Need help

[jpmurphy]

Getting ready to clean the oxidation from the hull of my 87 Alum Gregor I ordered 3M Marine Alum Restorer & Polish. This evening I started on it. Read all of the directions 3 times just to make sure I was attacking this beast correctly. Room temp @ 70. etc etc etc etc...

Pic #1 is the before.
Pic # 2 is the same section after applying and polishing by hand. Oxidation is not removed, but the shine ain't too bad, especially on the welded seam at the corner of the transom. This is not what I was hoping for.

Pic # 3 is after I lightly sanded same size section, hand rubbed with the compound and then machine buffed. A lot of the oxidation is gone, not all. The compound left a darkish coloring that I can't get tottaly cleaned off. I thought perhaps the compound was pulling some of the color from the clean towel I was using so I changed to a white towel with the same results. Still a darkish coloring, still unable to remove it all.

I purposely started this below the water line in case I ran into a problem. Glad I did !

Now, before I write to 3M and show my Irish, does anyone have any suggestioins ? This compound is a little expensive. So far I've got 50 bucks wrapped up in the compound and the polisher. Hate to waste more money.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Need help

Your probably going to need something more aggressive than the polish to start with. I would try a coarse Scotch Brite pad with a liquid of some kind to cut the heaviest oxidation (Scotch Brite and soapy water or even penetrating oil) This will leave the surface smooth. You could stop at this point and use the polish which will likely brighten the surface to a steel sheen. If you are looking for a chrome-like shine You may need to use compound between the Scotch Brite and polish. If you can feel the dimples of oxidation on the surface you may need to go even more aggressive initially by using wet sanding paper or 000 steel wool before polishing.

Polish will not abrade the surface to remove oxidation. At best a polish that claims to remove oxidation contains a very fine compound.
Rubbing compound is only slightly more abrasive.
You have enough oxidation that the surface needs to be abraded a little to remove it all. After you scrub ...allot the surface will likely have swirls and marks. You will need to go progressively finer in whatever you use to remove the marks. Then the polish will work.
BTW- The Mothers brand makes a aluminum polish that is great for a bright shine called Bullet polish. It works great and as not terribly expensive. You will however need to get the white flecks of corrosion off first.

It all depends on how much shine you want.

 

[jpmurphy]

Re: Need help

OK. Now I have a better understanding of the process involved.

Many thanks......

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need help

Each one of the spots is a pit, to make the entire surface look good you need to remove enough material to get to the bottom of all the pits. This may remove a great deal of aluminum if the pits are deep, leaving the hull much thinner. The higher the gloss, the more the pits will stand out, so it's all or nothing.

Try some sand paper and see what it takes to remove a few pits in a small area, and then decide if you want to do the rest of it.

 

[jpmurphy]

Re: Need help

Each one of the spots is a pit, to make the entire surface look good you need to remove enough material to get to the bottom of all the pits. This may remove a great deal of aluminum if the pits are deep, leaving the hull much thinner. The higher the gloss, the more the pits will stand out, so it's all or nothing.

Try some sand paper and see what it takes to remove a few pits in a small area, and then decide if want to do the rest of it.

I tried the sandpaper routine. Even though super fine, it was some I had lying around from a woodworking project. Heading to the hardware store as soon as they open this morning to get some paper for metal, steel wool, oil, and everything else that looks like it will help. I'll keep track of my "formula" as I try each method so I can hopefully post something that will help the next guy with conditions like I have.


Thanks for your help..

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Need help

please do. i have to do my pontoon soon.

 

[jpmurphy]

Re: Need help

please do. i have to do my pontoon soon.

Is your metal as nasty as mine ??

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Need help

worse, previous owner keep it in salt water.

 

[rtpassini]

Re: Need help

you could always do it like when polishing a motorcycle frame
http://www.schiebel.ca/Polishing/Directions/frame-directions.htm
obviously you probably dont want a "chrome" like finish. but some of the steps might help

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need help

The other thing about aluminum is that it will only stay shiny for a short time unless you put a protective coating on it, so check out all the products designed for that purpose first.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need help

Once you accomplish the finish you want you MUST protect and seal it or it will tarnish even faster.

Being a retired military man myself.... I have this passion to treat every piece of metal like my brass. There are alternatives too........ you have a blank slate and you can paint it. Take a look at this completed project that was painted http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=252410

If you insist on a Parade/Inspection Quality finish then look here http://www.aircraftpolish.com/interesting pics.html

If you go the route of using a buffer I have had great results with one I got from Northern Tool..... it may not be a dewalt or a milwalkee but with the amount of use I give it .....it will last as long.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Need help

I would recommend you buy several pads similar to the scotch brite pads and use a buffer with the soap/chemicals mentioned above to do the large areas first. If you can get the ones with velcrose. I forget what the exact term is. It will work much better for you. I use Acid wash on Fiberglass as a prep before doing any polishing to get the oxidation out of Fiberglass. Just my two cents. All the oxidation must be removed as stated by ondarvr or it will just come back and yes you MUST seal the aluminum witha polish and keep it polished to protect the bare aluminum after your finished removing the oxidation. BOATS ARE WORK! and the work is compounded when the work is neglected over the years. Like everyone else says keep us posted and good luck. "Chuck's Fiberglass and Color Restore"

 

[jpmurphy]

Re: Need help

WOW ! Thanks everyone. I'm going to take something from each reply and put it all together and I'm sure I'll end up with the condition and look I think I want. The aircraft products are really interesting !

I knew this project wasn't going to be easy and with all of your help it wil be easier !

Many thanks, you've brightened my day.

Now I GOTTA turn to.

 

[jpmurphy]

Re: Need help

OK, spent the past two hours rubbing, rubbing and rubbing.

Pic #1 is the original area shown in my opening thread after machine sanding with #220 very fine waterproof sandpaper, did some by hand also. There are hills and valleys so I hand to hand sand in the low spots.

Pic #2 is the same area after going over with 000 grit steel wool which removed most of the real small spots and began some actual polishing.

There remain some imperfections which I hope the buffing process with take care of.

Thanks again for all of the help.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Need help

It's looking good!!!

 

[sschefer]

Re: Need help

JP Looks like you've got it dialed in. I did mine with 220 open coat using a square pad finishing sander, (like your Makita). Once I got all the gunk off I put a green Scotch brite pad on the sander and did it again. Finally I hit it with the 7 inch polisher on low speed, using West Marines aluminum polish reduced about 25% with water. Reducing it will keep it from getting too hot and burning which is what's causing your black gunk.

When it was done, my brother nicknamed the boat "The Delorean". Mine looked like yours when I started.

I've attached a picture that was taken after a week on Eagle Lake. The water is high alkali so it spots really bad and causes discoloration but all in all it still looked pretty good.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Need help

2 hrs down 199 to go, got any kids? Neighbor kids work cheap too. Have a sanding party with a keg of beer and about 10 friends ready to sand and polish get-r-done!

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Need help

Good work on both...aren't you guys worried about blinding someone on a hot, sunny summer day at the ramp?

 

[jpmurphy]

Re: Need help

JP Looks like you've got it dialed in. I did mine with 220 open coat using a square pad finishing sander, (like your Makita). Once I got all the gunk off I put a green Scotch brite pad on the sander and did it again. Finally I hit it with the 7 inch polisher on low speed, using West Marines aluminum polish reduced about 25% with water. Reducing it will keep it from getting too hot and burning which is what's causing your black gunk.

When it was done, my brother nicknamed the boat "The Delorean". Mine looked like yours when I started.

I've attached a picture that was taken after a week on Eagle Lake. The water is high alkali so it spots really bad and causes discoloration but all in all it still looked pretty good.

Thanks for sharing and I'll check into that West Marines polish. I never thought about diluting that 3M stuff I bought. Think I'll try it on a test spot.

Thanks again.

 

[jpmurphy]

Re: Need help

2 hrs down 199 to go, got any kids? Neighbor kids work cheap too. Have a sanding party with a keg of beer and about 10 friends ready to sand and polish get-r-done!

Make that 195 to go. Been in the shop all afternoon.

Can't handle a work party. I don't share my beer and I am actually enjoying working on the boat although I no longer have any feeling in my arm after sanding all afternoon. But that comes with the turf.