I took my old green aluminum jon boat to an experience aluminum welder as sugguested earlier in this forum. To save some costs, I'm doing the preperation work. I've removed the wooden transom and knee brace. Along the seams, I've started to sand and strip the paint to give the welder room to work. He will reweld the drain plug, seams, and some other areas.
I didn't plan on painting the entire boat, just those repaired areas. But if I do, can anyone recommend the proper type of sandpaper or stripper? I don't mind hard work (I've refinished and restored concrete porches, and all of the oak woodwork in my house) but this boat seems to take forever? I know that the proper tools are the key to any job.
im in the process of sanding my alum boat. i am using 220 on a random orbital sander and it works .. FAST. i am also stripping the bottom of the boat since it was painted and repainted and repainted ..lol anyway, i got the stripper at my local lowes and its in a gold color can and comes in qt and gallon. its jasco paint and epoxy remover. im having fast excellent results with it ...
those are the areas i am doing until i can get the boat off the trailer.
im using 1 1/2" and 4" metal putty knives. i started with plastic putty knives but they get soft with that stripper. just becareful not to dig in with the corners of the knives. the light scratches you get from the knives will be gone when you sand the bare alum anyway. im also usung a brass brush and a reg old wire brush on the riveted areas and that works great
Thanks for the advice. I went back to the project with a wire brush on a drill and #220 sandpaper. Worked great on all of the flat surfaces. In the corners, I used stripper.
The JB Weld came off in a fine dust using the sandpaper, except in the hard to reach areas. Some of the aluminum is very shiny, and some of it is dull.
After I get the boat back from the welder, I'm going to test it in a lake. If all goes well, I'll prime and paint the bare areas, install the transom to get it ready for Fall trout season. I might even strip and paint the whole boat if I have the time.
Again, thanks guys. I'm always open for suggestions regarding painting and getting the boat seaworthy.
So I am still a newbie to this boat restoration stuff...but after many hours of research on iboats it seems the proper method to prep and paint is to:
-Buck all loose rivets (if riveted)
-Strip all paint
-Wash boat
-Wash with vinegar & water mix
-Rinse & dry
-Gluvit all seams & rivets
-Zinc Chromate primer
-Paint with your choice of paint Rustoleum...or your choice of expensive boat paints using either the spray or roll & tip method
I am sure Rick AirMedic, Huron Angler or some the other more experienced folks will provide more detailed information.
Removing and repainting aluminum jon boat
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