I made some "body support stands" last weekend out of galvanized steel pipe and brackets. I want to spray them with some Krylon black and was wondering how to prep the surface before spraying.
I had heard using vinegar or something like that may work ..... :confused: Any advice would be appreciated. ;)

ask fo-fdy-fo. He had his frame galv and painted it with somthing or other.. can't remember

I'm sure there's some sort of primer or chemical prep you can use, but I've always just let galvanized surfaces age a few weeks prior to painting.

Vinegar is sometimes used on metal barns, gutters etc. Not really the "best" but it works to etch.
I would recommend a metal etch from a auto supply store, followed by a zinc based epoxy primer. This will get you the bullet proof you are looking for...lots of grab!

good luck finding a car paint supply store where they wont feed you a bunch of unsubstantiated horse ***** and not let you leave without selling you a bunch of crap. you need to find someone who has actually worked with it. i am not saying i am 100% right i can only tell you what i have been told by people in the field, people who do galvanizing for a living and people that manufacturer and reasearch paint for a living. having said all that, 50/50 water and vinigar with a scrub brush or spunge is a suitable remover of zinc oxide. which occurs as soon as the zinc is put on, it is best to paint as soon as possable. avoid allowing new zinc part sitting. however yours are past that option. after a vinigar bath, rinse with water. dry then, you can use a zinc chromate primer if it is not critical, but if you want it to last many many years use the Ancor primer i used on my frames and recomend on my web site.
after priming it is recomended to use a water based latex outdoor paint. something about the oils in the oil based paint having a reaction with the chemical leaching out of the zinc... i dont know the details. i used out door lawn furnature paint. it seems to be pretty durable.
hope it helps. smile.gif