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TotalBoat Aluminum Boat Etch Wash

$31.99In StockSee Product Details
Aluminum Boat Etch Wash Gallon
Quantity
1 qt contains 1 qt

This item is eligible for free shipping

Product Details

TotalBoat Aluminum Etch Wash ensures that paint, epoxies, glues and other coatings stick to your aluminum boat better, and last longer. This surface prep treatment provides thorough surface cleaning, corrosion protection, and etching in a single application.

Use Etch Wash on bare aluminum, galvanized steel, and other non-ferrous metals. It's great for pontoon boats, duck boats, fishing boats, and other aluminum-hulled vessels.

To use, simply apply Aluminum Boat Etch Wash, allow it to remain on the surface for five minutes without drying, then rinse with water and dry. The surface is now ready to be coated. Paint or polish immediately before oxidation occurs.

Available in Quart and Gallon sizes.

Tech Specs
Application Method Brush or Spray
Number of Coats Necessary 1
Cleanup Water
Substrates Aluminum
VOC Content < 250 g/L
Info & Guides
IMPORTANT: For best results coating the metal, dry the surface completely and apply paints, primers, epoxy, or polish immediately after application and etching.

Why Etching Aluminum Is Important

Aluminum is a notoriously tricky material to paint or coat. Getting a finish to stick usually requires sanding with coarse grit sandpaper until bright, then priming with a specialty primer. The Zinc Chromate primers commonly used in the past are expensive, and less widely available due to environmental concerns. Instead of painting, some choose to anodize aluminum. But if you want to prime and paint, you certainly can. And, you can get excellent results.

The secret lies in etching the surface with the right product. Compare TotalBoat Aluminum Etch Wash to Alodine or Alumiprep 33. Our phosphoric acid-based etching wash is fast and easy to use, and creates the toothed surface required for epoxy primer or paint to bond successfully and durably.

Important Safety Information:

Phosphoric acid is dangerous to work with because it can cause serious skin burns, eye damage, and respiratory system damage. Do not breathe its spray, mist, fumes, gas, or vapors.

Always wear protective clothing and equipment to protect your eyes, skin, and lungs when working with TotalBoat Aluminum Boat Etch Wash. This personal protection includes gloves, glasses or goggles, a respirator, and a proper apron or similar protective clothing.

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1 to 5 of 5 Reviews
1 – 5 of 5 Reviews
Vero Beach FL
5 out of 5 stars.

Metal etch wash

9 months ago
Set up the wash activity in a shaded area within reach of a garden hose . Sanded aluminum parts with 220 grit ceramic abrasive ,,,,wiped residual from metal surfaces with terry rags and acetone (with 2 clean rags , one for each hand ,,,,, folded into 8 quarters (flip to fresh 1/4 of rag as they dirty) ),,,,, keep wiping till rag 1/4 remains clean ,,,,,,,then performed the acid wash. Used a chemical duty hand spray bottle and the recommended purple scour pads . Wiped dry metal surfaces with 2 folded clean rags as before, then clean with acetone as done before. Apply 2 part epoxy primer .
Helpful?
Missouri
5 out of 5 stars.

Works great

2 years ago
This stuff is a huge pain in the butt to use. Having said that, it is the very best and one of the only ways to get primers and paints to stick to aluminum! Surface corrosion starts immediately after prep, and nothing sticks to corrosion ( a friend told me…). So have your next coating set up and ready to go, and you won't have any worries about peeling primers or paint.
Helpful?
New Hope PA
5 out of 5 stars.

Aluminum Trailer

3 years ago
Used this to prep a flat bed trailer before painting.
Helpful?
Roanoke, VA
5 out of 5 stars.

Worked as promised

4 years ago
Used this to prep motorcycle panniers for paint. Found I needed to lightly sand them with 320 grit before using the prep wash. Also left the product on for 10 minutes as apposed to the recommended 5. Saw a definitive color change in the aluminum and the paint coats adhered great.
Helpful?
MN
5 out of 5 stars.

worked well

6 years ago
cleaned and left a surface that helped the paint adhere.
Helpful?

Questions

1 - 10 of 14 Questions

Q: Can this be used on ""old"" aluminum that was previously coated with nonskid?

a year ago
1 Answer

A: Aluminum oxidizes very quickly once it has been exposed to the elements so it should be etched after removing the paint. Recoating the aluminum should be done as soon as possible after etching. If you're thinking about just etching some bare spots, it probably won't damage the paint if you rinse it off immediately after the 5 minute soak period, but you should try one small spot as a test to be sure.

a year ago
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Q: Can this product be used on cast aluminum products

2 years ago
1 Answer

A: Yes

2 years ago
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Q: Does this product contain Zinc?

4 years ago
1 Answer

A: if it doesnt say so on the contents no

4 years ago
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Q: how fast can someone be expected to dry a boat after using this product before corrosion occurs? i got 60's aluminum boat and it's got a lot of rivets to dry around.

4 years ago
1 Answer

A: Sorry, used this on a boom. Have no experience to answer the question.

4 years ago
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Q: whats the best way to keep aluminum etch wet for 5 minutes ? Do i wet surface down with water first , Have 1 gal of aluminum boat etch wash for my 20 ft pontoon . don`t want to have wash dry too fast and run out before i finish washing half of both toons for bottom primer and paint.

5 years ago
3 Answers

A: I was only doing a 100 gal fuel tank- I would consider a mist spray or a few of them- If i remember correctly the Alm had tho be kept wet -Or just mask off sections and do smaller sections It is time consuming-it took me over an hour to do one tank.. Bill

5 years ago
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Q: Would this product work for just cleaning a 14' Alumacraft ? Not to be painted.

5 years ago
2 Answers

A: If I weren't going to paint I would use something like aluma bright.

5 years ago
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Q: would you use this before Zinc Chromate primer?

6 years ago
4 Answers

A: Yes. Use as directed and put zinc chromate on immediately after.

6 years ago
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Q: I was thinking of using this followed by Zinc Chromate primer and then Interlux Interprotect 2000 Epoxy and then non cooper bottom paint on the bottom of armstrong motor bracket can anyone tell me if this would be the correct way?

6 years ago
1 Answer

A: Yes, that method of etch, chromate, then a barrier coat is perfect.

6 years ago
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Q: Can I use this Total Fair product to prep my gimbal housing for painting. The housing was sand blasted to bare aluminum six months ago. Also do you have or can you recomend any outdrive paint for Volvo Penta or other.

6 years ago
2 Answers

A: Because the aluminum was sand blasted so long ago...you will need to resend the oxidation, water wash and apply etching and then primer all in a timely manner according to the directions. Don't skip any steps!! Hope this helps! Jerry R.

6 years ago
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Q: My aluminum boat has a factory green finish over all the boat. I want to paint the inside white to reduce heat. What if anything needs to be done to prepar the finish for paint. Thanks Wes

6 years ago
3 Answers

A: I used this on bare aluminum.  In my case I took a extended motor bracket, carried it down to the bare metal, used the etch wash, then immediately used a quality aluminum primer, and e the primer was tacky applied the final coat of aluminum paint.  This may be a little tough job for the entire inside of the boat. May want to refer to a few blogs to get any other suggestions.  If it was me, might use an anti-slip coating that does not absorb heat and keep from making it  any slicker.

6 years ago
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1 - 10 of 14 Questions