Aluminum Bass Tracker Boat

[paulrbrown]

Heiti, thanks for the reply,the stock I tried may have had something on it, but I think it was just old oxide, these were parts I had in the shop for 25 years, I will give another shot with a degreaser, then the phosphoric.
Paul

[H80N]

Paul
sounds like the material that you were trying to etch had some oil issues.... the surface needs to be washed with a good detergent and warm water, dried and then wiped down with a solvent like "prep-sol" or "pre-cleano" to degrease... on clean aluminum you should start to see results nearly immediately ... am not familiar with that particular brand or it's strength but even weak phosphoric acid should have reacted pretty quickly...
AND... WHEELS is right!! make sure that you rinse it off with clear water before it dries .. otherwise you will get a mottled streaky finish...
hope this helps
Heiti

[DDA52]

Uh oh!
The wifely unit is upset that I posted a "dirty" picture!! Oh well, not the first time and surely not the last! I think I'd better wash and polish her truck this week to appease the "boss."

Hawk
I think I need some loominum cleaner too!

Don

[paulrbrown]

Hey Guys, I saw the post about Phosphoric acid and that was what I was thinking was the acid in my earlier note, so I went to Lowes and bought the $6 quart, Aquamix, made in SantaFe Springs,CA. Says mix 1:5, so I used straight, took 30 minutes soaking some 6061 to show anything, 2024 Alclad showed improvement at 10 minutes, but if you brush on, better be prepared to use a lot, 5 or 6 aplications to 6061 over 2 hours with good rubbing. maybe there is a stronger Phosphoric Acid out there....BTW, I think 'TheWorks' is basically Sodium Hydroxide, the chemical they use to 'Disolve' Aluminum, same stuff as 'Easyoff', it cleans the outer oxide layer off. Any comments. Paul

[DDA52]

Originally posted by Wheels


BTY DDA52, there are a lot of trucks like mine running around in Ohio. Due to our laws this is the (hot set-up). I am curious , would you have a picture of what Texas deems a heavy hauler?

Sorry Hawk for turning your thread into a trucker`s lounge [/B]

Wheels
I used to see trucks like yours in N.Virginia/Wash DC area when I was there. Here, all those axles don't get you much carrying capacity. You are only allowed about 1/10th of the weight you can actually carry with those babies when you're under a certain length. ( 35 or 38 feet I think)I run two tandems. We're allowed 17k for each rear tandem plus the carrying capacity of the tires. Both are "legal" at 46,450lbs. The pic I'm posting is actually my wife's truck. She practically lives in a gravel pit we call the mud hole. That explains the condition of the truck. I can't keep that thing clean for nothing!

Don

FYI-'96 Freightliner FLD 112,179wb,M-11 Cummins @ 370hp 3:90 Rockwells on air & 15yd bed

[HAWK]

Wheels,

No problem. I used to run dispatch for a few truckers some years back. My mother put herself through college driving a 13 speed for Stokley Van Camps many years ago.

I am taking the boat out tomorrow for the first time this year. It is my son's birthday and he is on me to go pan fishing. When I get it back home I'll take a picture of what it looks like now and then do an after picture. I am still not sure which way I will go. Everybody has given great advice. I know H80N has had a lot of aircraft experience and likes to do things as right as possible! Thanks again for all the good advice!!!

[Wheels]

Hawk

H80N is right, if the aluminum is really nasty you should use a product such as Zep aluminum acid. It is sold in gallon containers in truck supply stores in my neck of the woods. Mix it with the correct ratio of water and scrub away preferably out of direct sunlight,so the surface doesn`t dry before it can be rinsed off. This will give you a surface which can be polished with a lot less black gook on your cloth when you apply the polish.

BTY DDA52, there are a lot of trucks like mine running around in Ohio. Due to our laws this is the (hot set-up). I am curious , would you have a picture of what Texas deems a heavy hauler?

Sorry Hawk for turning your thread into a trucker`s lounge

[klsm54]

HAWK, you don't mention what kind of tool you want to use, but since all welders have an angle grinder or 2 laying around, check out the Nylox Cup brushes from Weiler, they make them that will work on angle grinders and they look like they might be perfect for cleaning and putting a nice satin finish on aluminum....Weiler Index

[klsm54]

Saw an ad on TV over the weekend for the Flitz polishing ball, check it out Here

Don't know if the ball works as good as it says, but Flitz polish is a highly respected brand.

[H80N]

HAWK
a Phosphoric Acid wash will leave a clean brite matte aluminum finish.. ready for polish... that P38 Lightning that I sent you a pic of some time ago had just recieved a Phosphoric Acid wash and was about to be polished...
hope this helps
Heiti

BTW Phosphoric acid is available at Lowe's in the ceramic tile section for cleaning tile and removing excess grout...

[H80N]

HAWK
looks like the troops have covered polishing pretty well.... but... before you worry about polishing you might want to clean the metal... cleaning it will eliminate the need for an awful lot of elbow grease before polishing.... the most accepted method of cleaning aluminum is with a phosphoric acid wash which will remove oxides, corrosion and discoloration without damaging the aluminum..
hope this helps
Heiti

[Qrazy]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Andy249
[B]Hey Hawk,

I used to work at Quintrex (www.quintrex.com) and occasionally we used to burn the occasional hole through the bottom sheet (oooops!!).

Hi Andy249 I wondered if you had worked for them (I think you meant this URL http://www.quintrex.com.au/main.asp ) How do you like their boats, my Brother has one and loves it. I have been fishing on it many, many times....

I too use Simmichrome, much like the other polishes it will get black stuff everywhere, but it will also leave a mirror like finish. For the size of your job though, that is TONS of elbow grease, even with buffers.
Good luck...
Qrazy

[DDA52]

Originally posted by Wheels
Arcdawg

Ohio weight laws suck, but I can haul 20 tons legally with them.

3406E caterpillar
Fuller 8LL transmission
Eaton 46 rears, 433 ratio
Chalmers suspension

Makes for some long weekends keeping them shined-up!!

Wheels
If you think Ohio is bad, DON'T bring those babies to Tx!! I'd have to check, but I don't think you'd be able to exceed 15 or 16 tons with the axles that close together. They (DOT) really check weights on multi axles (over 2 in rear) with no spread on them.

Don

[Wheels]

Arcdawg

Ohio weight laws suck, but I can haul 20 tons legally with them.

3406E caterpillar
Fuller 8LL transmission
Eaton 46 rears, 433 ratio
Chalmers suspension

Makes for some long weekends keeping them shined-up!!

[arcdawg]

wheels, what lbs can you haul w/ that


p.s. SWEET

what kind of drivetrain ?

DAWG