1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

I quickly figured out I am too dumb to run a mirror polish job, that's why I went "brushed". So what you got there, looks great

Thanks Jason... in my head this is the target:

Ambitious? Yes. Realistic.... well time will tell...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Oh my word, woudya look at that!

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Hey Jim, I bought a bag of industrial rags to clean off the bulk of the black then only use the micro fiber ones for the final buff. Don't clean the pads just put them in a zip lock bag. That way they stay moist and saturated with polish, otherwise you have to go through the loading process all over again. We wnt over the bottom twice and three times on the sides.
Glen

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Hey Jim, I bought a bag of industrial rags to clean off the bulk of the black then only use the micro fiber ones for the final buff. Don't clean the pads just put them in a zip lock bag. That way they stay moist and saturated with polish, otherwise you have to go through the loading process all over again. We wnt over the bottom twice and three times on the sides.
Glen

Thanks Glen. I went out at lunch today and bought a bunch of rags to do exactly that!!! Glad I was thinking on those lines. Zip locking the pads ---- yup. I also bought some extras of those as well!!! It made a big mess cleaning the pad up!! I will try again tonight and now that I don't have a 45 minute cleanup, and again tomorrow morning. I will snap some more photo's to show the progress. Thanks again!

Jim

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Oh my word, woudya look at that!

Sumpten else isn't it!!! Looks like chrome. I have a ways to go to get to a chrome look!!!

Here is the photo of what it looked like before... and then after. Remarkable... and all done with polish and sealant... Awesome job!

Before:

After:

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Dood, I want your boat to look like that, wow!

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Dood, I want your boat to look like that, wow!

Me too!!

I picked up a little something else at lunch today.... Really stoked to give it a try tonight!!!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

me like shiny , but why hide it all below the waterline where only the fishies get to see it?

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

I felt the need to get out and try this again... so this is how it went:

Thought I'd try to take a picture of my reflection...

Not chrome... but better.

Whatchuguys think?

Ps: Glen... you're right... it takes a couple of passes to get it to start to shine... sometimes more depending on the surface of the alum.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Maybe not quite here:

Yet....

Besides, are you going to use this boat or drive it around on the trailer for use as a shaving mirror???

Looks incredible! Esp seeing where it started... Totally new, a completely & entirely different hull

No trace of the white, scuffed & scraped whale she used to be! Outstanding!

 

[rheagler]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Wow. Nice work Jim. That is one shiny boat.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Looking good Jim, A guy has to be real carefull when stripping the old paint off because any scratchs you put in take a long time to remove. Troy at Auto obsessed, said that wool pads are the most abrassive and will get the bad areas up to shine quick. Then use the foam ones to finish off. Good thing about this job is it's not real hard work, it goes well with drinking wobbly pops and the results just keep getting better.
Glen

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

That looks incredible.

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Thanks guys! It's definetely a bit different then most do... but that's what makes tinny's so versatile... you have so many different options for what can be done to the hull/sides/bow and gunnels! Even if down the road I find maintaining the finish too much of a hastle or I grow tired of it... I can always paint it or get it painted. I do think Aluminum has a certain beauty to it --- especially when polished up nicely. Interesting process nonetheless!!!

Gonna try something a little different tomorrow am. Glen is right on the money... any imperfections are magnified. Just like with painting 80% of the work is in the prep (or drywall mudding for that matter!!). I think that there are enough imperfections on the hull that cause getting a really terrific finish, a lot more work. I kinda felt like the karate kid last night... ... anyway I can experiment some more on the hull and see what the results are! I think I missed an important step of light wet sanding up to 1000 grit and then applying polish --- at least on the hull. The back of the hull is sort of the worst if you can call it that... so I'll experiment tomorrow am and see what I get.

I'm quite enjoying this part... it's nice to see some results and learn, learn, learn. Can't really paint the bow anyway in this weather... so may as well see what I can do here and keep it movin' forward.

Thanks for swinging by guys!!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

.....wax on, wax off.

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

.....wax on, wax off.

Ya Mr. Miagi Sun...

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

looks great!


I love the look of the polished rivets

Are you worried about oxidation & do you have any plans on how to maintain it?

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

looks great!


I love the look of the polished rivets

Are you worried about oxidation & do you have any plans on how to maintain it?

Thanks Gibbles. Yes! Oxidation is a worry... but I am sealing with the same product Glen (DozerII) used and plan on seeing how it goes. It likely will require a polish/seal on a yearly basis on above the water line parts ---- I am cool with that as it is easy to do and easy to access. Below the water line is of course more difficult to get to and I am not looking forward to that as much --- but it is quite doable with the trailer I have so we shall see. For now it will do.

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Thanks Gibbles. Yes! Oxidation is a worry... but I am sealing with the same product Glen (DozerII) used and plan on seeing how it goes. It likely will require a polish/seal on a yearly basis on above the water line parts ---- I am cool with that as it is easy to do and easy to access. Below the water line is of course more difficult to get to and I am not looking forward to that as much --- but it is quite doable with the trailer I have so we shall see. For now it will do.

I've heard alot of good things about sharkhide for sealing up all that hard work...... that is my plan anyways.. Hopefully I can make mine look as good as yours. Love the pics...

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

I've heard alot of good things about sharkhide for sealing up all that hard work...... that is my plan anyways.. Hopefully I can make mine look as good as yours. Love the pics...

Thanks SMG... it's getting shiner little by little. I've heard that as well about shark hide. Sonus's sealant is supposed to be good a well. Bottom line: none last forever!

Jim