Epoxy on Metal

[scottiem]

Getting ready to start my garage make over and will be ordering some expoy from Scotty at Legacy. Question I have is I have a storm shelter in the garage floor and the top cover is metal. Would like to epoxy coat it when I do the rest of the floor just not sure if the epoxy will stick the metal or come off over time. Also if it will work is there any special prep work that I would need to do to the metal. It is currently painted with like a dark gray primer. I plan on doing the floor a tan color. Again any info or help you all could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Scottie

 

[pauls_workshop]

You should be able to epoxy over metal but you must rough up the metal a little bit first for the epoxy to grab and stick. Maybe a quick pass with 40-60 grit sandpaper or thereabouts. Others here might have a more direct and specific recommendation. - Paul

 

[zcar751]

The expoy will stick fine to metal but you will need to prep by sanding first getting rid of any rust then clean it with mineral spirits or paint thinner(pretty much same thing). I would recomend 120 -150 grit paper to keep the cut marks down.

 

[tshetter]

The expoy will stick fine to metal but you will need to prep by sanding first getting rid of any rust then clean it with mineral spirits or paint thinner(pretty much same thing). I would recomend 120 -150 grit paper to keep the cut marks down.

I would suggest a very light solvent ie mineral spirit rather than laquor thinner or even simple green after the mineral spirits following a low count sanding to ensure minimal hydrocarbon solvent buildup. Honestly this is a little overboard but that's the best process I have found.

60grit, mineral spirit, simple green, rinse, coat.

The thin foam four inch rollers leave a good finish with epoxy.

And my favorites are always Sherwin Williams 100% or high solids protective and marine coatings, but any high solid is a good bet.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Good advice from all. The trick to metal is the cleaning portion, make sure you solvent wipe it very well prior to coating. Also... I am assuming this is outside, the epoxy will eventually amber outside. Lighter color will go faster than dark.

You can combat this with a pigmented urethane topcoat if desired.

Matter of fact many urethanes can go direct to the metal, skipping the epoxy.
We have an account that uses our urethane to coat man-hole covers!!

 

[driz]

I painted my old beater truck with epoxy industrial paint. By the time it was 2 years old dark gray was light gray followed by whitish chalky gray as it sits there today quietly rusting away in my boneyard. Still great stuff but it had absolutely NO UV PROTECTION. Its ok inside out of the light but outside, better spray it with a coat of automotive clear which does have UV Protection built in. If you get some you really need to check for that or it may get fugly in short order.

 

[JakeKohl]

I'm pretty sure he's talking about an in-ground storm shelter that is installed inside the garage, indoors.

 

[nolimits76]

Question I have is I have a storm shelter in the garage floor and the top cover is metal.....

Scottie

I'd do a fine grit sand paper and mineral spirits as recommended. Since this is INDOORS, you shouldn't have to worry with UV anymore than you would for the rest of your garage floor.

 

[scottiem]

I'm pretty sure he's talking about an in-ground storm shelter that is installed inside the garage, indoors.

Jake is correct it is an in ground shelter installed in the ground. I'm not to worried about ambering as I plan on putting down HD356 clear coat urethane on top of the epoxy. Plus the first 4 feet is the only thing that gets direct sunlight for the first 6 hours of the day if the doors are open. For the most part during the week the floor won't get any direct sunlight as both the wife and I are at work.

Want to thank everyone for your advice and info. One question I have is that the metal is currently painted, should I sand it down to bare metal or just scuff it up, plus I plan on putting a primer down on the concrete before the base coat of epoxy. Should I put the primer on the metal also or just go with epoxy.

Scott

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Sand to bare metal. You can go neat with the epoxy. However, if you are priming anyway it wouldn't hurt.