|   Frame detailing help needed... | Mikerj
Dec 15, 2002 12:08 PM | | I'm considering taking the paint off of an old aluminum HT. I don't want to repaint it. I'd like to get some type of nice look out of the aluminum itself.
Can the Al be buffed or polished?
What type of finish, if any, should then be applied to the Al frame?
Thanks,
Mikerj |
| re: Frame detailing help needed... | LowCel
Dec 15, 2002 12:11 PM | | Have you considered Mother's aluminum polish? They also make a sealant. You can find it at any automotive store. They make great polishes and other cleaners.
Hope this helps.
Bruce |
| AL can be polished | Rozonic Man
Dec 15, 2002 1:10 PM | | AL can be polished and finished with a nice clearcoat sealant.
Chances are, if you seen a bare aluminum bike, it's been polished to have chrome like gloss to it.
I had mine professionally polished and finished, so I can't offer and DIY tips. |
| re: Frame detailing help needed... | Quattro
Dec 16, 2002 3:56 AM | | Once you get the paint off, you can buff it out with a polishing wheel on a grinder along with polishing compound. After you get it
polished, use auto wax to seal. Then once every couple of months,
use Mothers or other brand of metal polish and then a coat of wax. |
| re: Frame detailing help needed... | Wooban
Dec 16, 2002 5:46 AM | | What's the best way to take the paint off? I'm planning on doing the same thing and I was going to sand off the paint by hand. Any better/faster suggestions with quaility results? |
| re: Frame detailing help needed... | A1Fs
Dec 16, 2002 9:33 AM | | Any automotive supply/parts store in your area should be able to hook you up heavy duty paint stripper. You can get aircraft stripper in some areas, very good stuff. Wear rubber gloves, it's very caustic.
After the paint is off, it's time too sand to get the surface smooth and the texture of the alum. aligned. The key to a high gloss polished finish is the sanding. Go in one direction. I would start with 200 grit paper if there are no major nicks or scrapes in the frame. Then work your way up to 1500-2000 wet-dry paper.
You can use ready made store bought polish but you will have better results with Jewlers rouge. Start with the green compound on either a bufffer or converted bench grinder with a cotton wheel. Once the frame has been done with the green go onto the white rouge the final step for alum. I have done 3 bike frames and tons of car parts from valve covers, intakes, and alternators and it works pretty good for the DIY'er. |
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