Sandblasting aluminium hull?
 

If an old aluminium hull (incl. many layers of paint...) isn't too
pretty anymore, should one sandblast it much like a steel hull? Or is
there some other procedure to make it smooth? Is the loss of hull
thickness negligible when sandblasting aluminium? And does anybody
know which primers/paints to apply, and how many layers? I'm assuming
it will be different from steel!

Zander
amulder(AT)rootshell.be

On 22 Sep 2004 10:00:00 -0700, (ZanderU) wrote:

If an old aluminium hull (incl. many layers of paint...) isn't too
pretty anymore, should one sandblast it much like a steel hull? Or is
there some other procedure to make it smooth? Is the loss of hull
thickness negligible when sandblasting aluminium? And does anybody
know which primers/paints to apply, and how many layers? I'm assuming
it will be different from steel!

You can use silica medium, but it won't be shiny smooth when you are
done. Another problem is that there is an effect called "peening"
which places different stresses on the blasted and unblasted surface.
Odd I know, but I've seen the result of a silica blast on a aluminum
boat and over time, it didn't look nice at all.

What you probably want to do it find somebody who can soda blast the
surface - it's basically using sodium bicarbonate under high pressure.
It doesn't hurt the aluminum and if done properly and with the correct
pressure jet and mixing valve, will really clean the aluminum to a
nice finish. It takes more medium with it's marginal increased cost,
but the finish is well worth it.

As far as finishing the result, I'm not sure - prime and paint I would
suppose.

All the best,

Tom
--------------

"What the hell's the deal with this newsgroup...
is there a computer terminal in the day room of
some looney bin somewhere?"

Bilgeman - circa 2004

"ZanderU" wrote in message
om...
If an old aluminium hull (incl. many layers of paint...) isn't too
pretty anymore, should one sandblast it much like a steel hull? Or is
there some other procedure to make it smooth? Is the loss of hull
thickness negligible when sandblasting aluminium? And does anybody
know which primers/paints to apply, and how many layers? I'm assuming
it will be different from steel!

Zander
amulder(AT)rootshell.be

That will not make it smooth..

It will clean the aluminum and make a finish that collects dirt/oils
and will look horrible in a short time.

If you are going to ultimately paint it, sand blasting probably
wouldn't be a bad idea.

db