removing coating and polishing aluminum trim

how about a few options, high and low budget, on removing the coating on aluminum trim and polishing it. iv heard of lye soap and oven cleaner, lets talk pros and cons as well as the some advice on polishing. good topic for everyone as not all can buy new or reworked trim.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

I tried the oven cleaner and it was pretty weak,didn't really work too well.I tried mixing lye and water and that works but the vapor is awful.And you gotta watch it or it will dissolve the aluminum.But it does remove the anodizing so that you can polish it on a buffing wheel.Long pieces might present a problem submerging them in a solution.
My 2 cents

NM, Too tired and should not have posted.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: wildosvt01 on 1/13/06 8:59am ]</font>

This came up a while back. Here's a good source for Anodizing remover. The nice thing about this stuff is the part is submerged so the whole thing gets the same treatment. The oven cleaner is kind of spotty in how it takes it off. Not to mention expensive and wastefull.

[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_bow.gif[/img]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Village Buffing Supplies
Boyd &amp; Reba Hardin
902 East 22nd. St.
Kannapolis, NC 28083

Phone - 704-933-0084
Fax - 704-933-4180
E-mail - villbuff@vnet.net
Link - http://www.Villagebuffing.com



It's a chemical solution that looks like powdered detergent. ( Sodium
Hydroxide ) You mix a small amount with water and then soak your aluminum
part in it for about 10 - 15 minutes, sometimes longer. During that time
the part will start to react with the solution and the hard anodized
surface on the part will dissolve into the solution. (the solution starts
to fizz and bubble)
After you feel it's all gone, you rinse the part off with clean
water and the part will have a very dull, but smooth appearance. Then you
polish it just like you would any other piece of aluminum that you'd want
a nice finish on. This is also a good time to work out any dents or
scratches you need to fix. You can use buffing compounds, Wenol, Mothers,
etc. Then you have the option of either applying some kind of clear to
protect it, like POR-15's "Glisten PC". Eastwood has a clear also, but
it didn't hold up well when I tried it on some trim for another project.
Some people opt to just keep the aluminum shinned up and waxed
periodically, with Mothers, Eagle wadding polish, semichrome polish,
Wenol, Zoops, etc. If your car's not out in the weather all the time that may be
OK. If it's going to see weather it might be best to cover it.
This little jar will make several gallons of solution. If you
save it in jugs you can keep it for years. I have some several years old
that is still strong.
________________
Phil
FGCoA # 694
63 Fastback
64 F-100 4x4
66 Mustang



http://groups.msn.com/FordGalaxieCol...umfinishd.msnw

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Customcab on 1/14/06 5:17am ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Customcab on 1/14/06 5:21am ]</font>

Sodium Hydroxide is lye. I used a oven cleaner that had lye in it and it worked very good. Used a piece of steel wool and kept soaking the piece and rubbing the anodizing off.

Bobg

Nice thing about this remover is there is NO labor to strip the anodizing. Just dip it for a few minutes, pull it out, rinse and polish. Done. Save the solution and do it over and over again. It'll keep for years.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_spin.gif[/img]

Here's another source if you need it. $9.00 well spent.

http://www.swmetal.com/cart/item?itemID=12047

_________________
Phil
FGCoA # 694
63 Fastback
64 F-100 4x4
66 Mustang



http://groups.msn.com/FordGalaxieCol...umfinishd.msnw

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Customcab on 1/15/06 4:37am ]</font>