you'll probably laugh or think wtf

[siliconbauhaus]

I know this is going to sound wierd but I really dont like the black / aluminium finish on my c'man saw table, the bt3000 grey finish is so much nicer looking.

I was thinking of removing the paint with a chemical stripper but I'm not sure if it will react to the aluminium so I wanted to ask if anyone here has stripped paint off of a similar material. The other alternative is I'll find a local company who can media blast it.

Cheers

[SARGE..g-47]

Evening..

Not sure I understand the importance of such unless psychological but.. take two aspirin... wet it and rough it out with 400 wet-dry sand-paper. Dry it throughly and mask the saw. Shoot it with whatever grey you choose.. let it dry and cure for several days and then.. get back to the serious end of WW business. ha.. ha...

Regards...

[Knottscott]

Just cover in it your favorite color of sawdust....

[lcm1947]

I agree with you. I wouldn't care for black either. Now a pale blue would look good. And yes it does sound kinda weird. No really I really wouldn't like black at all so don't blame you for wanting to change it. Hope it turns out OK though. Good luck.

[cgallery]

The existing paint has the best bond to the substrate, much better than you'd be able to achieve. You want to paint OVER the black. Like said above, wet sand, paint, enjoy.

Upload some photos when you're done.

[Stytooner]

It's also probably powder coating, which is plastic rather than actual paint. You would have a tough time getting anything to adhere to it other than more powder. Then you have to cure it in an oven or via infrared lights. You would need a very good PCing gun to apply an even and thourough coating.
On the other hand, there is paint available nowadays that is for coating plastic. I don't think it would wear very well on a saw top and you would eventually get the original color shinning back through.
For something more meaningful to do with your time, you could work on proving aliens exist.

[Bruce Cohen]

Contact Paper, the type with a nice floral design

Of course, just kidding.

Bruce

[LCHIEN]

MY initial thought was you should go buy a original BT3000 (or atleast a late model e.g. 2002? or so) if you like the way it looks.

The other answers, that the powder coating is hard to remove and hard to paint over, just reinforce that idea.

[siliconbauhaus]

Heheh I enjoyed some of the suggestions here.

I just realised that I wasn't completely clear about the parts of the saw I was referring too ( I'll blame the molson for that ) It's the aluminium top I want to refinish not the case itself.

[Ed62]

That makes a difference. I no longer think WTF.

Ed

[lcm1947]

Well seems like a lot of good spirited replies and suggestions to your serious question and that tells me one thing. It wouldn't be worth the time, money or energy to change it. Looks like black is what you'll have to live with I'm afraid. But who knows maybe a paint expert will come and actually have an idea that the others don't know about. Hey, it could be worst though - it could be pink. Not making light of your problem it's just I'm afraid the forum is right. Good luck though and sorry there's not an answer for you.

[Black wallnut]

I think in your geographical area you should be able to find some shop that would annodize it for you whaterver color you desired but I'm thinking the cost would be almost as much as getting Ryobi to custom make you a new top in the color of the BT3K!

Like Lee said your time might be better served proving the existience of Alien life!