Protecting Polished Aluminum

[SS MAYFLOAT]

My rails on my boat have been discolored from different cleaners and acids. Tried everything possible to get them to look new again<br /><br />So I thought I would take drastic action. Removed all the rails and now in the process of polishing them with a buffing wheel on my bench grinder.<br /><br />Where the anodize is gone, it cleans up like chrome with little effort. But where the anodizing is, the buffer struggles to remove it.<br /><br />On one piece, I used 220 grit sandpaper to remove the anodize, and then it buffed up nice. But it takes forever to remove the discolored anodize. Any suggestions on an easier method of removing the anodizing?<br /><br />Second question is, What can I coat the freshly polished aluminum with to help prevent corrosion to the aluminum? The boat will only be in fresh water. Thanks......SS

 

[sony2001]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

ROLITE offers a product that works very well on aluminum. It's a paste is for metal that leaves a residual polish. The liquid polish is is applied to many types of surfaces. Mechanical polishing is at 1900 rpm.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

Clear Lacquer ??????<br /><br />That's what I'm going to use on a Bimini Top I'm welding up for my Barge......

 

[River fish]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

SS Mayfloat<br />I had a similar problem with the alum on my tracker, I used a product called zep-alumn which the boat dealer recomended, it cleaned the alumiumn and made it look like new all I had to do was mix it with water at around 50 to 1 ( water is the 50 ) and spray it on for and let it sit for 15 min then hose it off. the only catch is this stuff is very much like muratac acid and must be hosed of fast or it will streak, it ALSO takes of the anodizing completley but strangely enough does not bother any decals or paint.<br />After having this take off my anodizing, my alum (the entire boat exterior) was not protected and began to oxidize to a white powder very quickly,<br />I went all over the place and looked everwhere on the web but could not find anything that would work or did not cost a fortune, I happened to mention this to the boat dealer where they told me about the Zep-alumn and asked what they<br />suggested And in sort of a "dont let this get out but " all we ever use to protect boats we clean is just plain old "Future floor wax" Just clean the entire boat with SOS pads use LOT'S of water and DO NOT scrub in a circle, straight lines only, let it dry then use a sponge to apply the wax. I my-self put on 2 coats and I have to say that in spite of regular fishing trips and not so gental care, Sandbars, gravel mudbars etc.<br />that the wax has held up very well.even though it still looks just like it did when I first put it of last year I think I wiil give it another coat later this summer. Hope this helps

 

[Solittle]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

SS - This has come up before. Just wish an American Airlines mechanic would jump in and tell us what they do to their airplanes. Any out there???

 

[sony2001]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

SS your are the first person I'm telling here. I washed the old Bayliner with its faded blue gelcoat then I, I put Future Floor Wax on it. Two coats between rain showers. I think it will work. It's 100% acrylic, and it's sticky after 10 minutes, shouldn't discolour, hard in and hour, doesn't need to be wiped off, restores the colour as good as rubbing compound followed by wax. The bottle recommends after 8 coats to strip and restart. Sure I will. You will probably get better results on aluminum.

 

[Trent]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

Alumiprep 33 is what you need. I use it all the time.<br /><br /> Alumiprep 33

 

[corm]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

You could try Semi-Chrome or Flitz http://www.flitz.com/ <br />no url for Semi-Chrome<br />You can get either at a gun shop or cycle shop.<br />Either will work good.<br /> http://www.brownells.com/ has both if you can't find it around home.

 

[FlyBoyMark]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

Trent is on the rite path..after treating BARE aluminum with alumiprep 33, Use 3M aluminum polishing compound then use a liquid PURE carnuba wax (auotmotive stuff is fine..)

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

I just need to know what to coat the bare aluminum. I have it buffed to a chrome finish where you can see yourself in the reflection. I just know in about 3 to 6 weeks it is going to be going to its dull self. Used a rouge wheel on the bench grinder. All the rails and fittings look better than they did new. <br /><br />When the rails and fittings are new they have an anodized coating that helps prevent corrosion and keep its shine. Now that protective coating is gone, I just need to use something that is not going to yellow. Future floor finish will yellow after so many coats and the UV rays break it down after time. It is a good quick fix to get something looking good though. After having 40 plus hours and several sticks of rouge, I want the shine to last.<br /><br />I was thinking about what Bondo was suggesting which was clear laquer. Is there clear epoxy? I don't recall seeing any, but I wasn't looking for any either. How well will wax stand up on the aluminum?<br /><br />Thanks for the input.......SS

 

[Trent]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

SS....Maybe this is what your looking for??<br /><br /> Coatings

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

Thanks Trent, that is exactly what I'm looking for. I did find my exhaust elbow finally. Thanks for that help to.<br /><br />SS

 

[evin300]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

SS, Did you know that you can have it powder-coated clear? I did a small polished aluminum piece on my boat and am very happy with it (5-years so far) From my experience, you will lose a little glitter, and have a slight "orange peel" effect but the overall look is fantastic!

 

[sony2001]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

For aluminum Rolite is the only polish that is aviation approved. (FAA). With a wax based polish , one flight and its gone.....(fricton)

 

[Bondo]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

That Eastwood clear coat Sounds like clear Lacquer...... I can't read the fine print on the can, But 1 Smell wuold tell you....<br />I found Rustolium Clear Lacquer, Or Clear Enamal at the local Lowes.....

 

[magster65]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

This is going to sound too easy but... wax it. Frequent waxing will keep aluminum nice even in the salt-chuck. My buddy's transom plates are aluminum and they look like new after 2 years. I'm a little surprised too.

 

[wakataka]

Re: Protecting Polished Aluminum

I once used clear laquer on the polished aluminum tubing of an ultralight aircraft. This tubing was raw aluminum to start with. Polished it up with Rollite and a lot of elbow grease. It was still looking good after 4 years when I sold the plane, except for the few places where it had gotten scratched or scuffed off. I believe clear laquer would work on a boat also, but wherever you get a scratch the aluminum underneath will oxidize and dull quickly.