and inspect the struts and get proper primer on them.

Just my two bits.

Roger