Restore
On this page I will tell you about how to restore your old aluminum spring rider, based on my own restoration project. I'm not a professional restorer, so when you know a way to get a better result,
let me know!
1. Get rid of the old paint (if it is in bad condition)
When I received my spring rider it was repainted very badly and the paint was in poor condition.
I tried sanding it off by hand, but that didn't work. The easiest way to get the paint of your aluminum spring rider is to have it sandblasted. I found a local car-repair service who did it for a friendly price.
2. Apply epoxy primer
After your spring rider is sandblasted you need to put on an epoxy primer.
Don't wait too long with that (preferably within 24 hours). I have been told that if you wait too long there is a chance it it will start to rust again. Health tip: Wear a spray mask and/or glasses!
Before putting on the primer, you can degrease & remove dirt by cleaning the springrider with white spirit.
3. Fill air bubbles with Putty
When I got my spring rider back from sandblasting I found out that a lot of air (bubble) holes were hidden underneath the paint (caused by air that was trapped inside the mold while casting..). It was quite bad, so I decided to fill the holes with some filling compound (Putty). Read the instructions to see if the Putty is ment for an aluminum surface.
4. Hand-sand the spring rider smoothly
After being sandblasted, the surface of my spring rider was quite coarse. Because of that, and because the Putty left some uneven parts, I chose to sand the whole spring rider by hand, to get a smooth surface.
5. Put on epoxy primer.
By hand sanding the spring rider I also removed a lot of the Epoxy primer.
I wasn't sure if that would cause a problem later on so I decided to put on another layer of Epoxy primer. Maybe not necessary, but better safe than sorry!
Before putting on the primer, you can degrease & remove dirt by cleaning the springrider with white spirit.
6. Paint your spring rider.
Not all kinds of paint are compatible with all kinds of epoxy primer.
I have been told that you should use an acrylic based paint.
I chose to use car spray paint, but you can also paint it with a brush or an airbrush.
But to be sure which paint is compatible with your primer, read the instructions on your primer!
Health tip: Wear a spray mask and/or glasses if necessary!
Again: before you put on paint you can degrease & remove dirt by cleaning the springrider with white spirit.
7. Use masking tape
You can use (automotive) masking tape for parts that you do not want to be painted.
8. Clearcoat
You can add a clearcoat finish for protection of the paint.
On this page I will tell you about how to restore your old aluminum spring rider, based on my own restoration project. I'm not a professional restorer, so when you know a way to get a better result,
let me know!
1. Get rid of the old paint (if it is in bad condition)
When I received my spring rider it was repainted very badly and the paint was in poor condition.
I tried sanding it off by hand, but that didn't work. The easiest way to get the paint of your aluminum spring rider is to have it sandblasted. I found a local car-repair service who did it for a friendly price.
2. Apply epoxy primer
After your spring rider is sandblasted you need to put on an epoxy primer.
Don't wait too long with that (preferably within 24 hours). I have been told that if you wait too long there is a chance it it will start to rust again. Health tip: Wear a spray mask and/or glasses!
Before putting on the primer, you can degrease & remove dirt by cleaning the springrider with white spirit.
3. Fill air bubbles with Putty
When I got my spring rider back from sandblasting I found out that a lot of air (bubble) holes were hidden underneath the paint (caused by air that was trapped inside the mold while casting..). It was quite bad, so I decided to fill the holes with some filling compound (Putty). Read the instructions to see if the Putty is ment for an aluminum surface.
4. Hand-sand the spring rider smoothly
After being sandblasted, the surface of my spring rider was quite coarse. Because of that, and because the Putty left some uneven parts, I chose to sand the whole spring rider by hand, to get a smooth surface.
5. Put on epoxy primer.
By hand sanding the spring rider I also removed a lot of the Epoxy primer.
I wasn't sure if that would cause a problem later on so I decided to put on another layer of Epoxy primer. Maybe not necessary, but better safe than sorry!
Before putting on the primer, you can degrease & remove dirt by cleaning the springrider with white spirit.
6. Paint your spring rider.
Not all kinds of paint are compatible with all kinds of epoxy primer.
I have been told that you should use an acrylic based paint.
I chose to use car spray paint, but you can also paint it with a brush or an airbrush.
But to be sure which paint is compatible with your primer, read the instructions on your primer!
Health tip: Wear a spray mask and/or glasses if necessary!
Again: before you put on paint you can degrease & remove dirt by cleaning the springrider with white spirit.
7. Use masking tape
You can use (automotive) masking tape for parts that you do not want to be painted.
8. Clearcoat
You can add a clearcoat finish for protection of the paint.