Painting Galvanized Steel Brackets for a Boat Trailer

Question:

This item says it is pregalvanized before cutting, so the cut edges will rust and they should be primed and painted. What primer and paint should be used, and did that mean just the edges or the whole thing?

asked by: Tom V

Expert Reply:

First, I would prime and paint the whole bracket if for nothing else but to make sure it is all uniform. Galvanized steel is going to require certain products to be able to paint it and have the paint last. the first thing you will need to do is clean the galvanized parts with water-based cleaner/degreaser to remove any of the oily film on the parts from the galvanization process.

Once clean you will need to use a water-based primer. Do not use a petroleum-based primer because the oil can interact with the zinc on the parts left over from the galvanization process.

And then you would use a water-based paint to finish.

Most paint companies like Krylon and Behr, and certainly others, make primers and paint for galvanized steel and they should be available at your local home improvement store. I would not get a 2 in 1 primer/paint because with separate layers of primer and then paint you will have that much more protection. And be sure not to skip the cleaning/degreasing step!

expert reply by: Michael H