Does anyone here have experience priming bare aluminum? Can it be done in your garage/ backyard without environmental/health concerns? or does this need to be done in a shop with a spray booth?
I'm currently building an RV-10, and priming with Sherwin Williams P60G2. It is pretty easy to work with, once you have a spray gun and place to spray set up (I have set up a booth which has as one wall my open garage door, so I have plenty of ventilation). You'll have to go to a Sherwin Williams industrial store to get this one, it is not carried in either their residential or automotive paint stores.
Things to note: (a) P60G2, and many other primers, are now considered "non-compliant" in California. They have too many VOCs to be sold under the new environmental law which went into effect January 1 of this year. So if you want to buy some, you have to either buy it soon (since stores are allowed to sell through their stock, but not import more), or go do your painting in a neighbouring state with laxer regulations. The shelf life of a can of this paint is officially 2 years according to the paint store.
(b) the chemicals in this primer (and all metal primers) are NASTY. Everything I've read advises that you cover all exposed skin, wear gloves, use a respirator (better is full-face, even better is one with a remote air feed), and have plenty of ventilation.
Personally, I wear a disposable painting suit with hood, gloves, full-face respirator (with carbon filters, purchased from the paint store), and paint pretty much outdoors. Like
this.
As far as the environmental concerns -- my understanding is that the paint in CA exists, and the most environmentally friendly thing you can do with it is use it (instead of having it go to waste rotting on store shelves). Any leftovers you should donate to someone else who can make use of it. Disposing of it probably involves talking to a hazardous waste company...
Chris
