Let's talk about aluminum finishes

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clutchdust

Millionaire Playboy
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I have a set of AFR heads I'm getting ready to install. I personally like the look of bare aluminum. Bare as in unpainted, but not as in left outside for 5 years exposed to the elements. So what I want to do is clean up the exposed aluminum and clear coat it. I don't really want to polish it per se, but I would like to have a decent finish. Any suggestions?
 
I (well, I asked kwplot34 to) bead blast an intake for Ol' Red. Came out with a factory looking finish and the PO had painted it Chevrolet orange. Looking back, I could have done it with a satin clear over it and been done. Hindsight. Maybe next time.
 
Fuelie74 said:
Why not clean the alum with an acid wash then a quick polish followed by a clear powder coat?
Click to expand...

That sounds about the best option. I like the glass beading option but I want to be able to do this in my home garage. And I don't have a glass beader at home.
Any suggestions on what acid to use?
 
Did you look at the link I posted? The cleaner is a mild acid made for aluminum with a seperate clear coating (also made for aluminum). The Sharkhide stuff is good to but it is not a cleaner.
 
clutchdust said:
Fuelie74 said:
Why not clean the alum with an acid wash then a quick polish followed by a clear powder coat?
Click to expand...

That sounds about the best option. I like the glass beading option but I want to be able to do this in my home garage. And I don't have a glass beader at home.
Any suggestions on what acid to use?
Click to expand...

BBShark said:
Did you look at the link I posted? The cleaner is a mild acid made for aluminum with a seperate clear coating (also made for aluminum). The Sharkhide stuff is good to but it is not a cleaner.
Click to expand...

I think if it was me I would spend some money on a store bought acid wash like BBShark suggested. Heads are very expensive and I would hate to chance messing one up.

That being said I have used a Phosphoric acid and water mix for cleaning alum wheels and diamond plate before.
 
Also just remember you must be ready to do some polishing if you use any type of acid wash because it will turn white if you don't.
 
You know the more I think about it. If they aren't to bad a couple passes threw the dishwasher when the wife isn't home followed by some light polishing might be all you need.
 
Fuelie74 said:
You know the more I think about it. If they aren't to bad a couple passes threw the dishwasher when the wife isn't home followed by some light polishing might be all you need.
Click to expand...
The dishwasher we had at out last place had a heat drying cycle that was as hot as the sun. When I first ran my valve covers through it, they came out a horrible flat grey and lightly covered in white powder where (I'm assuming) corrosion had already started.

I still used the dishwasher quite a bit to clean parts, but was very leery of using aluminium and if I did put aluminium in there, I'd pull the parts before the drying cycle and dry the parts myself.
 
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