Painting Galvanized Sheet Metal

The vinegar is a mild acid which acts to etch the galvanized coating so the paint will stick.

Painting galvanized sheet metal.

How to paint galvanized metal. The first thing he always did was wash the surface of the metal with a mild acid. Rinse with water and let completely dry. Remove any handles or other attachments from the metal.

Polish the metal with ammonia and sand any rough areas. Once the metal has dried dampen a cloth with white vinegar and wipe the surface down. Rinse the metal and let it dry completely for several hours. Wash the metal thoroughly with hot soapy water.

If you have a kitchen then you probably already have this handy solution. Clean new galvanized metal surfaces with a water based cleaner degreaser to remove any oil or and contaminants. Go over the metal with a wire brush to remove any oxidation. For the most dependable results look for paints that are formulated specifically to bond to galvanized steel.

Avoid using alkyd based paints such as spray paint on galvanized steel. Wipe the galvanized surface down with white vinegar. Prime the surface with a primer made for metal. The enamels in alkyd paints can react with the slick zinc finish on a galvanized steel surface leading to poor adhesion and peeling.

The acid in the vinegar will act to etch the metal and help the paint adhere. If galvanized metal is not prepared and painted properly it will tend to peel over time. Clean the surface with warm or hot soapy water. The secret to painting galvanized steel is white vinegar.

Rinse the metal with a weak solution of water and ammonia and allow it to dry. All you have to do is simply apply the vinegar to a clean rag and then wipe down the galvanized surface. White vinegar is both effective and non toxic so it is much safer to use than your average industrial solvent.