This is the thread where you get to watch me paint my driftboat. I am proceeding mostly on the good advice I got from DanS and some helpful folks over on Stovebolter.com , a terrific site if you are into old chevy trucks.

Day 1:

Hemmed and hawed half the day whether or not to chip all the old gluvit off the bottom and start with a fresh layer. Decided not to decide...

I forgot to take a before picture so this one will have to suffice....it gives you a better idea anyway of the five different layers that came off.


Using the suggested product Kleen Strip I started slopping the stuff on. Due to the layers mentioned above it took two full applications to each area I was stripping and a third touch-up application to get to the bare metal.....

Day 2:

I finally did get to bare metal and I think it looks pretty good. Yeah, I missed a spot....


I'm estimating that by the time I'm done I will have used a gallon and a half of the stripper, about 45 - 50 bucks worth.

I give a big thumbs up to the paint job the alumaweld guys did at the factory 32 years ago....the greenish stuff in the photo below I believe is the etching placed on the aluminum in the factory. The etching and primer were intact over the entire boat.....pretty incredible really.


Only what you see left in the first photo to go tomorrow. My goal is to have the outside completely stripped and ready to wash with degreaser.

Impressive, most impressive. That is alot of layerage to work out. Still on for Saturday?

Wow,

After all the hard work to get to bare metal it sure seems like a shame to cover it all up again! How about a nice clear varnish or resin? That would really look nice!

Of course it probably wouldn't be the best finish as far as fishing is concerned It would act like a mirror and put the fish down

What color are you going to paint it?

With an avatar like that would you expect anything less than.........................black?

That is IF I decide to paint it. The aluminum looks pretty cool scuffed up with a scotch brite.

Dan suggested I etch it and leave it. I'll probably do a test etch and then decide. I like that idea though.

benny-

yup.... looks like it might pay to fish swiftsure this weekend. see ya friday night?

CANNOT WAIT! I'll keep in touch.

Etch it and than use some stuff called Sharkhide. It's a clear sealant for aluminum. Goes on about like wiping on Laquer thinner and drys that fast. Keeps aluminum from Oxydizing.

http://www.sharkhide.com

Looks interesting but I'll have to actually see some on a drifter before I go that way...

Was hoping Dan would show up and tell me its ok to leave it bare.

Yeah, but if you're using it sans respirator, think of all the money you're saving on other recreational activities.

stldhdh2o, take a look at the new Willie in my Avatar. I Sharkhided it the day I got it. I also used Sharkhide on my old Willie. The stuff works awesome. I was very skeptical when the guys at Willie recommended it. After asking around everyone told me this was the stuff to use. The nice thing is, if it ever did discolor, you can wipe it off with laquer thinner and re-apply. On my old Willie I scotch-brite padded it about once a year before discovering this stuff. No labor from then on and the boat stays looking shiny new!

How's it do on unetched aluminum?

I'm afraid the etching process will discolor my pretty polishing.

So far, I've got the gluvit surface prep sanded with 80 grit, all the paint removed, sanded the aluminum with 150 grit (a little heavy as it turns out) and made two passes with a scotchbrite attached to a finish sander. Because of the 150 being too heavy uit'll cost me a couple extra passes with the scotchbrite......

She's polishing up real nice.....maybe I'll run take a pic.