Summary for aluminum trailer etching Discussion
safe way to etch a design onto aluminum trailer panels can be done with a resist-and-etch approach rather than a dripping paste. Susan Ballard asked how an average person could etch a large design on the upright front of a horse trailer, since the aluminum cannot be laid flat. Clint Bland replied with a similar job he had done on a car-hauling trailer: he first polished the aluminum to a mirror finish, then applied a custom-cut adhesive-backed vinyl design as a mask. He etched only the exposed areas with his aluminum cleaner, which left those sections a flat satin color. After removing the decals, he cleaned the surfaces and applied two coats of metal protectant to help prevent oxidation and discoloration. The thread suggests that masking with vinyl and using a suitable aluminum cleaner is a practical, safer method for an upright trailer surface.
Q. I need a safe way for an average person to etch a large design onto the front of my horse trailer, so whatever I use has to be some sort of a paste so that it does not drip or run as the aluminum is of course upright and unable to lay flat.
Susan Ballard
hobbyist/artist – Grimsley, Tennessee, USA
February 14, 2008
A. Hi Susan,
I’m not sure what kind of design you have in mind for your trailer, but I did a job similar to yours before.
I have a company that produces a cleaner, polish, and a protectant for aluminum. using these products, I first polished the interior of a car hauling trailer to a mirror finish. Next we custom cut a waving checkered flag design from adhesive backed vinal and applied it to the interior. Then we etched the exposed area with my aluminum cleaner. This left the aluminum a flat satin color. Then we pulled the decals off to expose the polished aluminum. Once we cleaned up all the surfaces, we put a couple of coats of my metal protectant over the job to keep it from oxidizing and discoloring.
I hope this helps.
Clint Bland
O’Fallon, Illinois