Restoration Advice

[AusAnzani]

Hi guys,

Before you all shoot me down, please trust that I have searched this forum high and low and can't find the answers.

What I would like to know is how you guys go about cleaning cast aluminium components (eg cylinder heads, crank cases etc) and what treatment if any you apply afterwards to keep them in clean & shiny condition.

So you know where I'm coming from, I tend to burnish with a wire brush bringing the aluminium up to a bright shine, but then find it either darkens in color of dulls down considerably over a relatively short period of time (days - weeks). When this occurs, I am also seeing inconsistency in coloration, for example light and dark patches on the same part.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

PS: I don't have access to a sand, bead or soda blaster.


Thanks & Regards,

[Lahtinen]

Haven't tried it myself, but boys on the car forum wipe their alloy wheels with (denaturated) alcohol immediately after polishing. They're telling it helps for some time. There supposed to be some kind of chemical reaction, but as I stated, that's all hearsay.

[Keith.P]

You do have to keep in mind that some models came out of the factory polished and some painted, so its better to keep the painted painted and the polished, you get the picture, I find that if the aluminium is buffed, it looks better for longer.

[headdownarseup]

some of the gulls i've got have been really well poilshed in the past. sadly they dont stay like that for very long.
as KEITH suggests, if it was painted before, keep it painted. if it was polished before (you get the picture)

with regards to aluminium parts stay away from the salty stuff as this will reduce any of your hard earnt shine on ali parts to a dull powdery white corroded lot of nastiness.
i have used metal polish with some degree of success, but needs doing regularly.

all depends on how shiny you want your gull.
these days i tend to go for more "working clothes" than "sunday best".
keeps it honest

jon

[AusAnzani]

Thanks guys, I tend to do the same ie parts that were painted originally, are repainted again.

Parts that were not are just cleaned up and my question relates specifically to these. My outboards are for display only, and will never see salt water.

So what do you suggest for keeping the aluminium parts all nice and clean (or shiny) for extended periods of time? Are there any polishes or coatings that can be applied after cleaning ie to reduce oxidization, discoloration etc

Some peopl have suggested spraying with a clear coat, but I'm not yet sure if that's the best way foward.

Looking forward to your replies.

Regards,

[Collector Inspector]

Not going to use and for display aye?

If you are still going to use them every now and again this is what I do to keep a shine:

CRC, Innox, WD40 etc sprays heavily applied and left to stand for 24 hours. Select a thin cotton cloth like a bed sheet tear up about 600 x 600 and wipe the engines down. It has to be quality cotton so it does not shed little bits of fluff. Winter sheets seam the best.

Retain the cloth sealed in a plastic bag or container for future applications. After a while the cloth will be all you need especially if dusting down on motors that are displayed in the home environment as some of the above are somewhat smelly when initially sprayed on aye.

In the Maker's Notes Seagull it mentions coating with engine oil and rubbing down periodically. Good practice yes but will attract dust so not really a "Display" option.

The initial glamor shine of your parts will mellow nicely and a uniform finish between different metals and components is very rewarding.........especially when in a photo shoot.

They will soon look really cool.

How cool?

Couple of beers looking at them kind of cool.

Pic is first drench as polishing was done earlier by other noteworthy chap.

Cheers

B

PS: No clear coatings [/color]