[Healeys] Finish for Aluminum Cockpit Surround

[i erbs]

There are clear coat sprays you can apply to protect the shine.
I have a couple sets of trim pieces and one is shinny the other dull. I
need to find the best bits and rationalize the finish on them. Most likely
I will polish

On Sun, Nov 6, 2022, 10:25 AM Harold Manifold <manifold at telus.net> wrote:

> First let me thank everyone for the tips and suggestions about the
> different finishes for the cockpit mouldings. This is what I have done so
> far.
>
> During the summer, when I could safely work outside, I stripped the
> original anodizing in a bath of sodium hydroxide (also called Lye). This
> method did remove all of the original anodizing and left a dull, clean
> surface.
> Using a file and emery cloth I tried to remove as many of the nicks and
> scratches as I could. The final treatment for nicks and scratches was with
> a 3M sanding sponge and liberal amounts of WD40. This step was very
> effective.
>
> Despite all of the above there were remaining pits, nicks and scratches.
> Polishing wasn't high on my list until I read Ray's post. I tried polishing
> a small area with some Autosol Metal Polish I had lying around which is a
> similar product to Met-All and the results were pretty good so I did both
> surrounds. Picture attached. My total cost to date is about $20 and will
> stick with the polish and see how long the finish lasts.
>
> Harold
>
> On Sun, Nov 6, 2022 at 5:13 AM <jmsdarch at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>> Harold,
>>
>>
>>
>> I never had any success with trying to strip the anodizing chemically.
>> The best way is to have an anodizing company remove it by reverse
>> anodizing. Du-All Anodizing GMP Plating Inc. stripped and anodized my BT7
>> cockpit molding for $115 USD. Wheel Techniques in Santa Clara California
>> polished the pieces for $275. Those are 2013 prices so no doubt the cost
>> will have increased.
>>
>>
>>
>> My moldings were in pretty good shape.
>>
>>
>>
>> John
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> *On Behalf Of *Jean
>> Caron
>> *Sent:* Saturday, November 5, 2022 10:37 PM
>> *To:* Harold Manifold <manifold at telus.net>; Healey List <
>> healeys at autox.team.net>
>> *Subject:* Re: [Healeys] Finish for Aluminum Cockpit Surround
>>
>>
>>
>> Harold,
>>
>> First of all you indicate that the original anodizing has been stripped,
>> how was this done? Was it done chemically? If it was simply sanded there
>> would still be remnant of the anodizing in the aluminium.
>>
>> As someone else said re anodizing would very likely be the best solution,
>> but it is expensive, or was. The place in Ontario that used to do it, has
>> closed down and they did a fantastic job but about 8 years ago cost around
>> $900. Cdn for the cockpit surround on my BN6.
>>
>> If you had work done  on your cockpit surround pieces, like welding to
>> fill damaged area, unless you used a rod #5356 with TIG welding, the
>> anodizing will show up in dark grey where the welding was done and it will
>> look awful.
>>
>> I think from the suggestions you received here, the powder coating and
>> the metal polishing paste suggested by Ray Juncal may be your best bet.
>>
>>
>>
>> Jean
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From: *Harold Manifold <manifold at telus.net>
>> *Sent: *November 4, 2022 8:00 PM
>> *To: *Healey List <healeys at autox.team.net>
>> *Subject: *[Healeys] Finish for Aluminum Cockpit Surround
>>
>>
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>>
>>
>> What is the recommended finish for the aluminum cockpit surround? The
>> original anodizing wasn't in good shape and has been stripped and the
>> aluminum has lots of scratches and nicks from over the years. These are the
>> finishes I was considering:
>>
>> Bare polished aluminum
>>
>> Re-anodizing
>>
>> Powder coating the same colour as anodizing
>>
>>
>>
>> I was leaning towards powder coating as it may be the best at hiding
>> nicks and scratches.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks... Harold
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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