- Joined
- Dec 3, 2009
- Messages
- 11,030
- Reaction score
- 294
- Location
- Kingsport, Tennessee
- My Bike Models
- Former '82 GL1100 "The Slug"
I have been considering polishing my valve covers and fork lowers for some time now, but I really do not have the budget to buy a pedestal grinder/wheel or the space to put one. I have read a lot about how to do this process and one of the big things I keep reading is to get the clearcoat off before you even attempt to clean and polish.
I have also read that you can sand it off (lot of labor and potential scratches), aircraft paint stripper :shock: (maybe after I buy my first plane?), oven cleaner (my Wife would kill me if she saw me through these pieces in the oven :smilie_happy: ) I know, I know, spray oven cleaner.
Well, skeptic that I am about the potential of a decent end result, I pulled out a set of old valve covers that came from one of the bad engines. I found Duplicolor paint stripper at Pep Gurls for $4.99........in budget!! I gotta tell you, I am impressed! No odor to speak of and in about 20 minutes total time, this stripper made these valve covers look real nice!! Got some paint thinner to wipe off the last of the stripper and have them clean for now. (Pics to follow)
I am going to try two things. First, a while back I heard that Flitz will bring aluminium parts to shine without all of the cloth wheel work I keep reading about. I think it is worth a try for the sake of the Forum to actually try this and either put it to bed or wow ourselves at the results!
The other cover I am going to change the color and paint it with Duplicolor Iron engine paint.
I have also read that you can sand it off (lot of labor and potential scratches), aircraft paint stripper :shock: (maybe after I buy my first plane?), oven cleaner (my Wife would kill me if she saw me through these pieces in the oven :smilie_happy: ) I know, I know, spray oven cleaner.
Well, skeptic that I am about the potential of a decent end result, I pulled out a set of old valve covers that came from one of the bad engines. I found Duplicolor paint stripper at Pep Gurls for $4.99........in budget!! I gotta tell you, I am impressed! No odor to speak of and in about 20 minutes total time, this stripper made these valve covers look real nice!! Got some paint thinner to wipe off the last of the stripper and have them clean for now. (Pics to follow)
I am going to try two things. First, a while back I heard that Flitz will bring aluminium parts to shine without all of the cloth wheel work I keep reading about. I think it is worth a try for the sake of the Forum to actually try this and either put it to bed or wow ourselves at the results!
The other cover I am going to change the color and paint it with Duplicolor Iron engine paint.