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Re: [TowerTalk] Aluminium Paint versus Cold Galv

To: "towertalk@contesting.com" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Aluminium Paint versus Cold Galv
From: Donald Chester <k4kyv@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2014 19:25:06 +0000
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Was yours applied with a brush or mitt, or was it spray-on? Maybe the spray 
stuff is less effective.

My 33 y.o. tower could use a paint job, since in some spots the galvanising 
appears to be completely gone, leaving a layer of dark brown surface rust. Not 
to the point of scaling or flaking; with aluminium paint or rusty metal primer 
I would just apply it right over the rust which would be about right to assure 
a strong bond. I wouldn't attempt to wire-brush an entire standing tower in any 
case.

My tower is 127' of Rohn 25. Would anyone have any idea how many gallons of 
paint it should take, using a painter's mitt?


Don k4kyv

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I only have experience with the ZRC cold galvanizing compound.  When I first 
read your post I thought what a good time to review my old chemistry and 
valence bonding etc.  After looking up the valence shells for AL, FE, and ZN I 
thought, screw that I'll just offer my opinion.

I painted my Rohn 45 20 years ago with a couple of quarts of ZRC cold 
galvanizing.  The cans are heavy and the contents look like liquid zinc.  ZRC 
says it is about 95% zinc flakes.  Looking up their FAQ they claim that it does 
perform the galvanic bond as the flakes bond together and the carrier dries.

In my case I painted it over an already painted red/orange and white 
transmitter tower.  I power washed the tower first and knocked off as much of 
the paint as I could, cleaned up any small rust spots and then painted it with 
the ZRC.  The ZRC is tough stuff.  It hasn't flaked in 20 years/2 QTHs and if 
you pull a rope over a wrung it will polish the spot to a shiny silver bare 
metallic sheen.  I would have to agree that the stuff bonded well to the 
tower.  I suppose I could make some ohmic measurements from inside surface to 
outside surface the next time I have it down and see if it is electrically 
bonded as well but don't expect that measurement this week.

Earl
N8SS

                                          
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