Finished polishing! Now what????

howiee · howiee's Garage

Just finished polishing my fan and was wondering if I should just leave it bare or do I need to protect the metal with something?

tobluforu · tobluforu's Garage

Protect or you will be doing it again pretty soon. Looks great!

niner11 · 02-06-2004, 11:41 AM

POR has some type of clear coat, I can't remember the name but its on their website. I used it on polished aluminum wheels a few years back and they are still perfectly clear. The stuff I am talking about is resistant to just about everything but paint stripper. Chuck

Slant930 · 02-06-2004, 11:42 AM

I second that, unprotected it will oxidize again in a couple weeks. I clearcoated mine after polishing and I didn't like it, it took away some of the beautiful shine, but I used some cheap clearcoat so I'm sure that didn't help. I ended stripping it off, and just keeping it bare polished. I repolish every so often to keep it looking good. I tried waxing it after polishing it and it seemed to delay the oxidizing somewhat but didn't eliminate it.

Nice job btw. Did you do it all by hand or use a drill or something?

TerryBPP · 02-06-2004, 11:47 AM

Go have it clear powdercoates. Won't cost more than $30.

Amac · Amac's Garage

Put VHT clear engin paint on it.
A local alt. rebuilder told me to
about it.
I did a polished intercooler with
it two years ago and it still looks
great!
Cost about $6.00

howiee · howiee's Garage

I did it all by hand. Wasn't too bad, I spend about 3-4hrs on the fan and the shroud.
The VHT clearcoat looks like the paint of choice. Called for the powder coat and they want to charge me $100 for the fan and the shroud. Thats a little too steep for me.

vash · vash's Garage

the belt rides on the fan half of the virtual pulley right? does powdercoating or polishing have any negative effect on the belt?

KTL · 02-06-2004, 01:23 PM

I'd recommend VHT clear too. kstylianos did his fan and housing with it after bead blasting. Looks cool to me.

Engine Rebuild Complete!!

Notice RoninLB (name is simply Ron, in Long Beach) also mentions the POR-15 stuff. Ron has had good results with POR stuff.

David · David's Garage

I haven't had much luck clearcoating polished aluminum. Does the VHT actually leave the aluminum polished or does it dull it?

niner11 · 02-06-2004, 04:56 PM

Not sure I would go the route of a shak'em up can of clear coat (VHT) after spending the time to polish the fan. Clearly that would be better than nothing but I would recommend using GLISTEN PC instead. It's on the POR website and is a two part mixture that lasts without any discoloring.

Pat S · 02-06-2004, 05:22 PM

I used VHT paint on my fan and it chipped, I'd assume clearcoat would do the same.
I think the only options would be to powdercoat or wax.

Eric Coffey · 02-06-2004, 05:43 PM

I would think that the surface of a freshly polished fan is not ideal for paint (clear coat) adhesion. As Pat said, clear powder coat is most likely the better choice. Or if you can find a shop to do it, clear anodizing would probably be the best route.

Wil Ferch · 02-06-2004, 06:20 PM

Btw..it's magnesium...not aluminum
-Wil Ferch

Eric Coffey · 02-07-2004, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wil Ferch
Btw..it's magnesium...not aluminum
-Wil Ferch

Yep.

Still can be powder coated or anodized. You just need to find a shop that is comfortable and capable of working with Mg.

RoninLB · 02-07-2004, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eric Coffey
You just need to find a shop that is comfortable and capable of working with Mg.

I had trouble in NY with the fan because of some kind of Fire Code about mag explosions, or something in that direction..

so don't mention mag.. say it's al