Gleamin' the toons

[revkab]

I just purchased an '87 or so 20' Sun tracker Bass Buggy. Not too bad shape - should be able to switch motors and get it on the water pretty fast.

Since I have all this energy, I would like to try and shine up the tubes. Not very much 'water line' stuff p probably pretty scrubable. I thought about using a high pressure washer to get the most of the crud off. My question is, any good ideas how to remove oxidation and shine it up like new? Any good products or just lots of elbow grease?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Gleamin' the toons

the course of action will depend on the type of oxidation and mineral growth that your starting with. are you trying to shine and buff them, then that is lots and lots of elbow grease.

 

[BiXLL]

Re: Gleamin' the toons

It won't be a polished finish, but Napa auto has a product called Aluminum Brightener that is about the most cost effective and does a nice job.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Gleamin' the toons

I've heard of people using the above mentioned NAPA product. Most boat dealers carry a muriatic acid based boat cleaner that you spray on and hose off with water--no scrubbing. It'll clean your toons but leave them dull.

Get a good brand of aluminum polish and a bunch of rags. Polishing is a labor intensive job, and the black oxidation will come off on the rags.

Then, you wipe down the boat with lacquer cleaner and more rags--until there is no more black coming off on the rags. Don't forget rubber gloves.

Lastly, use clean, lint free rags to apply a product called Sharkhide. It will last for a few years and keep your boat shiny like it's new. It's the best protectant on the market.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Gleamin' the toons

If you decide to polish, as in they look chrome plated, just know that it will take many many hours and you don't want to even attempt it by hand, you will need an electric buffer and a bunch of pads and then you will have to Shark Hyde the tube or do it all over again next year, and once you start you are in and you finish ore have a shiney/dull boat.

The white oxidation is the metal trying to protect itself, just like copper turning green, alumiunuim also forms it own protective coating so it will always go back to it natural state, all you can do is slow it down.

If you just want them clean there are a ton of different products but as Bamaman pointed out they make the tubes dull, I have tried Toon Brite on a wet rag, it dilutes the acid a bit and doesn't make it so white but still works.

 

[sccatfish]

Re: Gleamin' the toons

mag wheel cleaner

 

[Okieboatguy]

Re: Gleamin' the toons

I found that Mothers Aluminum wheel polish that is available at Walmart worked real good for me. However, I used my angle grinder with a buffing pad and I was able to get a high shine, which was better than new in about a day, and that was doing all three on my Voyager. I got the idea off of Youtube. Here is the link that gave me the idea; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyOodLNI4BQ
I did not go to that extreme, however, it does show you what can be done. Good Luck.

 

[revkab]

Re: Gleamin' the toons

I found that Mothers Aluminum wheel polish that is available at Walmart worked real good for me. However, I used my angle grinder with a buffing pad and I was able to get a high shine, which was better than new in about a day, and that was doing all three on my Voyager. I got the idea off of Youtube. Here is the link that gave me the idea; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyOodLNI4BQ
I did not go to that extreme, however, it does show you what can be done. Good Luck.

Great video - thanks! I think a combination of pricedures he uses in a couple of those videos will be a great answer. I had never thought of using my angle grinder in combination with a polishing buff. Now to go find the stuff...

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Gleamin' the toons

To clean the crud hit a AC supply & get a couple gals of coil cleaner (i used the pink) - won't shine of course but it'll clean great- just spray on & hose off.