Refinishing/Restoring Aluminum Roof Rail Trim

[andy72]

The trim that holds the roof rail weatherstrip seems to be a coated aluminum. Mine needs help.  The "coating" is chipping off in some spots.

3 weeks ago I posted about the metal window glides that are attached to the upper roof rail, underneath the roof rail weatherstripping.  At the time, I didn't want to replace

the weatherstripping. But, I realized for another 70 bucks, I could have new metal window glides and new roof rail weatherstripping.  The project moves on!

Well, the trim on this looks like crap!    Any ideas on how you guys dressed up the face of this piece?  Is it coated aluminum?

Polish the aluminum down through the coating?  Re Clear coat?

Thanks for any thoughts

 

[mach71351c]

I used EZ off oven cleaner and 0004 steal wool to remove the anodized coating. It took 3 applications to get the anodized coating off.  Then wet sanded with 800,1200,15001800,2000, then polished. I'm very happy with the results but it was a lot of work. I would not do this on the car.

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

When you do your polish some warnings. If you have never used a buffing wheel on a drill or a pedestal grinder do be very careful for couple of reasons. When you buff these long skinny parts DO NOT turn the part length wise and go to the edge. Keep the buffing wheel going length wise of the part. If you catch the edge with the buffer it will more than like grab and bend your part, or throw it into you.

I have used buffers, side grinders and such all my life, I am 69, and had not got hurt until last week. I have a rotisserie for my car and it had been outside for about a year. I was using small side grinder and really heavy stiff wire brushes to clean some of the rust scale off before applying a coat of rust proofing. On the very last piece it got me. You can imagine how much area there was and the size of the rotisserie I wore 4 brushes out. The last four parts are like kick stands on all four corners that you lower and lock to make the rotisserie more steady. On the last one the brush grabbed an edge and jerked. I was wearing rubber coated Kevlar gloves. The grinder went up my left hand winding up the glove and got a deep cut on the lower part of my thumb and the wire brush ground up my wrist and nearly to my elbow. Only had about 3" that was a wound the remainder is bruising. So I went bleeding to the first aid kit on the wall poured peroxide on the wound then washed with bentodine and bandaged. I got back to working yesterday and finished that last part but did not hold with my free hand and both hands on the grinder. I broke my own rule, both hands on the grinder, when trying to just get finished and I paid. I had not got my bench vise mounted or I would have used it.

Buffing wheels will grab before you can blink your eye and the part can go all the way around the buffing wheel and come back toward you. People have been killed and injured by that part hitting them. A local person in a tool shop had a piece fly back and went inside him and cut a artery to his liver and he bled to death before they got him to hospital.

Not saying do not do it. I do polish my own stainless and aluminum all the time. Just watch some videos and know what can happen. Maybe I will try to do a video and make it happen so everyone knows how quick it happens. I was a tool & die maker for years and saw many injuries with grinders, drills and suck. Clothing gets caught or the part and it is never good.

You can make the trim look great with a little work.

 

[andy72]

I used EZ off oven cleaner and 0004 steal wool to remove the anodized coating. It took 3 applications to get the anodized coating off.  Then wet sanded with 800,1200,15001800,2000, then polished. I'm very happy with the results but it was a lot of work. I would not do this on the car.

Oh, boy. Thanks, I think.  Kinda what I figured.  Sounds like a bit of work. 

Maybe the only real option.  Paint is outta the question.  The anodizing either comes

off, or sits there and looks bad.

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

I used EZ off oven cleaner and 0004 steal wool to remove the anodized coating. It took 3 applications to get the anodized coating off.  Then wet sanded with 800,1200,15001800,2000, then polished. I'm very happy with the results but it was a lot of work. I would not do this on the car.

Oh, boy. Thanks, I think.  Kinda what I figured.  Sounds like a bit of work. 

Maybe the only real option.  Paint is outta the question.  The anodizing either comes

off, or sits there and looks bad.

Watch some of the online videos and just go slow it is not difficult. I do not go too coarse on the paper only 1,500 for scratches to blend them and then 2,000 and polish. You can polish by hand using the liquid polish just takes time. You can watch TV and have a beer while doing by hand, lol.

 

[andy72]

Removed the anodizing with oven cleaner and steel wool.

Polished with MAAS.

Clear coat gloss finish from rattle can.

New window guide clips.

New weatherstripping.

Compared to first picture in this post, much better.



site to upload photos

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

Glad it went well now you know how to do it.

 

[mach71351c]

Nice!

 

[73429mach]

I just started refurbishing mine today. Looks like its going to take awhile to get them done. Has anyone tried clear powder coating after polishing? Ryan