494 will be getting a new jacket this spring. Now is the time to decide between ordinary sheet steel and paintable galvanized. I know there is a surface preparation problem with galvanized steel, but I assume nothing that can't be overcome. What interests me is whether you can get a good smooth paint job over the surface. I can't imagine good results trying to paint a galvanized watering can for example. Has anyone worked with this product? What do you think?

wrj494@aol.com

I have painted a galvanized product called PAINTLOK with very good result, and no special preparation required other than to make sure all oily crud is removed before painting. The Glover 2-6-0 was done this way in 1990 and the jacket is still nicely painted - the older, repaired surfaces are showing more deterioration than the new galvanized. Regular hardware store oil based paints for metal were applied with a brush manually but I see no reason why you couldn't blow it on too.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

There are two ways to paint galvanzied surfaces without peeling: by pickling the surface (a form of acid etching) or by using a special paint designed for galvanizing (see previous posting). The two different galvanlize primers I've used are vinyl based and not prone to spraying. They also dried so quickly it was impossible not to leave brushmarks. One paint job is almost 25 years old now and shows no sign of peeling.

I will second Dave's recomendation. We used Paintlok when we redid the CB&Q 2-8-2 4978 in Ottawa Il. back in 1982 (or thereabouts), painted it with Corolar and Imron, and the paint job is still good today.

> I have painted a galvanized product called
> PAINTLOK with very good result, and no
> special preparation required other than to
> make sure all oily crud is removed before
> painting. The Glover 2-6-0 was done this way
> in 1990 and the jacket is still nicely
> painted - the older, repaired surfaces are
> showing more deterioration than the new
> galvanized. Regular hardware store oil based
> paints for metal were applied with a brush
> manually but I see no reason why you
> couldn't blow it on too.

> Dave


SZuidervee@aol.com