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How to protect aluminium panels?
AdrianH - 20/12/09 at 04:20 PM

My car still has bare aluminium panels and I am very quickly coming to the conclusion that I can not keep them that way.

Road grit/salt and general moisture is starting to tarnish them. Have tried this afternoon going over one side with autoglym paint restorer to remove the tarnish and then the resin polish to give some type of protection.

I guess etch primer and spay the panels would be the better idea, but would have to consider paying for that as I do not have the facilities.

I could not keep up with a highly polished bare metal finish, so wonder what others would suggest?

Adrian

[Edited on 20-12-09 by AdrianH]

Myke 2463 - 20/12/09 at 04:32 PM

Alu-magic is what Trev d used to use on his all alloy 7. Polishes and protects during winter with a built in wax layer, it states on the bottle.

Merry Christmas to all.

rusty nuts - 20/12/09 at 04:50 PM

Takes me 10 minutes a side to polish using a cheap power polisher and Mcguires metal polish . Doing it by hand is a right PITA

mediabloke - 20/12/09 at 05:43 PM

I have a 240v polisher if you want to borrow / buy. I bought it for my previous project car but never used it.

U2u me if you're interested. Cheers,

Francis.

Wadders - 20/12/09 at 06:43 PM

how about vinyl? did my side panels matt black years ago and its still going strong, Also wrapped a single seater in mettalic black, with silver and red bits,looked just like paint.

Al

AdrianH - 20/12/09 at 07:28 PM

Al

I assume you mean self adhesive vinyl, not thought of that, does sound like a good idea. Is it the sort of stuff used for sign writing?

How does it deal with the heat from exhaust/



Francis

Have looked at some on ebay, will send U2U.

Rusty and Myke

Will price up products

Thanks for ideas, I like the look of the aluminium when new, but will see if I can get vinyl in RAL2004

Adrian

boggle - 20/12/09 at 07:48 PM

i use a bit of g3 compound by hand then a coat of autoglym wax..

Wadders - 20/12/09 at 07:57 PM

Yes thats the stuff. had my doubts about it when my pal suggested it originally, but it has been indestructable, heat and stones don't seem to bother it. Bought mine from amari plastics in leeds.
There are loads of different grades though, so worth asking thier advice, or someone on here might know which is best.
will try to post some pic's of the OMS, it looked the nuts.

Al



]Originally posted by AdrianH
Al

I assume you mean self adhesive vinyl, not thought of that, does sound like a good idea. Is it the sort of stuff used for sign writing?

How does it deal with the heat from exhaust/



Francis

Have looked at some on ebay, will send U2U.

Rusty and Myke

Will price up products

Thanks for ideas, I like the look of the aluminium when new, but will see if I can get vinyl in RAL2004

Adrian

woolly - 20/12/09 at 08:03 PM

quote:
Originally posted by AdrianH
Al

I assume you mean self adhesive vinyl, not thought of that, does sound like a good idea. Is it the sort of stuff used for sign writing?

How does it deal with the heat from exhaust/



Francis

Have looked at some on ebay, will send U2U.

Rusty and Myke

Will price up products

Thanks for ideas, I like the look of the aluminium when new, but will see if I can get vinyl in RAL2004

Adrian


temperature wise if you can put your hand on a part and keep it there then vinyl can stand it.
you could use clear vinyl and will offer good protection but edges will deteriorate in time.
go see your local sign chap who may have some off cuts available.

woolly

Wadders - 20/12/09 at 09:22 PM

This is pretty much completely covered in vinyl.
It was stuff designed to go onto compound curves, so a bit more expensive than than the vinyl i used for my side panels.

Last pic shows the side after approx 5yrs use




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[Edited on 20/12/09 by Wadders]

mediabloke - 21/12/09 at 12:01 AM

quote:
Originally posted by AdrianH
Francis

Have looked at some on ebay, will send U2U.


You have u2u.