| Author |
Message |
Bill Upnortdareh (152.163.252.163)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 10:35 am: | |
Looked through the archives but could not come up with the perfect formula for stripping , polishing and coating for the sides of a 4104.-----Whats your thoughts on this? or your technique. Bill 4104-4032 |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 5:09 pm: | |
Bill, I have been following the boards for several years and previously owned a 4104.
Although your question has been asked several times, I do not recall anyone ever providing an answer to your question.
As you are probably aware the anodizing process leaves a very thin coating on the aluminum that keeps it from oxidizing or tarnishing.
Some have mentioned that it is possible to cut thru the anodizing with an electric polishing wheel and a fairly agressive cutting compound. Unfortunately it is next to impossible to get a good even finish and to get around the rivets real close.
If you are successful in doing this, then you have bare aluminum which tarnishes very quickly and would be very difficult to maintain the shiny appearance. The concensus of opinion seems to be that if the anodized surface is badly deteriorated, the only solution is either replacing the panels or painting them.
Richard |
TWO DOGS (66.90.211.224)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 5:21 pm: | |
I agree with Richard...stripping & polishing...you would NEVER be happy with the results...and...you would have wasted a couple of years....get a fancy paint job on it...Imron in Mexico is cheap on a bus (archives) |
DonTX/KS (66.82.9.42)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 5:24 pm: | |
Nice you should ask, an acquaintance sells anodize stripper, and doggone it he drives around the country in a 4905!
Believe it or not, there IS a spray on that takes the anodize off, leaving you with only the polishing job, which can be done fairly easily with a angle buffer, I got one and have done it.
My personal advice is to forget it! If the aluminum is crappy looking, just paint it, if you remove the anodize, you will go nuts keeping it polished, finally give up on it, and then it will look worse than before, and will corrode and oxidize.
Try a scrap first, and keep it polished for a while. Not too much fun. |
Bill Upnortdareh (205.188.209.8)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 6:51 pm: | |
Don Tx/Ks Does the guy with the 4905 happen to work for Bluelighting ? Has anybody tried the clear over the polished surface? Its not that my siding is in bad shape its just so dull. Bill 4104-4032 |
DonTX/KS (66.82.9.20)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 7:18 pm: | |
Hey, that is the guy! He DOES get around.
I don't know if someone tried clear or not, never heard of anyone who did, but it should work. |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess) (65.154.176.51)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 11:30 pm: | |
Removing Anodizing removes corrosion protection also. There could be a greater chance of structurally important corrosion around rivet holes etc if there is no anodzing. If you want a mirror shiny bus you could get a Prevost LeMirage or MCI. If you want to be like the Prevost H3 then you will want a beautiful paint job. They are all good, including The 4905 but how about letting it be what it was made to be. Only an occasional classic airplane is done in polished aluminum, I think because of he work of keeping it that way. |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.99.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 1:16 pm: | |
A friend of mine installed aluminium diamond plate as floor panels in the engine room of his Cheoy Lee Motorsailer.
I looked at him with astonishment (As he is way more salty than I am) and asked him: Aluminum panels in a deepwater boat?
They were Powder-coated. Clear. I never heard of that before, but it sure looked good.
Now, what does this have to do with the sides of a bus? Nada.
But I too am one of these guys who just has to post on every topic.
Gary |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 1:36 pm: | |
When I used to run sand buggies at Glamis, we always had polished aluminum wheels. However, after one or two trips in the sand they no longer looked polished.
I pulled the tires off, had them polished and then clear powder coated. The coating reduced the shine by a small margin, but not enough for anyone else to notice. Three years later when I sold the buggy, they still looked as good as when I first had them clear coated. That powder coat is some tuff stuff.
I post this non-specific bus information for those who are planning on buying polished Alcoa's. If I were doing it, or had some reason to take the tires off the existing rims, then I would have them powder coated clear in an instant.
Richard |
Craig Craddock (66.229.90.204)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 2:40 pm: | |
Do a Google search for ZOOP SEAL another bus nut friend has made me aware of this sealant. It is about $130.00 for about 60 sq. ft. of coveage. It is being used in the hot rod hobby. I do not know anything about how well it works or for how long. The person who told me about it is another bus person and is going to try on some of his bus AL wheels and let me know.
I also think that painting the bus would be the best vs opening yourself up to corrosion and if this did not work all of the never ending polishing. Mininium of once per year and should be more.
I read on one of the powder coating sites that it does not have the poursity holes like paint so this makes it hold up much better on Al then some other materials whee you will get small corrosion spots that state here and there. After a few years require stripping and recoatong.
Two years ago I Cerma chromed some of one of my hot rod AL parts it still looks good like new. It looks like chrome but with a little orange peel. I saw it originally at a large autorama show on show cars. Time will tell how well this holds up. They also talk about holding down header temperatures and coating on the inside extending service life. This was done by a powder coater, time will tell how good this is.
Just throwing out some ideas all unproved as yet to me. Also google search for Cerma chrome-Caps Powder Coating did mind in Fresno, CA.
Craig C |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.99.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 4:01 pm: | |
Craig--Please let us know how your friend likes Zoop.
I have heard a bunch, but all in adverts. Nothing from any users.
Gary |
Bob Baldwin (Bob4106) (66.56.100.54)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 8:07 pm: | |
I use to build race cars we redid the in side with aluminium so we powder coated paint and some we polished. We put a clear coat on the aluminium and from what i seen still holding up. But remember this is the inside of a car and does have a lot of sun light on it but not exposed to the outside weather. As far as the powder coat paint thats the tuffest stuff i ever seen try to weld a piece of metal with it on their and you'll see what i mean |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.99.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 8:23 pm: | |
Too bad it would be slightly difficult to powdercoat the siding on a bus.
Gary |
BrianMCI96A3 (65.173.87.143)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 10:44 pm: | |
C'mon Gary, where's that can do spirit, I'll bet NASA has an oven large enough!
Brian |
FAST FRED (65.154.177.181)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 - 5:18 am: | |
Perhaps your friends diamond plate was 5083-H321, which is Marine grade aluminum that requires nothing to be safe in sea water.
FAST FRED |
DonTX/KS (66.82.9.32)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 - 6:32 am: | |
Maybe it is, maybe not. A January 22, 2002 letter from Alcan to the USCG stated that the 5083 H321 aluminum alloy "..is specifically not guaranteed by Alcan Aluminum Corp. for marine use, since when exposed to salt water, it can be susceptible to corrosion". On February 7, 2002, Integris Metals wrote their customers "...to advise you that Alcan does not guarantee Alcan 5083 H321 aluminum alloy for marine use....". On February 11, USCG Marine Inspection Puget Sound issued an advisory about the fracturing and exfoliation problems in the two vessels and cautioned the continued use of Alcan 5083 H321 cold-rolled aluminum plate. |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.99.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 8:09 pm: | |
C'mon Gary, where's that can do spirit, I'll bet NASA has an oven large enough!"
What do you spose' is the hourly rate on that?
I always wanted Powdercoated tires.
As for Aluminum in saltwater, I have two fairly large vessels made of steel (OK, some steel, some rust). I have seen (With my own eyes) Aluminum do absolutely crazy things in Saltwater (Picture alka-seltzer). I am a Fan of all things steel, I'm not crazy about aluminum boats, but that is an argument for the CC Roamer list.
Gary |
BrianMCI96A3 (65.41.249.247)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 6:41 pm: | |
Never a weather checked tire with powder coating, Gary!
Brian |