Old boat new again?

[NathanY]

I have a 14' aluminum boat. How do I make the metal shiny again? I used the polish stuff that is 14 dollars for 10 ounces and it works really well, but it is a long hard process. Want something a little easier. Is it possible to sandblast it?

 

[DJ]

Re: Old boat new again?

NathanY,<br /><br />DO NOT sandblast it. It'll look like a stainless steel sink! <br /><br />I use CORN STARCH, it's probably just as much work, but a whole lot cheaper.

 

[NathanY]

Re: Old boat new again?

How do I do it with Corn Starch?

 

[coupedeville]

Re: Old boat new again?

You need an electric polisher to do the job. A random orbital is best.<br />You might want to try an aircraft parts supplier for metal polish. It's much cheaper than buying little tubes of stuff.<br />You can get a 2lb can of Rolite for under $30. Use a search engine for "metal polish" or "aircraft metal polish". If ypu work on it long enough, you can make it shine like a mirror. Problem is, you'll have to keep working on it, or it'll oxidize again.

 

[coupedeville]

Re: Old boat new again?

The corn starch is used as a very fine abrasive, like a polishing compound. You still need a power polisher, though. <br />On reflection, although a random orbit polisher is preffered for polishing paint , you can get away with a regular buffer/polisher for metal. Depending on how heavily oxidized the metal is, you may want to sand it with very fine sandpaper first, although it will be a chore. After all, what's most sandpaper made of? Aluminum oxide! <br />If you do polish it up, you may want to consider clearcoating it with something. Unless you just want to take up polishing for a hobby!

 

[AndyL]

Re: Old boat new again?

Coupedeville has hit the nail on the head when he says that you will forever chase your tail on this one. Aluminium oxidises and dulls very quickly. If you want to keep it shiny it may be better to apply a paint system to it once you go to all the trouble of removing the oxidization. Leaves you more time to go fishing and gives the ally extra protection.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Old boat new again?

I've used Windex and Scotchbrite pads to remove oxidation quickly on aluminum with good result. The pads are abrasive and leave swirls though, you'd have to go to a finer polish afterwords if you want a finer finish. You'll never keep it shiny, as these guys say though, without applying a clearcoat. Grease up those elbows!

 

[DJ]

Re: Old boat new again?

Nathan,.<br /><br />Good tips from all.<br /><br />Basically, you make a paste of the corn starch and water and use a scotchbrite pad or polisher.<br /><br />Also true, you will forever be chasing this, unless you apply a clearcoat of some kind.<br /><br />Did you consider painting it?

 

[NathanY]

Re: Old boat new again?

Well I got a wild hair last night and went and bought some zinc chromate primer and silver aluminum paint and stripped the boat down, turned it over and wire brushed it until it was shiny and primered and painted the bottom. It came out beautifully. I only did the bottom because if it looked bad no one would see it. But it looks very nice. Thinking about doing the whole boat. Thanks all for the advise. If you dont think that this is a good idea please let me know.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Old boat new again?

Anyone know an American Airlines mechanic? Their aircraft fly in the nastiest environment you can imagine and their aircraft (with it's alumnium skin) seem to hold their shine pretty well.

 

[DJ]

Re: Old boat new again?

NathanY,<br /><br />Another tip, albeit late, is to wash the boat down with vinegar/water solution-50/50, before applying the Zinc Chromate. It makes the paint stick even better.<br /><br />So Little,<br /><br />Aircraft (silver-natural color) are clear coated.

 

[coupedeville]

Re: Old boat new again?

Just read an article in Custom Rodder magazine about keeping aluminum shiny. There's stuff called Zoopseal for clear coating aluminum.<br />$95 on their web site will cover 60 square feet.<br /><br /> http://www.zoops.com/home.asp

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: Old boat new again?

Why?