Has anyone hear ever clear coated over brushed aluminum?

RedBarchetta · #1 (**permalink**) 06-07-2007, 01:08 PM

I'm considering a project for some aluminum engine pieces. One option is to have them all brush finished (by hand by me, because of the curves involved plus I'm too cheap to pay someone to do something that I can do myself), and then have them powder coated in clear.

Anyone have any examples? Anyone done this and wished they hadn't?

Thanks for the inputs (not expecting many, but you don't know until you ask the question).

-Dean

P.S. Here...Hear...I've had a long day already.

496fe · #2 (**permalink**) 06-07-2007, 10:09 PM

Dean,

I don't know if you noticed, but my shift lever, steering hub housing, oil breather tank, lower radiator hose and other odds and ends are all either stainless, aluminum, or mild steel brushed and painted. I'm going to clear powder coat everything eventually to replace the clear paint.

B.

onefastmustang · #3 (**permalink**) 06-07-2007, 10:25 PM

I did several peices of my car where that were aluminum and then clear coated it with powder coat in the oven in my garage.. Love it.. If I get a chance Ill take some pics and upload them.

RedBarchetta · #4 (**permalink**) 06-08-2007, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onefastmustang

I did several peices of my car where that were aluminum and then clear coated it with powder coat in the oven in my garage.. Love it.. If I get a chance Ill take some pics and upload them.

That would be great, thanks!

-Dean

emberglo66 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-08-2007, 09:53 AM

Just the firewall on my car.

lamaluv · #6 (**permalink**) 06-08-2007, 12:44 PM

I'm not sure haw clear powder coat will work, but my aluminum intake was clear coat painted and over time developed an ugly yellow tint

.

Dick

Woodz428 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-08-2007, 01:53 PM

If you look at many of the Motorcycles from the 70s/80s, prior to the all black look, you'll see that it was a pretty common prcatice. Many of the motorcycles today still use pieces like that, although not to the extent they once did. It seemed to increase the life of the "look" but once it was allowed to deteriorate some corrosion would get behind the paint and then it would have to be re-done.....a little time consuming but easier to repair than powder coatings.

eschaider · #8 (**permalink**) 06-08-2007, 02:34 PM

If you haven't tried it yet you may want to look at ZoopSeal before the powder coat approach. Powder coating is more bullet proof but Zoopseal is much easier to apply and fix whoopses.

Ed

SantaFe66 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-09-2007, 12:46 AM

I've had the same yellowing problem on my alum. intake as above. I clear coated it and it yellowed. Will Zoop Seal work on an aluminum intake and tolerate spilled gasoline without yellowing? I'm considering just taking the thing off and having it ceramic coated.

Paul

cwmcobra · #10 (**permalink**) 06-10-2007, 07:27 AM

If anyone is interested in Zoopseal, I have an unopened package that's for sale. Nothing bad to say about it, except I bought it after all the parts were installed and decided I should have used it beforehand. So, it's for sale.

Chuck

thorconstr · #11 (**permalink**) 06-10-2007, 08:03 AM

I put Zoopseal on my throttle bodies and manifold 2 years ago and they still look great. All of my wheel well panels and engine panels were clear powder coated and look great as well.

eschaider · #12 (**permalink**) 06-11-2007, 09:50 AM

They both work well. I haven't had zoopseal yellow although I suppose anything is possible under the right conditions. Both work very well, one (powder coat) is more durable one (zoopseal) is easier to apply.

I like both of them.

Ed

MFE III · #13 (**permalink**) 06-14-2007, 02:07 PM

One thing I'd recommend against is using a clear anodized finish. Did that on my polished engine bay panels and it came out so dull, that I had the panels stripped and repolished them. Was told that the advantage of an anodized finish was that it wouldn't yellow over time like clear powder coat can.
Matt

RedBarchetta · #14 (**permalink**) 06-14-2007, 04:05 PM

Thank you to everyone for your responses, comments, inputs and general dialogue on the subject matter!

Well, I believe I may have sourced a finisher. Earlier today I visited a local company in Santa Ana that specializes in "metal deburring." They use tumblers and other means to remove irregularities from different alloys using a number of different grades/hardnesses of material. The GM that works there greeted me and does lots of car parts (and showed me some samples). I'm going to drop off one piece and see what he does with it before I give him the motherload. He swears that clear coating is not necessary, but I'm still going to have all the parts clear powder coated (not high gloss, but more of a semi-gloss) to protect the finish. It may be a couple weeks before I can post the results, but you know I will when I get the test sample back. I will also take before/after pics for comparison. Stay tuned...

-Dean