Hi all, I am painting my aluminum mesh with glossy black. Is it important to primer the aluminum before I paint it black or is ok to just paint aluminum without primer by spraying it black and then shooting a clear over it?

 

you dont have to, but it will help, primering anything always helps make paint stick better, and stronger,

primer, then paint, then clear it for best finish, put a couple coats of clear on it

 

Aluminum likes to oxidize. So primering wouldn't hurt.

Buy a self-etching primer like NAPA sells. It will bite into the aluminum better so the paint holds on better.