I discovered something new today!
 

So I was going to prep my bed rails and paint them black after numerous attempts at getting them sparkling clean (I got them for free oxidized as hell, so I was trying to make them like new again).

I decided to spray some paint stripper on them because I figured ah hell, it's not gonna make it worse, plus I'm planning on painting them black anyways. Why not, give it a try.

Sprayed about a 8in area thoroughly and let it sit for about 3-4mins. Took it to the hose and washed it off. It creates a gel like thing that comes off. I almost sh!t my pants at how well it clean it and took off any contamination ie: oxidation. So I went about 2/3 the way across the whole tailgate cover with the stripper, again let it set and then washed it off. Again I was shocked. So I took my mothers ball to half of the 2/3 that i stripped.... And wow. It's amazing what I was able to discover today. Anyone looking to clean their diamond plate up that won't clean, do this. It's like $6/can for the stripper... The mothers ball is about $20-25 and the polish is about $12 or so...

Hell even if you find them used all oxidized and dirty for cheap, do this.. That's what I did and got amazing results... The pics don't do it much justice, but well worth the money and the hour I spent on the tailgate piece...

You decide, what do you think?

Here's the stripper:

Attachment 190185

The stripper in action:

Attachment 190186

Here's the 3 areas to show what went where and stuff:

Attachment 190187
Attachment 190188
Attachment 190189

Results and comparison (to the untouched, for the most part, bedside piece):

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/IMG_2715.jpg
Attachment 190190

ENJOY!

Holy shiny diamond plate Batman! That's amazing. Good find. Looks like they just came out of the box.

I know huh?! It's crazy... I can't believe no one found this before!

are you still going to paint them now that you can get them all cleaned up?

I'm gonna have to remember this!

No, I got them all cleaned up so I'm gonna polish them now and put em on!

Lookin' good!

so all you did was spray the paint stripped on, wipe off? I may have to do this to my tool box on the trailer

will this work on my tool box?

No spray the stripper on, and let it sit and wash it off with a hose... then take a mothers ball to it if you want!

Ive found that PERMATEX Gasket Remover works well on removing stuff also. Ive used it to remove powder coating before worked well....

sweet! nice tip, better keep it polished!

Wonder what it would do to a set of polished rims....

May have to dig out the oldie from the old truck and test it out.....

I'm almost positive it will work, same material... Works on aluminum diamond plate why not a rim?

If you do, I would make sure there's no tire on it, I dunno what it'll do to rubber.

I was just talking to Tre about the same thing on AIM, I'm gonna try it on my Classic IIs.

Let us know how it does on your rims and I may give it a try on my old hotwheels.

Are yours not cleared? They looked like they were

I think they are/were, but they don't look as good as when I got them anymore.

I don't think it will do anything to stuff that is cleared. Just bare aluminum, its worth a try though!

Ya, and if it messes them up no biggie. I was hoping to sell them, but whatever.

it looks awesome!

The only thing I'm worried about is won't you have to keep it twice as polished from now on or wouldn't it oxidize at a quicker rate untreated?..

wow that looks great!!!

I dunno man, I"ll llet you know when it oxidizes... When it does, it doesn't take long to do this again and the next time I have to or want to do this, I'm gonna throw a coat or 2 of clear coat on it to keep it polished... We'll see how it holds up now!

wow cool thats pretty sweet will have to keep that in mind for both of my cars and when working on friends cars.

I would have never thought of that it looks great though nice find man