The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

I have a Mitchel 300 that I bought about 25 years ago.
Unfortunately I did a silly thing and used it in salt water .
So as you will all know the paint started to fall off and the alloy started to 'grow' grey rust.
So many years ago I stripped it down and sprayed it with auto spray cans.
Result was it started to fall off again.
I have since stripped it again and kept it dry and warm but hav'nt had the heart to paint again.
Now the time is right some words of wisdom regarding primer and paint would be welcome.
Would like a nice finish but does'nt have to be pristine, it will go on a rod not in a cabinet.

Etching primer would be my first thought.

Hi, you have to remove all paint, polish the alloy parts till it shine, the gray layer under the paint is a sort of oxide / zinc salts. after you cleaned/ polish use some Etching primer to protect the final layers off paint. the most important thing is that you take the time for the job good luck

This is what I used on a couple that I did

You need etching primer on bare aluminium or the paint will come off easily.