Aluminum Refinisher

UTfball68

UTfball68

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2008
Location
Granite Quarry
Hey fellas...I'm trying to find a shop that can handle polishing/refinishing aluminum. These are trim pieces from 73-79 fords. I have a grille and a few smaller pieces that are bare that need to be polished. I also have a few sets of complete trim that need the anodizing stripped, then polished...and then cleared over. Thanks for any info.
 
My bet is that they aren't aluminum. They're probably stainless steel. It was much more popular to use from the 40's (possibly earlier) on for exterior trim. But I still don't know of anyone who refinishes the stuff.
 
rattlecanpaint said:
My bet is that they aren't aluminum. They're probably stainless steel. It was much more popular to use from the 40's (possibly earlier) on for exterior trim. But I still don't know of anyone who refinishes the stuff.
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Thanks for the input, but the trim on 73-79 Ford trucks is in fact anodized aluminum. I've got a few sets and I've gone the route of stripping them myself with oven cleaner and other cleaners...then sanding and polishing and spraying with clear...but that is an ass ton of work. I've even had a set stripped and chromed, but my dad's shop no longer has the chroming tanks. So I just figured someone on this site may know of body shop or restoration shop that could handle this kind of work. Thanks for anymore information.
 
Does Dennis Carpenter near Charlotte Motor Speedway cover those years? Might try them.
 
SSWaters said:
Does Dennis Carpenter near Charlotte Motor Speedway cover those years? Might try them.
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They don't refinish, but I am well acquainted with them...they supply all my parts...haha. I actually have a complete set of their trim still boxed up. Thanks again though.

My old body guy used to be able to do what I want, but he upgraded his system and said the anodizing contaminates the new tubs. So I guess really what I'm looking for is any place that chromes and if they do, they may be able to handle my stuff.
 
If you don't mind stripping them yourself Lowes sells the compunds and the buffer wheels that fit a standard bench grinder and make fairly short work vs polishing by hand or with a drill.
 
DemonDave said:
If you don't mind stripping them yourself Lowes sells the compunds and the buffer wheels that fit a standard bench grinder and make fairly short work vs polishing by hand or with a drill.
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Sorry...that's what I meant I used/did when I said 'by hand'. Maybe I need to look for a big rig shop that chromes their own stuff. Anybody know of one of those?


Again, thanks for all the help and input fellas.
 
My recommendation is call the local bling/ricer "dub" (rim/wheel) vendors... most will know of a service that refinish & polish rims.

There used to be finishing shop (plating/anodizing) shop on Lee St. (just east of Tate) in GSO that did a buttload of stuff for the shop I worked in.
 
There is a plating shop in Fayetteville, if they're still open that will do most anything that isn't a wheel. IIRC Southern plating was the name of it. But really, by the time you send it out to have it perfected and plated it would be nearly as cheap to replace the grille shell, and you wouldn't be too far off from replacing the side mouldings. People think a whole lot of their time compared to being able to get the friends/family deal somewhere, and that's a pretty damn labor intensive process. Not saying I've had a price quote done, but I can't see it being any less than a new set of trim.
 
DemonDave said:
There is a plating shop in Fayetteville, if they're still open that will do most anything that isn't a wheel. IIRC Southern plating was the name of it. But really, by the time you send it out to have it perfected and plated it would be nearly as cheap to replace the grille shell, and you wouldn't be too far off from replacing the side mouldings. People think a whole lot of their time compared to being able to get the friends/family deal somewhere, and that's a pretty damn labor intensive process. Not saying I've had a price quote done, but I can't see it being any less than a new set of trim.
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Again thanks for the info...and you're right, if I were to go out and buy imported china crap, I'd be losing time and money if I didn't go buy a set. But from some of what I've seen refurbing OEM stuff costs no more than a quality aftermarket trim set from DC or Green Sales (around 3k when it's all said and done). However, having OEM stuff refurbed is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper than buying NOS stuff and after it's refurbed it sells for close to what NOS sells for. So there is definitely a method to my madness. And thanks again, I'll see if I can't find that shop.
 
catfishblues said:
http://stratfordmetal.com/finishes.html
Right between Bowman Grey and Sugar Bares on MLK in Winston. They're industrial. They do decent work, but make sure you're specific when you tell them what you want. They can do a good job, but they can also half-ass some stuff. They do all our anodizing, though, and I've seen some of their chrome.
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Thanks man...exactly the kind of place I was looking for. Appreciate it.
 
I'd send 'em a sample first, just to be safe. I don't think they've ever lost any of our stuff, and I know they've done some little fiddly bits off my buddy's VW, but better safe than sorry. Make sure you like the work before you send the irreplacable stuff.
 
And take them a case of beer, you get a better turn around and better work too....
 
catfishblues said:
I'd send 'em a sample first, just to be safe. I don't think they've ever lost any of our stuff, and I know they've done some little fiddly bits off my buddy's VW, but better safe than sorry. Make sure you like the work before you send the irreplacable stuff.
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I'll keep that in mind

snappy said:
And take them a case of beer, you get a better turn around and better work too....
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AFTER they get my pieces done...and if they're good enough, I'll throw in a bottle of Jack.


Thanks for all the replies.
 
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