bare alum. protection ???

[rodstored-72]

All,
I am building a dash & I have a bare alum. bezel (brushed alum.). I am wondering what kind of protection I can do to keep it clean? i thought about spraying a clear coat on it?? or some kind of rubbing compound to help keep it looking "brushed".
any suggestions or ideas.....

thanks!!

rodstored-72

[cdowns]

eastwood or local autoparts stores have a clearcoat for polished alum wheels// you lose some of the polished effect and with time it will turn milky or yellow

[rodstored-72]

cdowns, so how long are you talking as far as time before it starts to discolor?? any guess...

thanks!!

[72BlckButy]

bump... for any experiences with this.

rodstored-72; I'm not sure there's an easy way to get around keep the dash pristine without polishing it. You might check into Mother's Billet polish if you decide to keep the dash bare.

[piecesparts]

The billet dash kits that you purchase from many sources (such as LMC) are NOT sealed in any way. They are billet material and they are either finished in a "Brushed" finish or a "Polished" finish. Polished is not that hard to take care of, you can polish it anytime and then use a metal protectant on it to keep the dirt and water spots out of it. I use stuff from Wizards products. It is called "Powerseal" and it works great on my polished billet. There many other brands on the market. If you have brushed aluminum, then the sealants doe not work well with the grainy finish. I have billet dash pieces in my 84 truck and it has been there for many years---I have not done anything but wipe the dirt off of it with window cleaner. A little WD-40 sprayed on a towel and wipe that onto the metal works to keep the pores from soaking up moisture.

I have made enhancement pieces from aluminum strapping or metal plates. purchased from a hardware store and I made them up in both polished or brushed finishes. I have not had any issue with these pieces and they are under the hoods of my trucks, where there is moisture and dirt.

[rodstored-72]

piecesparts,
thanks for the info.! i will try your suggestions...

[LONGHAIR]

I have used Wheel Wax for several years. It works well w/o the dulling and discoloring you get with clearcoat type sealers.

[rodstored-72]

longhair,
that is what i was looking for....thanks!!

[Ger]

I have an alum. dash bezel in my truck that I made and gave it a brushed look. I sprayed mine with a clear coat and that was almost 6 years ago now. It still looks a perfect now as it did when I first sprayed it.

[rodstored-72]

ger,
that was my original thinking.....

thanks

[Ger]

I wish I had some pictures to show you. Clear coat won't stick 100% to bare alum. but being inside the truck and not exposed to the bare elements like direct sunlight and rocks hitting it, it should be ok. I put an etcher called Alodine 5700 on mine, but I did not let it sit to long on it becuse that stuff will turn the alum a blueish color. I'm not sure where a guy could buy more of neither. I use to work with alot of alum so that is what we use to use to etch the subsurface before we primed or painted it. It's a non toxic product, works very well.

[msgross]

they make a clear powdercoat as well... not sure on the etch that it needs to adhere though...

[Fitz]

Zoop Seal

[SMORT]

Woody wax

[darthwall]

best results I have seen are with powder coating get it done once and your set for life no scratches and no polishing cleans very easy and is extremely durable they do this with chrome parts as well if you scuff up your billet or chrome it can be a pain to get the marks out but if you scuff the clear take some rubbing compound to it and your set

[rodstored-72]

thanks all....

[JWall]

I saw SharkHide on two guys garage the other day....

http://www.sharkhide.com/


Video here...
http://www.brentonftp.com/video/twog..._SharkHide_901

[andrewmp6]

If you want to never have to worry about them there is a clear powder coat.