This crap is UGLY!

I bought a media blast cabinet filled with glass beads, and a solvent tank, so I can clean stuff up pretty good.

But, how do you keep it from turning to ash?

Here's a neat DIY home anodizing kit, but I don't have the time to screw around with that stuff right now:
http://www.focuser.com/atm/anodize/anodize.html

Also, some of my aluminum bracketry and oil pan rails look almost like GALVANIZED, are they?

I was going to glass bead them all and either paint them or try to polish them... Are they galvanized, or is that just the way the alum looks?

Thanks!
Dave

 

Glass bead wouldn't be the best thing to use if a "polished" finish is your goal as it will etch the aluminum. Then you'll have to progressively reduce the roughness with scotch-brite, fine emory cloth, etc, before final polishing.

Bead is good for cleaning aluminum castings like intakes though.

If you want to keep aluminum from oxidizing I'd suggest either having it powder coated (clear) or taking your stuff to an anodizer who can apply a clear anodize.

There's some product out there called "Zoop" or something to that effect, which is supposedly good at sealing and protecting aluminum. I've never used it but have had great results with clear powdercoating.

Good luck.

-Mindgame

 

Thanks Mindgame. The glass beading is more to just get it cleaned up.

By the way, if anyone wants some GREAT info on polishing, check out this thread on www.corral.net:

http://www.corral.net/forums/showthr...hreadid=418200


I need to find a way to get my uglyass alternator cleaned up too.

Is powdercoating or anodizing fairly reasonable priced does anyone know?