Yes, misuse or abuse will damage just about anything, even accidental.
LOL…enter the bowling ball flashlight with an emitter in each hole.
so much for my pride
There are special paints for aluminum. It is very difficult to get anything to stick permanently to aluminum.
I used to have a small aluminum boat long ago and it used primer plus a 2-part epoxy for it to adhere properly plus withstand seawater. I also heard the majority of our flashlights are made of 6061 series aircraft grade aluminum. The aviation industry typically uses alumiprep and alodine primer to remove the oxide layer on the metal before painting the surface as soon as possible.
West Marine sells an etchant for prepping aluminum for painting.
But who needs paint when there’s tool dip?
There’s always Cerakote.
Thats what I was thinking -Cerakote (mostly the stuff Ive seen Overready sell) as soon as I entered this thread.
Heres a thread from DarkSide on this very coating with a how to in the last post. I love the look of it.
after OL’s comment I was thinking the same thing. they also sell aluminum primer.
I’ve stripped and repainted a couple outboard motors, and they’re a good example of properly applied paint adhering to aluminum in adverse conditions. Although, even when I took great care, the durability isn’t nearly as good as the factory job (I’ve stripped and repainted a motor I’d already done, and that was much easier than stripping what’s left of a factory finish…)
color shifting paint
hand cut reflective decals
