Anybody Un-polish an intake?

ttopstang

Active Member

Sep 6, 2007

306

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Birmingham, AL

Mar 9, 2012

#1

• Mar 9, 2012

• #1

I've got a polished alum intake that I want to paint but was wondering if anybody knows how to un-polish it? I have access to a sand blaster, but what media would be best to use? Is there any chemicals that take the polish out of it?

And I'm NOT sanding this thing down, I'm tired of sanding stuff, if that's the only option, I'll leave it polished.

 

Ozz

I think I have a problem here.

Founding Member

Jul 27, 2001

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Canton, MI

Mar 9, 2012

#2

• Mar 9, 2012

• #2

There's no polish "in" it to be taken out, you'd have to either rough up the surface, sand it, or cover it with paint or something else. Sand or any rough media will scuff it up and give it a raw, blasted look. Not sure what you want out of it except for it to no longer be shiny, but blasting it will do at least that.

 

ttopstang

Active Member

Sep 6, 2007

306

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Birmingham, AL

Mar 9, 2012

#3

• Mar 9, 2012

• #3

I meant to rough it up to apply paint. Would sand be the best, or soda, I even have some walnut shells?

 

Ozz

I think I have a problem here.

Founding Member

Jul 27, 2001

3,514

66

109

Canton, MI

Mar 9, 2012

#4

• Mar 9, 2012

• #4

I don't know too much about paint prep but the sand will probably be too aggressive. Soda is usually for that but I'm not sure if it's aggressive enough to rough up the polished surface for starters. Never used walnuts so I can't say about that.

 

ttopstang

Active Member

Sep 6, 2007

306

1

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Birmingham, AL

Mar 9, 2012

#5

• Mar 9, 2012

• #5

I thought sand would be too aggressive too.

I'll try a few spots on the back of the intake that won't be seen and see what works best.

 

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

15 Year Member

Jul 3, 2009

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Maryland

Mar 9, 2012

#6

• Mar 9, 2012

• #6

wire wheel on a drill to scuff.. then paint

 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

15 Year Member

Nov 11, 2003

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Northern KY

Mar 9, 2012

#7

• Mar 9, 2012

• #7

If you're just scuffing it for paint, get a green Scotchbrite pad and use that. Otherwise glass bead blasting will give the surface an extremely fine texture that i've found will hold paint very well. I've done a lot of valve covers this way, i used to have a hookup for glass bead blasting.

 

Rick 91GT

Mustang Master

Nov 29, 1999

9,692

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PA

Mar 9, 2012

#8

• Mar 9, 2012

• #8

Id glass bead and Powdercoat the thing....powdercoat over a polish finish looks great IMO.

 

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

15 Year Member

Dec 19, 2010

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Mar 9, 2012

#9

• Mar 9, 2012

• #9

+1 beadblast

 

V

Vanessa91

Banned

Mar 4, 2011

64

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Mar 10, 2012

#10

• Mar 10, 2012

• #10

What Rick said.
Before Blasting

After

After paint

Blast and powder coat will look the best.