My 65 F-100 has a black front bumper and grille. The grill is painted black but it is an aluminum one.
Were some aluminum grilles painted black or was that the PO doing?
Wonder if the paint can be removed without harming the aluminum?
Anybody ever do that?

 

Aluminum grilles were bright anodized, not painted. The paint can be stripped off using (airplane) "Aircraft" stripper.

 

airplanes have strippers? i'm flying on the wrong carrier.

 

You must be flying "Cargo" come on up and see the strippers for yourself.

 

I volunteer over at the Aircraft Museum, bet I can find some there! They may even have a tank i could dump it in at one of the maintenance hangers.
Thanks for that tip, Beers to ya

 

If bright anodize is intact, ok -but test spot first. Stripper can discolor/etch aluminum, if left too long. My preference would be use lacquer thinner, soft brush, small mouth can, out in open, over bare earth- no smokin' - good luck.. john

 

OK, now that's just wrong. Someone mentions Grille and I'm ready to bring the beer.

 

BEERS TO ALL! CHEERS!

 

Have you ever stripped paint from an aluminum grille? Most people who give advise on what to use have never tried it. They've read what others have said they've used. Aircraft stripper works very well, follow directions on the can and you'll be fine.
I've used this many times so I speak from experience. Been restoring grilles for over eight years. I occasionally come across a painted grille and have to remove paint.

 

I agree w/ '50'sFever, having stripped and reconditioned an anodized grille; as well as, other anodized trim pieces, I have found if the paint remover is too toxic, as noted, "if left on too long" it can discolor/etch the aluminum, keeping in mind the alum grille is a low grade aluminum alloy. Suggest that until it determine if the anodized grille can be salvage I would start w/ a very mild paint remover solution; with any luck the previous owner did not use an etching primer for the black paint to adhere to the aluminum grille. Would be interesting what U find. As gangstakr can likely attest, reconditioning an anodized grille can be labor intensive, have done so and not sure would do it again??? Came across grille in salvage yard and after couple hours w/ limited tools was able to remove heavily pitted and slightly bent grille, unfortunately did not take before pix; satisfied with outcome.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...IMG_0002-2.jpg

 

Chances are the anodizing is chalky and bad anyway which is why it got painted.

 

Agree, as noted, would not use harsh chemical on the grille until the condition of the aluminum grille has been determined; if it can not be salvaged then faced w/ decision whether to paint or use an anodize stripper and recondition?

 

Most likely the anodize is shot or will be when trying to remove the paint. Either way, if you really want to tackle the polishing, it's not difficult.
It is time consuming when doing it in your garage, but it can be done.
I personally polish my grilles. Here's a few pictures of one of my 65 grilles I did for a customer.

 

^ now that's a grille. mine will look as beautiful as that when the day comes for my order from you right

 

Yes, gangstakr does a great job on reconditioning the grille, keeping in mind there's a significant different process between a polished vs anodized grille; unfortunately, don't find many platters who anodize any more, and not advisable to chrome the grille.