Aluminium cam cover refurb, how to remove paint?

[AdrianH]

I painted with some rattle cans years ago, a cam cover on a Ford Zetec engine. The paintwork is now, very crap, degraded with welding sparks full of grit and flaking in places. No proper etch primer used.

I would doubt I could use Nitromors as I believe it would attack the aluminium, is there something else I could use or is it a case of blast cleaning only and if so with what?

Adrian

 

[rtbcomp]

The old fashioned Nitromors should be OK on aluminium as it's Methylene Chloride based. The newer stuff probably won't attack the paint though.

 

[AdrianH]

I have been attacking it with a wire brush, flat blade etc, but lots of little crevices to get in to get it all out.

I am at this stage at the moment from being all green and yuk!


So a way to go yet.

I could have been thinking of caustic soda, I have been using some acetone and that seems to dissolve it to a glue consistency, then it evaporates, and is just as bad.

Looks like more time on it tomorrow unless I can find a suitable person with a blast cabinet with , I am guessing beads, either glass or poly sumat!

Adrian

 

[brewdexta]

Hi Adrian,
I've got a blast cabinet and I'm using crushed glass, I have blasted a couple of ali castings off the tractor OK. Send me a PM if you want to use it.
Cheers
Andy

 

[brightspark]

I painted with some rattle cans years ago, a cam cover on a Ford Zetec engine. The paintwork is now, very crap, degraded with welding sparks full of grit and flaking in places. No proper etch primer used.

I would doubt I could use Nitromors as I believe it would attack the aluminium, is there something else I could use or is it a case of blast cleaning only and if so with what?

Adrian

a pressure pot using kiln dried sand works perfectly on ally and gives a nice key finish without damage cabinet and extraction is recommended and also a dust mask just in case

 

[wyn]

Would it fit in your vibratory tub?

 

[AdrianH]

Hi Adrian,
I've got a blast cabinet and I'm using crushed glass, I have blasted a couple of ali castings off the tractor OK. Send me a PM if you want to use it.
Cheers
Andy

Thanks for the offer let me see how I get on, if I struggle tomorrow then I could well be sending you a pm.

a pressure pot using kiln dried sand works perfectly on ally and gives a nice key finish without damage cabinet and extraction is recommended and also a dust mask just in case

Unfortunatly no blasting cabinet myself and a compressor that is not really up to it.

Would it fit in your vibratory tub?

Yes just. but I do not want to do the inside where the gaskets have to seal against. I guess I would shred tape up in the process if I could tape the insides up.

Adrian

 

[waldershelf]

Don't use caustic soda, if it's strong enough to do anything to the paint your cam cover will dissolve before your eyes.

 

[grim_d]

Slow Thinners? Most rattle can stuff ain't that tough but I've no idea what you used.

I also used the no nonsense paint stripper from screwfix last week, worked immensely well on my stair varnish, smelt lovely like almonds and didn't nip your skin. Benzyl alcohol I think it is, no idea if its safe on aluminium though, or effective on that paint.

 

[steveo3002]

rattle can shouldnt be hard to move . thinners rag , brake fluid or paint stripper will move it

 

[AdrianH]

Well after a couple hours with thinners and a rag, screwdriver and brush I go the thing clean, then a going over with etch primer and just finished with a top coat.

I will give it 24 hours at least and give a clear coat, I know it is just a cam cover and I am using car rattle cans but it looks better, could all come off when it gets hot!



Adrian

 

[grim_d]

That would have looked great in vht crackle!

 

[AdrianH]

Very Hight Temp I assume?

The thing to do at one time was polished and plated. It'll do.

Adrian

 

[richie00boy]

Get the clear on asap! Its not meant to be left long, also more chance of rubbish getting under it.

Heat won't bother it. Just keep oil off as it will attack the paint.

 

[AdrianH]

On the spray paint tin it said apply clear after 24 hours, so that is what I will do! I assumed to make sure the paint was hardened and all the solvent had evaporated before sealing with the lacquer?

I will have a re-read.

Adrian

 

[langy]

Vapour blasted looks great

 

[roofman]

I remember the good old days when Nitromors actually removed paint...these days it does nothing except stink.