brushing aluminum car

[jkg2101]

Ed, that's a little heavy on the sarcasm.

I understand it's not an easy job. I was looking to actually hear if anyone has done it themselves. So far, it sounds like no.

So far, my experience with Kirkham has been fantastic. They seem to run a really interesting shop. I would love to have their job. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in my life in my job, so I can't take the time to go hang with them out west.

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by jkg2101

Ed, that's a little heavy on the sarcasm.

I understand it's not an easy job. I was looking to actually hear if anyone has done it themselves. So far, it sounds like no.

So far, my experience with Kirkham has been fantastic. They seem to run a really interesting shop. I would love to have their job. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in my life in my job, so I can't take the time to go hang with them out west.

You're right JK but if I just told you it was better not to risk the particularily nice car you have on a DIY project that at best would not be as good as Kirkham does, it would not have had the same value.

You have perhaps one of the most accurate, in almost every respect, Cobra replica's out there. Why put its appearance and value at risk on a DIY job that Kirkham has so much experience in. The ability to get the final brush strokes on the car to look the way Kirkham does, as you go from panel to panel and section to section, is not a walk in the park by any stretch of the imagination.

When you are done and it doesn't look like Kirkham did it, you will attempt to fix it never getting it quite the way you think it ought to be. Pay the Kirkhams, get it done right and then take care of it, drive it and enjoy it for all the reasons you originally bought it for — none of which was learning how to impart a brush finish to your brand new Kirkham.



Ed

[ACademic]

I have painted whole cars and rebuilt engines. I have also applied brushed finishes to small aluminum parts (valve covers and the like).

For me painting an entire car, including all the prep, was a lot easier.

I'm not saying that the OP doesn't have the skills to pull it off. Just that it's going to be an excruciating job to do a proper brushed finish on an entire Kirkham right. Know what you're getting into and then if you still feel comfortable, go for it and report your results. You just might teach all of us a lesson or three.