Slick 60's

Do all of the aluminum grills have anodizing? I've read a lot about the 65 grills but not much on the 64 grills, just wondering if I need to follow the same procedure to polish up an old 64 aluminum grill.

This is just what I've researched on the net and on this site so don't take it as experience.

Sounds like you have to get the anodizing off first, lot's of opinions on that ranging from professionally dipping them in some solution to EZ OFF oven cleaner, also there is a solution from Eastwood which I think is what I'll try if our local body shop supply house doesn't have anything.

Then you have to repair any damage including sanding pitting if you want perfection, you sand with wet up to 2000 grit.

From there you can polish with compounds to get the shine.

And then there are protectants that will keep it in the shine.

Cory

I have had luck using oven cleaner, then sanding them with 400 grit then final polish. It works well but is a lot of work. You also need a polisher with buffing wheels and rouge. Dont try to use a grinder with a polishing wheel as you will most likely damage your part.

steel and chrome. lol. sorry.

Getting the anodize off is the major obstacle. I didn't have any luck with the oven cleaner. I've had the best luck with
Brasso buffed with a small buffing wheel in a hand drill. Bought some large buffing wheels and some jewelers rouge at Pate, but haven't had a chance to get back to the trim polish.

Hi. I've been fixing my side mouldings and I used oven cleaner and I tried caustic both work well.
to repair deep scatches and dents I made a tool with a blunt end to gently push the dent out and the I sanded it with sand paper and finished with scotch brite pad,polishing will come later.Darren
http://s890.photobucket.com/albums/ac10 ... mouldings/

Anyone ever try this stuff? I'm in no hurry and I love a good tedious project like this.

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-anodize-remover-qt.html

I picked up a nice straight clean 64 grill for under $100. I've seen them go for well over $300 several times on ebay so I figure it was worth a shot at cleaning up and polishing it and if I don't use it pass it on to someone that will. The 62 grill in my uni is perfect, not a dent, ding or scratch so I may stick with it. I like the custom look of the 64 and the clean smooth look of the 62 so I'm torn I guess is what I'm saying.

that's a cheap grill.
'62 grills are a nice grill
I have a 62 grill hanging in my shed I paid $10 for at a swapmeet,it's not a bad grill and it can be repaired. these things don't show up for sale here.

I reserched stripping anodizing and found that cleaners with a high amount of phosphoric acid will remove it, check the amount difference between oven cleaners,

Whats everybody using to keep them from oxidizing? I have a nice set of c/c door trim moulds, but one has some window winder damage. Easy enough to repair, but not so easy to get it anodized. You found anyone who can do it in Aus Darren?

I have been doing this very thing for about 3 weeks,a little at a time.I went to the dollar store and bought the cheapest oven cleaner they have.It worked well.Once you start sanding,you will be AMAZED at how many small dents and pitts are on your grille.Mine had a bunch of them.I used 220 grit to remove many of them.When you are done sanding,you can start polishing.Likely,you will find a few more pitts,but, after you get the grille polished and on your truck they will be unnoticeable,and it will look great!!I dont have experience with this product,but it's supposed to be very good...ZOOPSEAL.It seals the Alum.So it doesnt tarnish for a long time.I plan on trying it when I'm ready to install my grille and side trim.
Dave

Thanks Dave, any before and after pictures? I'm not looking for perfection on my truck it will be a pound the pavement fun kind of truck, just want to get the grill shined up a bit as it's dull.

Anyone else with some before and after pictures, be interesting to see before, after oven cleaner or what ever you used, and after polish.

What polish is anyone using?

Leith,you can try Queensland name plates,they do anodizing and chrome plating,they're not cheap.

To protect the polished aluminum I had mine powder coated clear. It has been about 6 years and no problems so far....

That's an excellent idea Doug.

64Ranger wrote:To protect the polished aluminum I had mine powder coated clear. It has been about 6 years and no problems so far....

What did it cost...roughly?

Went to Ace Hardware and the Parts Supply shop during lunch and picked up all the goodies to start cleaning this grill up. I did get some "Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner" we'll start there and see how it does. Then I got some mothers aluminum polish and I can't remember what the heck else I got, more than I needed I'm sure...$100.

I used this product and Phil's advice several years ago and it worked very well. I made a "tub" out of 2x6s and heavy plastic drop cloth. Sodium Hydroxide was the key ingredient, but I don't remember the mixing ratio. It was a dull gray when finished and I had to smooth out some nicks using fine steel wool. I then polished it with Mother's metal polish. I wish I'd sprayed it with clear, but I'm not taking that grille off again. I don't know if Village Buffing is still in business, the link doesn't seem to work. Read Phil's post from a few years back: Pat

"Here's a post from a while back. This stuff works great.
Good luck, Phil

Laughing
=====================================
Village Buffing Supplies
Boyd & Reba Hardin
902 East 22nd. St.
Kannapolis, NC 28083

Phone - 704-933-0084
Fax - 704-933-4180
E-mail - villbuff@vnet.net
Link - www.Villagebuffing.com



It's a chemical solution that looks like powdered detergent. ( Sodium
Hydroxide ) You mix a small amount with water and then soak your aluminum
part in it for about 10 - 15 minutes, sometimes longer. During that time
the part will start to react with the solution and the hard anodized
surface on the part will dissolve into the solution. (the solution starts
to fizz and bubble)
After you feel it's all gone, you rinse the part off with clean
water and the part will have a very dull, but smooth appearance. Then you
polish it just like you would any other piece of aluminum that you'd want
a nice finish on. This is also a good time to work out any dents or
scratches you need to fix. You can use buffing compounds, Wenol, Mothers,
etc. Then you have the option of either applying some kind of clear to
protect it, like POR-15's "Glisten PC". Eastwood has a clear also, but
it didn't hold up well when I tried it on some trim for another project.
Some people opt to just keep the aluminum shinned up and waxed
periodically, with Mothers, Eagle wadding polish, semichrome polish,
Wenol, Zoops, etc. If your car's not out in the weather all the time that may be
OK. If it's going to see weather it might be best to cover it.
This little jar will make several gallons of solution. If you
save it in jugs you can keep it for years. I have some several years old
that is still strong.
Good luck, Phil
( 63 1/2 Galaxie - 64F-100 4x4 )"
_________________
Phil

Soduim Hydroxide is the main stuff in caustic soda,
I used a piece roof guttering,I closed the ends up to make a tank and set it up in the back yard,
the fumes off this stuff is dangerous ,

Leith ,check this place out for coatings,
http://www.kbs-coatings.com.au/Topcoats_c_8.html

Thanks Darren, will look into it.