Retouching aluminium frame - chipped paint

[fruitcake]

I have a 6061 aluminium frame with chipped paint on the down tube and a few scratches and cable rubs exposing the metal. I think I need etch primer before applying top coat. Is this right? And if so, has anyone bought etch primer in a tin for brush application, or in a pen?

Halfords only sell it in a rattle can. I'm not repainting the whole frame, just the chips and scratches.

[JefO]

Is it a really lovely bike?

The advantage of aluminium bikes (in my opinion) is that it doesn't matter if the frame paintwork gets chipped.

If the bike is exceptionally pretty, I can see that opinion might not sit well with you.

Personally, I wouldn't bother priming the chipped area, just dab top coat paint into the chip with a cocktail stick.

If the paint doesn't stick, because you didn't prime the metal, it will only come back off. In which case do it again. It will only take a few minutes to complete the task, so it doesn't matter if you need to repeat it, but I very much doubt you will need to do it again. Prove me wrong!

[Jurek]

Clean the chip with isopropyl alcohol and fill the dip in the finish with a matching nail varnish.
Overfill and cut back.
Repeat.
And repeat.
And .........

[ElyDave]

I used a car touch up paint on mine, but it was an easy match as gloss black, used a dremel with a light touch to remove corrosion and loose paint, first and it did not come off.