novicebuilder
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| posted on 8/4/14 at 10:14 PM |
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Aluminium body work - protect, paint or ignore?
Just fitted aluminium panels and rear tub to my Haynes roadster. I have left the protective plastic film in place at this stage. When I remove the
film the aluminium will start oxidising and become dull.
What do most people do to these panels? I have looked at many threads but not found an answer, also looked at detailing world and other sites for
preferred method of protection. There is confusing array of products but very little agreement.
Ideally I would like to leave the aluminium unpainted but want it to remain as shiny as possible without need to repeatedly polish it. Can I have
some guidance from those of you who have fitted aluminium car panels.
Many thanks
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bi22le
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| posted on 8/4/14 at 10:32 PM |
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My only advice unfortunately is to expect the panels to never look as good as you want them to.
I covered mine.
Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!
Please read my ring story:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/13/viewthread.php?tid=139152&page=1
Me doing a sub 56sec lap around Brands Indy. I need a geo set up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHksfvIGB3I
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brum_gustavo
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| posted on 9/4/14 at 12:59 AM |
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I´m going to paint mine, you should use an etch primer on the sheetmetal before the primer and paint. Clearcoat, carefully wet sanded up to 1200 grit,
and polish it with a polishing wax.
Build diary: http://gustavobrum.wordpress.com/
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steve m
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| posted on 9/4/14 at 06:33 AM |
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Polish the panels
The best stuff is the Autoglym metal polish, but Tcut is pretty good as a starter
Steve
Thats was probably spelt wrong, or had some grammer, that the "grammer police have to have a moan at
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mcerd1
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| posted on 9/4/14 at 07:14 AM |
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Ash (Blackbird Rush on here) vinyl wrapped the alloy panels on his last car to match the rest of the bodywork
before:
after:
and if you want to go back to bare alloy you only need to peel it off 
(hope he doesn't mind me stealing his pics....)
[Edited on 9/4/2014 by mcerd1]
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Jenko
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| posted on 9/4/14 at 07:26 AM |
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I powder coated all of mine...panels were dip cleaned before powder coating.....Probably won't last on exposed areas, but it looks good IVA :-)
MY BLOG - http://westfieldv8.blogspot.co.uk/
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Irony
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| posted on 9/4/14 at 07:41 AM |
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Just invest in some decent polishing kit. As long as you have a angry grinder of any size aluminium polishing is pretty easy. The problem is that
people try all sorts of half hearted methods like doing it by hand. See the link below for how its done.
Polishing Link
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ashg
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| posted on 9/4/14 at 01:03 PM |
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I polished mine to start with then gave up. If I did it all again I would just paint all the Ali silver. Gives 99% of the look with 1 of the effort.
Anything With Tits or Wheels Will cost you MONEY!!
Haynes Roadster (Finished)
Exocet (Finished & Sold)
New Project (Started)
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 9/4/14 at 06:22 PM |
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I now use California (or is it Kalifornia) Customs Original Purple Metal polish, beats everything else I've
tried
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puma931
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| posted on 9/4/14 at 08:28 PM |
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Wrap it but not in fake carbon
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novicebuilder
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| posted on 9/4/14 at 08:36 PM |
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Thanks very much for all the advice
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