What To Primer

[jiott]

I am wondering how far to go with epoxy primer on bare aluminum. I am primering critical things like wing spars and braces, trailing edges, etc. But what about things like console top and sides (will get covered with carpet), console undersides, flap detents, rudder pedal brackets, fuse framing for door, tail access cover insides and flanges, side & bottom stringers, instrument panel backside & supports, etc. I know anything that will get painted needs a primer coat, but my main question is stuff that normally is left unpainted and backsides/insides of less critical things. I do not intend to operate in a salt water environment.

Jim

[szicree]

I'm no expert but I'll offer my two cents. When I built my RV-4 I primed everything with AKZO two part primer. This was back before the thriving internet scene that exists now and I did what I thought was best. Since then I've learned that tons of certified aircraft were/are built without being primed and all is well. If I were to build the RV again I would only prime non-clad stuff and the mating surfaces of clad parts.

On my Kitfox, I'm only priming non-clad stuff like pedal brackets and flap detent bracket. On the clad sheet parts like the door jams, window frames, etc, I'm lightly scuffing with scotchbrite, alumiprepping, and then alodine. I suspect this is overkill, but oh well.

[akarmy]

I over primed my RV, now with a few more years of experience I would just prime for paint for the most part. In your lifetime that panel is not going to erode from the backside and fail due to not having primer!

[Dorsal]

I also only primed Aluminum parts that I was going to paint