Best Way To Quickly Sand Aluminum Siding

The speed along with the vibrating blades ensure that you get a straight cut.

Best way to quickly sand aluminum siding.

Connecting to a vacuum doesn t just cut down on dust. Keep the surface clean. Aluminum is also a very sticky metal and loads up cutting tools and abrasives really quickly. It actually allows your random orbit sander to work faster.

Peel off any excess so the patch is flush with the front of the aluminum siding. This goes contrary to popular opinion but it s a good method to remove material quickly. While cutting at the width of the aluminum siding make use of straight tin snips. So by increasing dust removal a vacuum improves sander efficiency.

Don your latex gloves again then pull off a small chunk of aluminum repair epoxy from the tube. Work fast because this stuff sets up quick. The best way to get this siding clean is to power wash it. To prevent the surface from drying out and having to scrub the area again work in three or four foot sections from top to bottom and then rinse.

Even with the sander s built in dust collection system the sander rides on a thin cushion of dust that prevents full contact between the grit and the wood. Scrub with the length of the aluminum siding starting at the top and working downward. The best way to address these issues is to repaint the siding. The key to painting aluminum siding is to get it really clean and to use 100 percent acrylic latex paint.

Wet sanding with soapy water will help with the loading. Expect to pay the premium for good paint. But when vinyl siding arrived in the late 1950s aluminum rapidly fell out of favor in part because it was prone to denting and its color faded relatively quickly. In general it s best to sand with the grain of the wood especially for the final grits.

The sand that can be used in a sandblaster comes in many grades which differ in thickness and abrasiveness. Or you could wash. A nibbler is made from two small blades that vibrate up and down at a very high speed. Sandblasting aluminum with fine sand is best for small imperfections while medium is better for larger imperfections.

Mix the two components together thoroughly then push the putty into the hole with your fingertip. Use a nibbler to cut in a straight line. Rinse dirt grime and soap off using your garden hose directing the water stream in a downward path. Check the label to be sure it s recommended for metal siding.

Over time the aluminum siding builds up mildew and can begin to look chalky or the paint color may fade. Sand should be picked according to how much work needs to be done and how damaged the aluminum is.