Cool Finish on a Kirkham

[RedBarchetta]

Any Kirkman owners want to try ZoopSeal on one portion of their car and tell us how that holds up? It's designed to seal in a polish to aluminum...would seem to me that it would also lock-in any finish that is on the bare aluminum as well.

-Dean

[fastraxsg]

I love the car but the big AC on the dash kinda did me in....I guess I could remove that if I could afford the car.....Its awesome...!

[SP01715]

Originally Posted by brettco

How did they get clearcoat to stick to bare aluminum-its not made for that? Metal needs a etch or epoxy primer for adhesion. I think it will peel off in sheets-looks good though.

I use a product on the aluminum on my pontoon boat called Sharkhide that gives a very similar finish to this cobra, and the stuff is extremely hardy. You apply it to bare aluminum with no prep other than a clean surface. I don't know how the PPG works, but maybe it has similar properties?

http://sharkhide.com/mpinfo.html

[Balance_Point]

That stuff looks really interesting. I have a use for it on the polished skin of my airplane. Have you tried the black streak cleaner from them?

Originally Posted by SP01715

I use a product on the aluminum on my pontoon boat called Sharkhide that gives a very similar finish to this cobra, and the stuff is extremely hardy. You apply it to bare aluminum with no prep other than a clean surface. I don't know how the PPG works, but maybe it has similar properties?

http://sharkhide.com/mpinfo.html

[SP01715]

Originally Posted by Balance_Point

That stuff looks really interesting. I have a use for it on the polished skin of my airplane. Have you tried the black streak cleaner from them?

No I have not tried the black streak cleaner. The aluminum that I coated 5 years ago above the waterline still looks brand new (gives it a brushed look), and the boat spent 8 months in a slip last year. The stuff below the waterline is slightly darker than the rest, but still looks really good for sitting in the water so long. I am going to apply another coat this month before the boat goes back in the water this spring. It is great stuff.

It would probably work well on your airplane. If I had a Kirkham with exposed aluminum I would try and find someone that could spray the stuff. You just wipe it with a damp rag when it gets dirty and it looks great. Even water spots don't etch the stuff.

[Balance_Point]

Thanks, I think I will try it out. From the website it sounds like the product won't alter the patina of the metal which would be great. If that works out I may try it on the body of my Cobra (after I 'm done with the details of ordering it) too.

[PANAVIA]

I wonder if you could "Clear-Powdercoat" a Kirkham....