Tim Morfoot question
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URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18121
Printed Date: January-10-2025 at 2:00pm
Topic: Tim Morfoot question
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Subject: Tim Morfoot question
Date Posted: June-21-2010 at 10:55am
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Tim,
I figured you'd be the one to ask since you're involved with aircraft. I've got a old 14' Alumacraft I want to someday restore. Short of buffing, what is used on aircraft to "brighten" aluminum? I know there's a marine product out there called "Toonbright" that claims to restore but I've never used it or know of anyone who has. How "bright" can you get the old aluminum with chemicals? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Replies:
Posted By: Tim D
Date Posted: June-21-2010 at 11:23am
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I would email this guy and ask him about "cyclo-polishing with a specialized aircraft polisher and cleaner to eliminate the typical "swirl" issues common with a polished-aluminum finish". His two cobras have a mirror finish.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Shelby-Kirkham-Shelby-SC-427FE-Kirkham-Shelby-427FE-Cobra-Polished-Aluminum-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c5517e70dQQitemZ190406190861QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Shelby-Kirkham-Shelby-SC-427FE-Kirkham-Shelby-427FE-Cobra-Polished-Aluminum-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c5517e70dQQitemZ190406190861QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks ------------- Tim D |
Posted By: Morfoot
Date Posted: June-21-2010 at 11:53am
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Pete, I don't think that there is a chemical out there that will polish aluminum. In the 20+ years that I've been at Delta I'm haven't seen such a chemical. We used to have an exterior cleanin dept that would have to buff the bottom of the aircraft and her flight control surfaces when it came in for an extended visit. Those guys would have to use these heavy buffers and spend hours doing it.
We have different tanks that we use to treat metals to protect against corrosion but nothing to make it shine. I'm pretty sure the DC-3 that Delta bought and restored back to her glory days is polished the old fashion way. BUFFING! Sorry I can't be more help. Give me call if you got any more questions.. 770-316-6963  ------------- "Morfoot; He can ski. He can wakeboard.He can cook chicken.He can create his own self-named beverage, & can also apparently fly. A man of many talents."72 Mustang "Kermit",88 SN Miss Scarlett, 99 SN "Sherman" |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: June-21-2010 at 12:37pm
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Tim and Tim,
Thanks for the input. I'll get a bottle of the Toon bright and see what it does then report back. I do not want to buff! First, the work to do it and maintain it but more important is the fact that the Alumacrafts didn't come buffed. Can you imagine the heat I'd have to take restoring something not original!!  All the aluminum boats if not painted came through with the natural "mill" finish which is that white color rather than the buffed "chrome" look.------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Morfoot
Date Posted: June-21-2010 at 2:39pm
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Pete, been sitting round in the garage (doing a brake job) pondering your ?. I used to work in the cleaning shop before I became a mechanic and we did have a tank of Phosphoric(?)or Nitric(?) acid that we used to dip the aluminum wing panels in before returning them to the A/C for inspection/reinstallation. When you finished fabricating any repair out of aluminum you went to the cleaning shop to dip it in that tank before you alodined it. From there it went to the paint shop for a shot of zinc-chromate primer. ( They're using an aluminized primer now.)
I'd be willing to bet that Toonbrite is nothing more than phosphoric/nitric acid watered down with some other stuff. After the stuff is applied you'll see the oxidation start, and it looks like the top of your favorite draft beer right out of the tap. Give it a minute or so to foam up real good to eat off the scuzz then rinse it with a water hose. I will tell you that if you leave it on too long the alumninum will turn black and you'll have to scrub it with scotch brite to get it off. Welds will turn black first so be careful. Let us know how it turns out. ------------- "Morfoot; He can ski. He can wakeboard.He can cook chicken.He can create his own self-named beverage, & can also apparently fly. A man of many talents."72 Mustang "Kermit",88 SN Miss Scarlett, 99 SN "Sherman" |
Posted By: 6strings
Date Posted: June-21-2010 at 2:46pm
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This may be too simplistic, but I remember hearing people using vinegar (and water) on their Airstreams.
Walt ------------- "...gotta keep rockin' while I still can..." |
Posted By: 79nautique
Date Posted: June-21-2010 at 4:33pm
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http://www.buschshineproducts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3 - Busch's Aluminum polish
Pete my buddy Mark swears by this stuff and he has two tricked out blown BBC in his 380 Nortec to keep nice and shinny. He says it cleans super easy to a near polished look with little effort and it last quite a long time too. Pretty sure you have to get it online though. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=756&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1979&yrend=1979 - 79 nautique |
Posted By: behindpropeller
Date Posted: June-21-2010 at 4:52pm
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Alumiprep 33
http://www.skygeek.com/ - http://www.skygeek.com/ Then lots of time with a cyclopolisher. Everybody has their own recipe for polishing. I would probably try some of the 3m superbuff pads on the boat.  ------------- |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: June-21-2010 at 5:27pm
------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
8122pbrainard wrote:Posted By: behindpropeller
Date Posted: June-21-2010 at 5:34pm
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Toon Brite = Hobbyist
Alumiprep = professional  ------------- |
Posted By: 79nautique
Date Posted: June-21-2010 at 5:39pm
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you really should try busch's polish, it takes very little effort to get a mirror like finish without using a polisher.
It's simular to eagle one never dull but in a liquid form. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=756&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1979&yrend=1979 - 79 nautique |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: June-21-2010 at 10:45pm
Tim and Chris, Both of you aren't getting it!! I don't want a polished finish. The original would be the plain whitish mill finish aluminum. I want to remove the oxidation and grime!! Inside I will need to etch prep for the anti slip. That's where the big time acid comes to play. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: DrCC
Date Posted: June-22-2010 at 12:18am
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Pete, Be very careful when using acid.
Someone told me a long time ago, acid is like a woman. With either, a really good one will eat right through your pants! AT |
Posted By: lewy2001
Date Posted: June-22-2010 at 2:41am
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Pete for cleaning alloy I found Kenco heavy duty engine degreaser works very well. Be careful to rinse quickly on alum. as it will discolour if left to long. It brings it up like a new "two bob". I use it neat and just give it a quick brush and then rinse. It is a water soluble product.
Dont know if you can get the stuff in the US but should be able to get a equivalent. It states on the label that the active constituents are "Alkaline Salts" Here is a link to the http://www.qplubes.com/msds-new/Agencies/MSDS%20SolubleDegreaser.pdf - MSDS ------------- If you're going through hell, keep going http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2999" rel="nofollow - 89 Ski <a href="http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=5685" ta |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: June-22-2010 at 8:57am
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Thanks Mark. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: behindpropeller
Date Posted: June-22-2010 at 1:46pm
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Pete-
I read something about polish in one of the posts after yours, therefore the info on the polish. I would etch with the alumiprep 33 and then put clear alodine on it. You won't hurt it with the 33, its what I used to get our pontoon boat railing back to new. Just needs a good rinse. Tim ------------- |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: June-22-2010 at 2:17pm
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Tim,
Thanks, It looks like what I'm looking for. I did some searching and got more info plus available here in the states. "Alumiprep 33 is a nonflammable phosphoric acid based cleaner, brightener, and pre-paint conditioner for aluminum. Cleaning with Alumiprep 33 produces a chemically clean and corrosion free aluminum surface." ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: jimsport93
Date Posted: June-22-2010 at 2:46pm
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Pete, back in late eighties I worked at a boat dealership that sold and serviced a lot of pontoons. We used to use mag wheel cleaner (for aluminum mags). This was a spray on rinse off application. It was an acid based product. Worked very well. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2798 - 93 Sport Nautique |