A couple weeks ago I painted my aluminum cups white. As if that wasn't bad enough, one cup had too many flaws, so I sanded all the paint off that one and painted it black. While I was at it, my aluminum chop cup's clear coat was peeling off. So I painted that one black, too.

Now they don't feel right. Hard to describe. But, the moral of the story: Leave them alone. The original finish is probably best.

Here's some before and after pics:

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp168/barbell7/AlumGazzoWand.jpg

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp168/barbell7/101_0265.jpg

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp168/barbell7/101_0290.jpg

Tom, they don't look too bad, I think it actually looks nice in an off-beat sense. What is this desire for painted cups?


            Mike

Tom,
Did you strip off the entire original clear coat before you originally painted them? I am sure that there is a paint out there that would work… I don’t think that you found it.

Thanks for letting us in on your experiment.

Good luck,
Bruce

I don't know what made me do it. Bored, I guess. First, I stripped off the old clear coating with sand paper, then sprayed them with primer. Then sprayed the cups white. One cup had too many bubbles and the the paint ran down the side, so I decided to paint it black! Sanded everything off again, and used brush-on paint. While I was at it, I painted the chop cup black.

I think they look OK, but the paint feels different than the bare metal. Maybe more slippery. They don't stack as good as before. The paint is a little too thick, but it's no big deal.

The chop cup looks "home made."

I guess I just didn't like the cheap aluminum. 

Anyhow, that's the end of that experiment!

Tom

Now it's time to paint those Riser's! 

No more paint jobs! I like 'em just the way they are!

Tom,

If they start to chip or get funky again, maybe you could distress them some more and give them a coat of tinted bees wax to give them an antiqued look.

I am still convinced that you used the wrong type of paint, but applaud the effort that you made. I think the painted Cups looked cool, so different then what I am used to seeing.

Take care,
Bruce

When paint starts to bubble there are mainly two reasons for that. Or the primer wasn't the good one for the next coat or the cups weren't totally polished clean.

Etienne

Mostly it is in the primer used on the objects. I you have a aluminum cup means that you need a primer especially for non-ferro metals. If you use another kind of primer (for wood or iron) this means that you're next coat won't adhere or that they will form bubbles, cracks etc.

Etienne

Bruce, Etienne,

You guys are right. Surface preparation is the key to a good paint job. And maybe, if they start to look bad, I'll just start all over again.

Tom

Tom, when will it end? 



         Mike

Mike, I don't think it will ever end.   It's always time to play with the C&Bs. There's always a new idea floating around.

Tom

Got my cheap cups in, as soon as I get over some personal issues that involve women (doesn't it always?) and cheer up a bit I'll start painting. I've got everything planned out for it. I'll get myself a camera so I can post pics up too.

Take care of that lady!

After pondering on the best way to "key" paint to a cup I confided in "Ye Olde Googley" and came up with this:
http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Main/sp-44-10142-37388-esp-primer-1lt-makes-paint-stick-to-shiny-surfaces.asp

Perhaps it will help if anyone wants to paint their engraved Sherwoods.....