sandblasting aluminum

[mantis270]

Re: sandblasting aluminum

A good stripper will blister the paint for easy removal but any corrosion will have to be mechanically removed. I'm doing a 25 year old aluminum boat right now and have found a few spots of serious corrosion and pitting.

To get the corrosion off, I used a fine wire, cup shaped wire wheel. Just lay it on it's side and go over the corrosion...don't press down or dwell on a spot. It's enough abrasion to get rid of the white-ish corrosion by-products as well as clean out any pits. After cleaning out the pits I found, I filled with JB Weld and sanded smooth.

 

[Bob1944]

Re: sandblasting aluminum

excellent, then paint over all of that or use the toon bright to make it aluiminum looking?

 

[mantis270]

Re: sandblasting aluminum

Yep...to either..

 

[Ober51]

Re: sandblasting aluminum

Yep...to either..

I think it's best to use a self-etch primer before painting and after sanding down to the metal.

 

[Bob1944]

Re: sandblasting aluminum

self etch primer, I have not heard of this. Where would one obtian that product?

 

[WizeOne]

Re: sandblasting aluminum

self etch primer, I have not heard of this. Where would one obtian that product?

Any auto paint store would have it but some would say that zinc chromate is the best for aluminum. That's the greenish yellow primer that they commonly undercoat aluminum aircraft structures with.

You won't find ZC at your auto paint store though. Your overprotective Uncle Sam has determined that it is a hazardous substance so you can only get it at marine or aviation outlets.

Also here is a cool vid on soda blasting. I'd like to have one of those units. There are a lot of portable units available.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJguD-rbbIU

 

[Fisherdave67]

Re: sandblasting aluminum

I bought my toon bright at a local marina. Small plastic spray bottle went a long way. I still have 1/3 bottle and both toons are done. I paste waxed the toons after I was done. I docked the boat at a marina and had it shrinked wrapped over the winter. I looked at it this last weekend and it looks like I'll be doing it again. This annual reaplication may be the down side.

 

[Bob1944]

Re: sandblasting aluminum

Wonderful. Sounds like that is the way to go for me too.