Tailgate Band Restoration Bring back the shine !!!

[Harleyboy1]

Tailgate restoration

There's a product called never dull you should be able to get it at almost every parts store like auto zone or pepboys i would always use it for that and the aluminum wheels made it look just as new without much hassle

 

[echo7bravo]

I stripped the aluminum grill on my '69 C-10 using drain cleaner that contained sodium hydroxide (lye). It strips the anodization off with now scrubbing. Just apply with spray bottle, let set for few minutes and rinse. You just have to be super careful not to get it on your skin.

I ended up making a DIY kiddie pool anodizing tank on my patio with sulfuric acid and a trickle charger. Was thinking about doing it again with the aluminum band that goes around the back of my cab. I used the DIY set up to color aluminum gun parts back then as well. Ended up giving the set up away when I moved out of state.

I wish I still had the photos of the grill from my last truck. As much work as it was....it was totally worth it. The grill looked as shiny as a new one.

 

[bucket]

I stripped the aluminum grill on my '69 C-10 using drain cleaner that contained sodium hydroxide (lye). It strips the anodization off with now scrubbing. Just apply with spray bottle, let set for few minutes and rinse. You just have to be super careful not to get it on your skin.

I ended up making a DIY kiddie pool anodizing tank on my patio with sulfuric acid and a trickle charger. Was thinking about doing it again with the aluminum band that goes around the back of my cab. I used the DIY set up to color aluminum gun parts back then as well. Ended up giving the set up away when I moved out of state.

I wish I still had the photos of the grill from my last truck. As much work as it was....it was totally worth it. The grill looked as shiny as a new one.

I'd be interested to hear all the details about how to setup this diy process. I wanna try!

 

[echo7bravo]

Super easy. Kiddie pool, water, baking washing soda and sulfuric acid. Attached negative clamp on battery charger to aluminum wire and attach wire to aluminum piece being worked.

Positive clamp to aluminum wire and that wire layed in bottom of pool attached to an chunk of aluminum. Dump packet of RIT dye powder in pool and turn in battery charger. Color will deep into aluminum on negative side.

Take thin aluminum wire and attach $2 worth of nickels and no dye and you get super shines nickel playing on aluminum.

Let power run for 24-48 hours. Cheap and really nice finishes. I did dozens and dozens of different things back around 2009 or so.

 

[hatzie]

Washing soda or Baking soda? They are two different animals.

I use Baking Soda for neutralizing the acid after I'm done anodizing the whatever. You don't want it in the anodizing solution.

I have used washing soda to electrolytically de-rust steel and iron parts. It works quite well.

Sounds almost like you were doing a rudimentary bright plating of the aluminum with the nickels. Technically using the metal in currency is illegal. It can be done but I like to avoid Imperial entanglements.

 

[bucket]

What's the mix ratio of the sulfuric acid? For clear, do you just leave out the dye?

 

[carlgm]

Super easy. Kiddie pool, water, baking washing soda and sulfuric acid. Attached negative clamp on battery charger to aluminum wire and attach wire to aluminum piece being worked.

Positive clamp to aluminum wire and that wire layed in bottom of pool attached to an chunk of aluminum. Dump packet of RIT dye powder in pool and turn in battery charger. Color will deep into aluminum on negative side.

Take thin aluminum wire and attach $2 worth of nickels and no dye and you get super shines nickel playing on aluminum.

Let power run for 24-48 hours. Cheap and really nice finishes. I did dozens and dozens of different things back around 2009 or so.

Great. I might try this DIY method next time.

 

[Frankenchevy]

Great write up, thanks. Wish I had seen this befor I sent mine off to be polished. But mine had a couple of small dents in it (don't they all) so they will get these out for me. Just seems like every time I get behind one of our trucks, it has at least one dent. But after 20 some years I guess it is to be expected. You go to buy a new one it is around $600.00.

I have one of these from when I bought my truck. I took it off immediately because I don't like any sort of trim or shiney bits. I was going to store it up in the rafters. I had no idea they are worth this much in good shape. anyone want to buy a taller profile gmc diesel tailgate band in decent shape pm me.

 

[echo7bravo]

Washing soda or Baking soda? They are two different animals.

I use Baking Soda for neutralizing the acid after I'm done anodizing the whatever. You don't want it in the anodizing solution.

I have used washing soda to electrolytically de-rust steel and iron parts. It works quite well.

Sounds almost like you were doing a rudimentary bright plating of the aluminum with the nickels. Technically using the metal in currency is illegal. It can be done but I like to avoid Imperial entanglements.

Washing soda. I have the details printed in my file cabinet. I will dig them out. I guess the grille was more of a bright plating. My initial set up was for black anodizing picatini rails for rifles back when I ran the armory.

As for using currency, I live on the edge. LOL

 

[BigRedMachine]

Outstanding!

 

[mtbadbob]

I just finished my tailgate trim restoration for my '87. I started with a decent piece that was pretty nice around the perimeter, but had multiple small dents on the field/face. I masked off the the trim piece to shoot the satin black stripe around the border. I took accurate measurements of the flat surface of the trim, and had a piece of machined stainless plasma cut to my dimensions(slightly smaller than trim surface), then adhered with some good 'old clear silicon. I also sanded & scotchbrited the "Chevrolet" emblem, then painstakenly masked the PITA off and used an Exacto to trim masking tape. I then shot about 3 coats of satin black on the emblem, used a sharp, small blade standard screwdriver to scrape any paint off of the triple edge detail of the letters that are suppossed to be shiney. After all that process, I scotchbrite paded the entire emblem and shot a coat of satin clear over it all. I used NeverDull to shine up the stainless and the aluminum both. I also had to drill the tailgate for the 4 band mounting screws. Not show quality, but turned out really nice, and I like restoring original parts!

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[mtbadbob]

Now I just have to change out my bent handle!

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[Grit dog]

Nice work! That looks phenomenal.
Want to do mine? Lol

 

[mtbadbob]

Nice work! That looks phenomenal.
Want to do mine? Lol

I thought about starting a restoration service for them, but they are so big, shipping would be a killer! I think you can buy re-pops for around $350 with the "Chevrolet" emblem. I have about $200 into mine including buying the trim panel out of a boneyard(and LOTS of time!) I have another OEM trim panel, but it may have a few dings around the perimeter, but would work if you're not too fussy or wanting restoration quality.

 

[Grit dog]

@mtbadbob
I have a couple of them. Just need to decide how I’m going to restore one of them. Part of me wants to strip it and re-anodize.