labattomy
Cadet
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2010
- Messages
- 17
I see some people mentioning using a wire wheel to clean paint off the aluminum boat and I just want to caution you that if you use a ferrous wire wheel brush, minute particles of the steel in the brush comes off in the aluminum and then interstitial corrosion begins.
This is a serious problem and at this point the boat is almost ruined.
I say almost because I have heard of some type of solution you can put n the aluminum to stop the corrosion, but eventually the skin will corrode and weaken.
I know this because I have experience with aircraft stressed aluminum skin - and when you use the wrong wire wheel on the aluminum, the plane is basically considered not airworthy.
If you must wire wheel, make sure you get a stainless steel wheel (not a cheap harbor freight stainless, get a good one (it will cost you)
Sandblasting is too aggressive, Bead blasting and walnut shell blasting might be OK, but I am not a fan of the damage these types of abrasives do the aluminum.
or better yet, use the aircraft stripper to remove the paint and save the skin underneath.
That is what the aircraft mechanics do for refinishing planes...
Any other thoughts are welcome and I am sure there are tons of posts about this very topic all over iBoats by people much more knowledgeable than I,
Dan
This is a serious problem and at this point the boat is almost ruined.
I say almost because I have heard of some type of solution you can put n the aluminum to stop the corrosion, but eventually the skin will corrode and weaken.
I know this because I have experience with aircraft stressed aluminum skin - and when you use the wrong wire wheel on the aluminum, the plane is basically considered not airworthy.
If you must wire wheel, make sure you get a stainless steel wheel (not a cheap harbor freight stainless, get a good one (it will cost you)
Sandblasting is too aggressive, Bead blasting and walnut shell blasting might be OK, but I am not a fan of the damage these types of abrasives do the aluminum.
or better yet, use the aircraft stripper to remove the paint and save the skin underneath.
That is what the aircraft mechanics do for refinishing planes...
Any other thoughts are welcome and I am sure there are tons of posts about this very topic all over iBoats by people much more knowledgeable than I,
Dan
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