Alternative to aluminum diamond plating a project

[therrera]

Hi all,

I am helping a client figure out a cost effective solution to a problem that needs solving. He owns a retired fire truck that has steel diamond plate tread ways all around (side steps/runners, rear step, over the tool boxes and so on. He asked me to replace or cover the existing diamond plate with aluminum diamond plate as he intends to give the truck a nice paint job and have the shiny aluminum tread plates stand out in contrast. He had me mount a sign frame on it as he intends to use it to advertise his business in a local shopping center.

The problem is that I am not equipped to handle this type of project as I don't have a way to shear and bend the new diamond plate to conform to the body and form the lip on the edges, etc.

He does not have the money to take it to a fully outfitted fab shop to have them cut and fit the new plate in place (using a shear and brake, benders, etc.). The running boards for example need to have a lip formed on them all along their length. Something that is beyond my scope for lack of equipment.

I suggested to him rather than replacing the existing diamond plate, why not look into different alternatives. For example are there field plating services that could set up and plate a new finish on the existing diamond plate? Maybe some type of blasted finish using real fine grit to blast a satin finish that can be clear coated, etc.??

Anyone have any thoughts on an alternative method of making the old diamond plate have a nice finish. How about having a polisher polish the steel, would that work?

The attached shots show the existing diamond plate in place that he wants to spiffy up.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Tony

[Ron Padilla]

Tony, is the diamond plate that is there aluminum? If so it is easy to polish out to a bright and shinny finish and not hard at all. Otherwise it might have to be replated to make it look good. If is aluminum try and find someone out your way who polishes tankers and they can get it done for you.

Ron

[therrera]

Hi Ron,

the diamond plate on there now is steel. He was thinking about having me cover over it with aluminum that he could have polished but as stated, its beyond my capabilities. I figured someone out there may have come across a similar situation where they want to jazz up steel diamond plate. Its a long shot but worth a try.

I wonder if anyone who is more experienced with sand blasting might propose something. Maybe there is a type of abrasive that will leave a smooth, silky finish or maybe take the steel down to shiny metal and put a sealer coat of clear over it?

Thanks for your input though.

Tony

[ironlion]

it appears to already be aluminum....i say polish it and go!

[therrera]

Hi again,

The existing diamond plate is painted silver. That's why it has an aluminum look to it in the picture. So what can be done with steel to make it look snazzy?

Thanks,

Tony

[jbyrd]

Here is a couple of ideas for you. Not sure of his budget.

1. You can cut your own aluminum plate with a regular circular saw, a wood carbide wood cutting blade, and some WD-40 so it slides nice and smooth across the plate. It's loud as heck, so be sure to do it at home around 11pm. Lulls the neighbors to sleep.
Then sublet the bends to a shop (get competitive quotes).

2. Refinish the existing steel diamond plate with a bright silver metallic base coat, and then I nice clear coat. Wont be as shiny as polished aluminum, but will be clean and a nice contrast to the red.

3. You could try getting really thin aluminum diamond plate and bending it yourself and cover some of the main areas that catch the eye, paint the rest.

[Joe Bill Moad]

If it is aluminum you can go to the Truck Stop and buy jewelers rouge real cheap. It is what the truckers apply to their aluminum wheels and make them mirror finish shine. If it is steel you can still polish it out with a buffer and they will be new looking again. Simple remedy, Takes alot of elbo grease to git er dunn. Good Luck and post pictures of the results.

[Boostinjdm]

Most cost effective solution? Re-paint it....

[brucer]

have it powdercoated..

they have a simulated chrome powdercoat thats pretty darn close to real chrome...

[walker]

Find yourself a fab shop that does that type of work and take the pieces off and bring them to them, they do the shear/bend you do the welding and reinstall. Talk to Grant at Erling Fab, he has done a bunch of bending for me on things that were too big for my tooling.

[PapaLion]

Boostin is right. Simply sand and repaint the aluminum finish on the steel plate you got? My firetruck has had that done several times, probably by the Fire crews, works fine. It is authentic, very few fire depts. have chrome on all the plate... maybe LaJolla, Ca but not Sasabe, Az volunteers Mine is way different now... sold the pump, changed the bed etc. We have some experienced Fire Dept. fellas who could add to this I'm sure. Nice truck with good paint... look for rust in the water system. PM me I got lots of extra stuff from mine.

[Darth Velder]

In my experience, diamond plate on fire apparatus was rarely shiny. There was almost always a coat of paint on it, usually aluminum color, and that would be slippery enough under the right conditions, so sometimes nonskid material was added, at least in places where someone would be stepping.
Now, if you're looking for "eye-catching" versus "authentic," that's beyond my knowledge.
I'd say try any or all of the suggestions above, and see what works. I hope once you get it done, by whatever process, it'll stay shiny.

Those are both some good ol' trucks in the photos here. I'm guessing the one Therrera is working on is a Ford/John Bean (FMC). PapaLion's looks like an IH. It looks like a forestry rig that my old department used to have, but probably larger because of that front-mount pump. I forgot what year and model that old forestry truck was, but it was often referred to as "the Binder," short for "Cornbinder," by virtue of its manufacturer I guess.

[lotechman]

Repaint and then to give it a wet look clear coat it. The clear coat will be more durable than the aluminum which will go grey with time. Aluminum plate is seriously expensive plus you will create a corrosion problem between the steel and the aluminum. The steel will rust away like mad.

[mikeb9550]

Did you look into how much it would cost to chrome it? Thats if its removable. Also like others have said, they do a chrome paint now. Not sure how much it cost. Not the rattle can stuff. Seen it done on an episode of West Coast Customs. It looked like pretty cool stuff.

[PapaLion]

We are lucky here. fire trucks last a long time...look how nice the paint is on that Ford which might be about a late 70's or so?? We have tons of small Rural Fire depts. and they keep these thing up real nice. I used mine to draw attention to the shop. what plans does your owner have for the Ford?

[therrera]

Hi everyone,

thanks for all your ideas and input on the subject. I ran the ideas by him and he liked the chrome route. He got a price of $1200 for doing all the diamond plate from a chrome shop.

His plan is to use it as a rolling display board with a digital sign on it to drum up business to his store in a local shopping center. He called me in to build the frames for the signs and weld them onto the truck.

He will repaint the truck so the chrome will stand out, not authentic as that was not his intention.

Thanks again,

Tony

PS: I want to take advantage of your attention here to see if anyone can help me with an oil leak problem with an Onan engine on an older Miller AEAD 200LE gas drive welder. I am posting it right after this post in the Miller section. Thanks.

[PapaLion]

It is amazing how fire trucks draw a crowd. Even though the pump is sold and the bed is gone (cab & Chassis now)... last time I went to Lowes in it I came back and found a small boy IN the cab turning knobs, flipping switches etc... his Dad standing right there. I was a little peaved.. I mean IN the truck, sheesh... but I decided to not have a bruja over nothing and spoil this kids day. His Dad should have had more sense? ya' think... Well it also attracts women I have found, no need for details there, I got a good one already, unlike Gingrich I can't use a spare.

The most fun is to drive it around in the neighborhood. The little bitty kids "know" it is a fire turck... but they are not real sure... no hoses no pump etc... so they hesitate and then wave bashfully. Their reasoning is > IF it is a firetruck the "fireman" will wave back... Course I do. I carry a yellow firemans hat in it for just such emergencies. You won't need big signs or fancy paint or chrome ... they are an attractive nuisance

[Dualie]

i would just put chrome vinyl over the tread plate if it just needs to look good from 50 feet. You can heat shrink the vinyl over the treads.