Good news, All my parts arrived safely in AZ and are now in the loving arms of Mr. Nils at Restocycle !!! WOHOOO. he gave me an A+ on my packing job which was surprising, considering i used everything i could find to stuff those two big ol' boxes.... I'll post updates shortly... He is an awesome guy and i am so excited and thankful to have him helping me with my project.
Hey Ruckus, I actually was not going to cover up that beautiful work with any paint/powder coat. However, i will make sure to talk to Nils about best practices when it comes to that. From what i understand the vapor blast not only cleans the metal up nicely, but also helps to "peen" the surface to help create a finish that painting is not necessary. However, i've never gone this route before so i'll be sure to let you guys know.
I would hate to have all this work done and then have to hide it..... We'll see though, so pumped for this!!!!!
Eric,
If I were you, I'd ask Nils what he recommends. The peened surface may not require paint, but it will not likely be impervious to oxidation and certain types of staining from oil/fuel. It may require you to periodically clean it to keep it nice and new looking. Just remember that you will not be able to reach every crack and crevice. Nil should be able to give you INFORMED advice, versus my speculation.
As per Nils:
"Vapor blasting peens the surface very slightly and closes the pores of the aluminum as it does. I'm told that parts need very little maintenance just as is to look great for years, and a simple polish with something like Autosol is all that's needed to brighten it up again when you do."
and
"I use Autosol as well and another polish called Maas, both are excellent. I find that the black smudge is usually easily buffed off with clean micofiber, following the application and rubbing steps as long as it doesn't dry out before I do. Are you finding that the dried blackened polish isn't coming up? Or is it just drying too fast?
Carb cleaner is of course a super powerful solvent and not much withstands it, including this black dried polish stuff but I imagine it left behind a dusty chalky surface and gave you a headache to boot. I'd suggest you switch to mineral spirits on a clean microfiber and try to remove the polish before it dries completely, then buff one last time with a clean microfiber cloth.
I use a protectant called Boeshield, others rave over a product called ACF-50, and there's another that is used in the UK and Oz that I can't recall at the moment, but I think it is a CRC product. Once you're happy with the appearance, I'd suggest a mist of that, followed by a fast buff with the microfiber.
Last thought: Aluminum inevitably darkens as the layer of aluminum oxide forms on its surface. This is a natural aspect of its aging, and can only be slowed down by either diligent cleaning as above and use of protectants, or by coating, clear anodizing, etc."
