cleaning up the grill

[cameeks]

is there any way that I can clean the paint off of my grill and polish it back up?

[JHART]

you sure you want too? i think it looks good.

[cameeks]

it is a cheap paint and the whole truck is getting repainted. just trying to keep from buying a new grill.

[GREASEMONKEY72]

sand it off and polish it with polish, same as you would a body panel

[cameeks]

I'm wondering if a paint stripper (aircraft stripper) would work or mess up the aluminum? I'm trying to avoid sand paper because of the tight areas around the lettering and I'm lazy

[ToddSS]

Sanding it would take a year. Sandblast it and it will peel right off, no problems. I just blasted my front end. Here's before and after. This is powdercoated and I had the shop sandblast it before the powder. Only cost like $25 to blast it. Tell them to be gentle so they don't make dents. That stuff is sort of thin!

[3/4tonterror]

brake cleaner, then lots of aluminim polish, thats what i did.

[cameeks]

I'm using aircraft stripper. This is my progress so for . Had to stop because it started raining.

[rlm316]

After you applied the stripper, how did you remove the paint?

[cameeks]

First time was with a rag but found out a plastic putty knife worked better.

[BACKYARD88]

Looks like lots-o-layers.

[57sailplane]

use paint stripper like cameeks. i would also try useing realy fine steel wool with the stripper.. you should be able to polish out what the fine steel wool dulls. i would try a little portion with the wool to see how it buffs out..

[BACKYARD88]

BTW, you need to mow your grass

[Shane]

here's another little secret for ya ... go buy yourself a roll of cheap store brand SaranWrap ... or some cheap garbage bags ... or some dry cleaner bags ... pretty much anything plastic. Anywhoo, cover a small area with stripper and then lay the plastic over the top of it. Let it sit about 10 minutes or so and then remove plastic and apply another coat of stripper. Let sit another 10 minutes or so. Remove plastic and I will almost promise that you will have a LOT more paint let go than you do by just applying the stripper out in the open and then waiting on it to "bubble up." The stripper only works when it is still "Wet" ... so by placing the plastic over the top of it, you prevent it from drying out.

Works like a champ, give it a try. Good luck.

P.S. - I agree with BY88 ... the grass needs mowing.

[cameeks]

Originally Posted by Shane

here's another little secret for ya ... go buy yourself a roll of cheap store brand SaranWrap ... or some cheap garbage bags ... or some dry cleaner bags ... pretty much anything plastic. Anywhoo, cover a small area with stripper and then lay the plastic over the top of it. Let it sit about 10 minutes or so and then remove plastic and apply another coat of stripper. Let sit another 10 minutes or so. Remove plastic and I will almost promise that you will have a LOT more paint let go than you do by just applying the stripper out in the open and then waiting on it to "bubble up." The stripper only works when it is still "Wet" ... so by placing the plastic over the top of it, you prevent it from drying out.

Works like a champ, give it a try. Good luck.

P.S. - I agree with BY88 ... the grass needs mowing.

I'll give it a try

P.S. - The backyard is taller Saving gas money

[BACKYARD88]

Originally Posted by cameeks

I'll give it a try

P.S. - The backyard is taller Saving gas money

I have some scissors you can borrow

[cameeks]

I'm doing it this weekend when i'm off

[gringoloco]

8 more 1/2" bolts and that grille is off the truck. Save you from having to worry about ruining anything else with the stripper. Then you could hose it off too. Just a thought- you are literally 2 minutes from having it off the truck.

[cameeks]

I dont want to take the bumper off again. I tryed last time and the lower piece of the grill was hitting the bumper.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by cameeks

I dont want to take the bumper off again. I tryed last time and the lower piece of the grill was hitting the bumper.

It will come out with the bumper on with one of the headlights removed.

[fun in dirt]

My grill was not painted, but they do have a clear anodize on these that will not let it polish if it's not removed first. I used Oven Cleaner (original not fume free) & it worked great. Just sprayed it on , let it set about 15 minutes, scrub all areas with a brush, rinse off with water hose & repeat one more time.

[cameeks]

More update pics of how I'm getting along

[cameeks]

If I keep using metal polish with the power ball will it finnaly get this stuff out?

[Shane]

get yourself some #0000 steel wool and rub the $hit out of it ... then use the power ball.

p.s. - how'd the plastic bags work for ya? make things go faster?

[JHART]

Man that came out better then i thought it would.