Painting Aluminium

[Munroast]

I have about 1 square foot of Aluminium plate to paint white. I know you are supposed to use a special primer, but I don't want to pay the £6 Is there any work around ?
It needs to be white and its to be outdoors, I have both water and oil based paint - which would be best?
I believe some of the primers are etching, so could I paint the plate first with some paving slab cleaner - that's an acid ?

 

[dcdec]

False economy mate, why would you want to do it on the cheap only to have to do it again when the paint system fails? Cheaper in the long run to do it right and do it once.

 

[sparkwright]

Agree with above.

For the sake of 6 quid, do it properly, otherwise it's bound to flake off.

 

[Munroast]

Listen - I live in a country where we are about to abandon our monetary economy and live on hopes and dreams, so may be £6, or goods for sale for £6 may be something that happens further south.

Seriously though - the little job I am doing has no real value, and if the paint falls off after 6 months it will make no difference - So I am really just after a work around and the using stuff that is lying about in the garage! (and clearly you are not to know what is lying about in my work shop - but there is all manner ofg stuff)

 

[dcdec]

Nice reply, have a look at bedec, they do a few multi purpose paints, one of them might do it