cleaning up outside

[trozei123]

i have been wanting to get my ex looking nice and clean again. one thing i have been doing is making the underside parts that are visible look nice again. i have a small "dremel" tool that came from harbor freight that i have been using to sand away the crud and reveal the shiny metallic surface underneath. only problem is that the tool is very small. it has taken me a total of about 6 hrs just to sand down the front differential. is there a faster way i can accomplish my idea? am i just wasting my time?

here's the link to my tool

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/rotary-tools/rotary-tool-kit-80-pc-69451.html

 

[colintrax]

Are you sanding the paint off? If so it's going to look awful quick.
I'd suggest you use purple power and some elbow grease to make it look good underneath. That dremel is going to take years

 

[trozei123]

the black crud i have been sanding off is paint? it feels like hardened rubber on certain spots. im not going anywhere near the bushings. just the main parts that can easily be seen.

 

[colintrax]

the black crud i have been sanding off is paint? it feels like hardened rubber on certain spots. im not going anywhere near the bushings. just the main parts that can easily be seen.

You might be removing black crud off with the black paint. If you're leaving anything shinny, then you're removing the paint. Not much aluminum under there, it's all steel

 

[swshawaii]

Why not do it the old fashioned way? Very important to use eye protection. Agree, bare steel should be primed right away.

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-wire-brush-set-2938.html

 

[natenkiki2004]

If you want automation, an angle grinder with wire wheel would make quick work. But unless you plan to paint, don't do it. It'll just get dirty again and the factory paint is pretty good down there unless you live in a road salt area.

 

[vq5speed]

Your like cleaning with a tooth pick! what you see shiney is the metal.. How about just go get couple cans of some Engine Degreaser. Go to one of those Coin car washes spray all the areas you want to clean let it soak then use the Washer wands power to blast it off.

 

[natenkiki2004]

How about just go get couple cans of some Engine Degreaser. Go to one of those Coin car washes spray all the areas you want to clean let it soak then use the Washer wands power to blast it off.

I actually did this on mine. The power steering pressure hose pretty much coated everything on the driver's side (yay, no rust!) including the differential. I think I did 2 sessions with using Purple Power and a pressure washer at a carwash. The key thing is to let whatever you use sit and soak quite a while. Go easy with spraying water near electrical stuff and the exhaust manifolds.


Also on a side note... the right tool for the right job makes ALL the difference. Believe me, my first 'power tool' was a Dremel and I over-used it like you're doing. It's meant for small stuff. Once you step up to a purpose-built tool like a jigsaw or angle grinder... woah boy. It makes quicker, cleaner and better work of whatever project you're working on. Dremels have their place but don't try to cut/grind/clean large amounts of steel with it.