[Healeys] Finish for Aluminum Cockpit Surround

Sun Nov 6 14:21:29 MST 2022

 Ira  If you use a spray clear it can chip and then you have to strip it and start over. If you use the polish with a sealer (Met-all) as the sealer wears out just a quick re-polish and you are good for another long while. I ride an aluminum mountain bike and keep it bright. I can even spot sand scratches with 800 wet or dry and polish back to bright.Ray

    On Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 12:44:35 PM PST, i erbs <eyera3000 at gmail.com> wrote:  

 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
Sent: November 4, 2022 8:00 PM
To: Healey List
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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