aluminum trim polishing?

[No_Nova_Yet]

Is it okay to sand off the anodizing on aluminum trim and then polish the aluminum instead of reanodizing? I know people do this but what's better? Any tips on doing this would help.

[JR]

Yep , but it is not an easy job getting it off with sandpaper:) Just keep it polished after that to protect it.

[Mordorman]

Go to my site and ck out the "seminar" page.

[69NovaSS]

Just use "Easy Off" spray on oven cleaner on the trim...as far as I know it WILL remove the anodizing with very little effort on your part.;) :)

[No_Nova_Yet]

Will the oven cleaner eat at the aluminum? How long do you leave it on?I've also read that drano works is that true?

[69NovaSS]

Will the oven cleaner eat at the aluminum? How long do you leave it on?I've also read that drano works is that true?

well I dont know about drano but I have seen oven cleaner take the anodizing off a set of anodized valve covers...of course they were steel...not sure what it would do to the aluminum if anything...possibly someone else might have info on that.:)

[Mordorman]

Will the oven cleaner eat at the aluminum? How long do you leave it on?I've also read that drano works is that true?
Oven cleaner and Drano suck.You have to use straight sodium hydroxide (lye) in hot water.Shouldn't take more than 5 min (tops)Make sure you remove all paint,grease ect off part first.What parts are you trying to de-anodize?

[vuss6t6]

No Nova Yet, I have personally used Easy off oven cleaner on some of my parts including headlight,tail light bezels and it worked fine for me.I put a good coat on the and let them set for 20-30 minutes and hit them with a Scotch-brite pad.You might have to do it several times,but it will remove the finish.Then they are ready for polishing.Of course any dings and dents will have to be removed.first.

[No_Nova_Yet]

I want to polish up my 62 grill, headlight bezels, and trunk moulding.

[Mordorman]

Check out the thread i just bumped up for you.Do you realize whats really involved to do it right?

[66nogo2]

glucas Iam trying to take it off a NOS 66 hoodbar. Can you get lye at Lowes? Should I use it on a Hoodbar? Thanks,Cory

[69NovaSS]

glucas Iam trying to take it off a NOS 66 hoodbar. Can you get lye at Lowes? Should I use it on a Hoodbar? Thanks,Cory

Lowes/Home Depot might have it but I bet an actual hardware store would have it..:)

[Mordorman]

You'll also need a metal tank to lay your grille in for de-anodizing.I have several sizes i use. A 6'x2',3'x3',7'x18" for long trim.

[No_Nova_Yet]

glucas, I'll test it out on a junker piece before attacking the good parts. I have a buffing wheel and have polished aluminum before I'm just unsure of the stripping part. What's the main thing I should be worried about? Do people screw this up a lot?:eek:

[Mordorman]

Just make sure you don't leave your part in the chemical for too long.You'll see it activate in about about a minute.Let it sit in there until your part turns a light brownish color.Remove and scrub off with a steel wool pad and rince off.If your grille is somewhat pitted you'll have to start with a 80 grit flap wheel and work down.If you don't use a sisal wheel with black cake rouge for your prep before final polish your wasting your time.It takes me 4 hrs to do a grille.Good luck.Gotta go make a buck.

[NIGHTSHADE]

Here is a thread on a couple bezels I had done. They look just awsome. If you decide not to undertake the project, give George a call.:)

http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33576


Besides the kids are big StarWars freaks, and they went NUTS when I got a package from George Lucas!!!!:D :eek:

[lifetime62]

i found a polish at lowes home improvement sunday and bought a buffing pad from there and i be dog it works great
the only thing i had to use a brillo pad to knock off the overspray

[Mordorman]

glucas, I'll test it out on a junker piece before attacking the good parts. I have a buffing wheel and have polished aluminum before I'm just unsure of the stripping part. What's the main thing I should be worried about? Do people screw this up a lot?:eek:
I can't help you fix yourself but,at least i can say i tried.I'm sorry i gotta move on with my own liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiife!

[vuss6t6]

No Nova Yet Here is a set of bezels that i stripped and polished at home.Not a professional job, but look good from a few feet away.http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/6t6ssuv/DSC00071.jpg

[Mordorman]

Look good from here.What steps did you use?

[JR]

No Nova Yet Here is a set of bezels that i stripped and polished at home.Not a professional job, but look good from a few feet away.http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/6t6ssuv/DSC00071.jpg
How about a description of what you used to come up with that shine. Looks great:)

[vuss6t6]

I am definitaly not a professional at this, but i started by removing as many dents and dings as possible.Then i sprayed a good coat of Easy Off oven cleaner on them and let them set for awhile or until the anodized finish turned hazy white.then i used the good Scotch-Brite pad to remove the anodized finish which i will admit is somewhat time consuming.Sometimes it will take those steps a couple of times.I then sanded them to get them as smooth as possible and then polished them with Wenol (Red) on a polishing wheel.

[vuss6t6]

Heres another view of bezelshttp://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/6t6ssuv/DSC00072.jpg

[JR]

I am definitaly not a professional at this, but i started by removing as many dents and dings as possible.Then i sprayed a good coat of Easy Off oven cleaner on them and let them set for awhile or until the anodized finish turned hazy white.then i used the good Scotch-Brite pad to remove the anodized finish which i will admit is somewhat time consuming.Sometimes it will take those steps a couple of times.I then sanded them to get them as smooth as possible and then polished them with Wenol (Red) on a polishing wheel.

What grit sand paper did you use. They look awful smooth:D How did you get down in the low spots to shine them on the wheel ? Was that one of them Powerball things:)

[Mordorman]

How long did it take you? I can do a fairly hammerd pair in 1 1/2 - 2 hrs. form start to finish.Just did a pair this week.It's vertually impossable to get all the pits out in the cove area by the lower screw holes.I'll sand that area by hand starting with 80 down to 220.

[vuss6t6]

Sorry to take so long getting back GLUCAS.It took me approx. 3-4 hours per pair.I know if i had the right tools and equipement it would help ,but i have only done it for my personal rides.Looking at your prices and quality work, it is well worth it to let you do it, because it is definitaly time consuming.

[66nogo2]

Anybody do their own 66 grill? Is it possible to do this with a bench mounted buffer and a loose cotton wheel? I have done every piece of stainless (Dont try polishing stainless unless you have a Large amount of time and patience) and now need to do the grill. I even took an NOS hood moulding and used the Easy Off to remove the anodizing and buffed it along with the valance moulding. I found a great forum put up by the company I bought my buffer from www.caswellplating.com hoping for a reply there also. If anyone is doing this stuff please let me know. I know Glucas is the man but would like to try it myself. Thanks,Cory.

[JR]

I am in the process of doing my grill now. Looks like it is gonna be a long time job. Lots of places to get at.:)

[66nogo2]

JR I agree! I think I will order a bunch of those little buffing wheels from Eastwood unless someone knows a better way (besides paying someone else to do it):)