Ask any Ham how to paint a tower
Most of our towers are galvanized, and painting them can be a Royal PITA, ask me, been there done that (twice
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Step 1
Ensure that the item is very well prepped - clean with soap and water and let dry.
Step 2
Neutralize with pure vinegar. Why I am not sure, but I was told to do this after my first attempt turned into a fiasco. I worked, so who am I to argue with success
Step 3
Paint with a Galvanized Primer. This is very important. It can be brushed or sprayed. I did it with a brush, but if I have to do it again, a gun it will be.
Step 4
Paint with the finish paint. This also must be for galvanized.
TremClad makes a pretty good product and has held up for almost 12 years now. I painted my tower in the spring of 1994.
I did a little searching on Google and found these:
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions - Preparing Tin, this one is pretty good.
Adhesion problems on hot dip galvanized articles - this is in regards to Powder Coating, but may apply. Seems to be a lot of info there.
Hope this helps.