Cleaning Aluminum Door Sills?

[Max Welton]

What is a good way to clean up aluminum door sills?

Max
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1967 Type-3 Fastback
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[Max Welton]

Max
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1967 Type-3 Fastback
Under the Knife https://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=151582
Home Stretch https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=767836

[squaretobehip]

Clean them really well and spray them with a flat nickel paint. We had to repair the carpet side on mine with some clear epoxy. Usually that part is rotted away from wet carpet. They will look really nice with a nice coat of flat nickel.

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1963 Notchback - Ruby Red
1963 Squareback - Pearl White
1965 Squareback - Baltic Blue

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[LowThrum]

agree, scrub them down with a good rust remover and stiff wire brush, use some mineral spirits to clean them, then spray with either nickel or silver color paint.

I did mine and was absolutely shocked at how close the color was to an original looking finish.

I'm at work right now, so of course I don't have the sills to show how they came out or the paint to show what I used.

[Max Welton]

I have an old beetle sill and tried a wire brush. It left nasty marks. Glad I tried it on something I don't care about. I need a much softer brush.

And I'll make a long tray so I can soak these in evaporust.

Max
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1967 Type-3 Fastback
Under the Knife https://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=151582
Home Stretch https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=767836

[sctbrd]

Try pumice hand cleaner like Go-Jo and a small bristle brush (for small parts at work we use toothbrushes). Really good for cleaning aluminum with no scratches.

More for oil and dirt but should work on rust stains.

[Ossipon]

What everyone said, And my lesson learned was even the dremel polishing will scratch the aluminum. I was amazed how soft it is in the end. I luckily had a spare to practice. I would definitely clearcoat with a rattlecan or better if you get the look you want.
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Ossipon
--Two truths in life: Volkswagens Rust and everything will die at some point --

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Type 1 - 59, 62, 63, 71 Super 68 KGhia/ Type 2 - 59 Single Cab / Type 3 - 64 Notch
Water
GTI 83, Jetta 81, 85, 87, 91 TDI, 98 TDI, 09 / New Beetle 99 / SportWagen 05, 13 / Tiguan 18 / T3 92 /Taos 24... And don't about me and my experiences with my Dasher and Quantum

[Bobnotch]

[djfordmanjack]

In a case where welding or grinding has left rust speckles, I would try modern wheel cleaner. They are set up to remove ( brake disc) rust particles and dust from alloy wheels. it is the stuff you spray on and which turns purple, then rinse off.
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Hotrods, Fords, Veedubs and Triumph Twins !

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62 Dickholmer, custom color Seeblau L360
63 1500 Notch, og paint Rubin Rot L456
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[Roadbeater]

I beadblasted them then aluminum wheel polish.
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69 Fastback

[eyetzr]

A brass bristle brush would remove the rust and not harm the annodiziing to much.
A light respray of silver spray bomb should touch up the anodized aluminum.
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I think he meant "rare", as in "not well-done"

[Max Welton]

[Boroboy63]

I cleaned mine with wire wool, epoxy primer, paint and then clear coat, not original, but the best I could do with what I had.

[notchboy]

This product is by far the best work, fastest and most cost effective way to clean those sill covers.

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Rust-Oleum-Professio...ds#overlay
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[Max Welton]

[notchboy]

[Roadbeater]

Here's mine that I beadblasted and used mothers on. Probably could use another polishing.

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69 Fastback

[notchboy]

So anyway Max. My sarcastic posts were to emphasize that you don't, at least I never have "cleaned" them. Only sets I've "cleaned" are super nice ones in great shape.

They are notorious for decaying. Getting pitted and crusty. They never came shinny and have a dull anodized finish to them. So painting is a great, cheap, looks good, solution IMHO.

I had my Type 34 ones polished. And it wasn't cheap. I want to say it was close to $500 to get these done. If they were dull finished Type 3 ones, Id of rattle canned them for sure.

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[my3bugs]

aluminum doesnt rust , those stain are from something else nearby . ya i like Mothers mag polish for aluminum .

[Max Welton]

So ... media blast, apply primer, apply aluminum-look paint.

Before:

After:

Good enough

Max
_________________
1967 Type-3 Fastback
Under the Knife https://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=151582
Home Stretch https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=767836