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montlake_mtbkr
05-09-03, 05:57 PM
I'd like to strip the paint from my aluminum frame and shine it up nice.
How do I remove the paint? And what's the best way to get that polished chrome look? Just wax or am I going to need some kind of clear coat paint? I'm not sure that I'm actually going to do this, just wondering if it's feasible.
dirtbikedude
05-09-03, 06:22 PM
This site will tell you how to strip the paint.
paint removal (http://www.mindspring.com/~d.g1/paint.htm)
Once you do that you will need to be handy with a polishing wheel or have some time and use elbow grease.
Here is some good intructions from this web site
How to polish aluminum (http://www.z31.com/polishfaq.shtml)
Good luck
"First, make sure the surface is clean. Use a caustic based all purpose cleaner. Acid also works very well, but remember that is does eat through aluminum surfaces so be sure to rinse it off. (Don't ever use acid on the rims after polishing them).
The factory 300zx rims come with a clearcoat. In order for the rims to be sanded/polished, the clearcoat must be removed along with the "machine lines" on the rim. Remove them by wetsanding with 320 grit sandpaper. It'll take some time and patience. Also, when polishing the rims, be sure to do only the flat surfaces and the outer edges. The inner slats should be left how they are, as they create a nice-looking contrast and would be extremely difficult to sand/polish anyway. Some surfaces, such as the manifold cover or the throttle body, have a different texture then the rims. The only difference in polishing them will be the grit of sandpaper that you will start with.
Sanding can be done either by hand or power sander, but be VERY careful with a power sander. Adding some padding (like foam) to the backing is a good idea, since the metal clips on palm sanders tend to gouge the surface of the rim. Always finish each sanding step by hand to get any areas the sander may have missed, and be sure to have plenty of fresh sand paper as it will wear out rather quickly.
To sand the rims:
-wetsand with 320 grit paper
emphasis on 'wet'. Use a lot of water in a spray bottle
(320 grit will leave sand scratches. This is normal....duh!)
-remove 320 grit scratches by repeating step 1 but using 400 grit instead of 320
-wetsand with 600 grit to remove scratches from previous sanding
-repeat same step with 1,000 grit, then move on to 1,500 grit sandpaper.
Be sure to take your time while sanding and not to miss any areas. Once the sanding is done...take a high-speed buffer (the more RPM's, the better) with a coarse 'synthetic' wool pad and buff out all of the 1500 grit sand-scratches with a good buffing compound. I would recommend 3M Perfect-it 2 Rubbing Compound ...it's pretty good stuff. If you need a little extra bite, use the 3M medium or heavy cut compound first. It's in the compounding step that the rims will really start to shine and you'll get to see how good of a sanding job you did. The key here is to generate a lot of HEAT with the buffer. This is what removes the sand scratches...it will not harm the rim in any way. After buffing the rim out completely with the 3M compound, repeat the procedure with a good aluminum polish. The best on the market is Mother's California Gold Aluminum and Mag Polish. Buff it with a high speed buffer until it gets really shiny. After that is done...just slap a good coat of wax on the rims to protect them. The best waxes are made by Meguiars and Mothers .
This is all a pretty time-consuming process, but it is worth it if you really want to get complements on your rims. To maintain the shine, just wax the rims periodically. It only takes about 5 minutes to wax all 4 rims so do it frequently. If they get dull or accumulate excessive caked-on dirt, use the Mother's polish by hand or with the buffer and then wax the rims again. Contrary to popular belief, aluminum rims are easier to maintain than chrome as they will not rust and can always be resanded and polished if they get really dull due to neglect."
The above advise sounds like it is coming from somebody who has experience and is knowledgeable.
If you are looking for a quick project, I will warn you that aluminum is tricky from a refinishing standpoint. Most acid and alkalyd chemicals will tarnish the aluminum shine.
Anywhere you use steel wool or sandpaper will put a different shine than the original, so you might end up polishing the whole frame.
If you wanted a poor-man's quicky way to remove the stickers, I would use brass wool and an oil based solvent like kerosene or Goo gone.
Good luck.