Re: What works best for polishing aluminum parts?
[Re: 1970RT]
#198508
01/19/09 10:34 PM
01/19/09 10:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356
Kentucky
dfsmopars
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356
Kentucky
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I have polished a lot of aluminum like exterior trim, valve covers, water pumps, A/C components, wheels and more. I have found a lot of good products work but the common thread is hard work and patience especially if the pieces are oxidized badly. If you don't have anything to work with now I suggest calling Eastwood and letting them suggest some stuff. I have attached the engine compartment of my Firehawk. The bright work was done with products from Eastwood.
‘72 Charger, 5.9 Magnum, Tremec 5 spd., Pro-Touring
‘14 Big Horn, Quad Cab, 4x4, 1500
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Re: What works best for polishing aluminum parts?
[Re: 41hemi]
#198510
01/20/09 06:02 AM
01/20/09 06:02 AM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
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buffing wheels are ok if there's no scratches. I polished up a home made aluminum shroud I made for my dad's van. started with some nasty scrap yard, heavilly oxidized aluminum, and started sanding with 180 grit sand paper. kept stepping up in grit...220, 400, 600, 800, etc. all the way to 2500 grit paper, then hit it with a buffing wheel and it came out looking like a mirror.
like a good paint job, it's all in the prep work before the buffer ever gets turned on
**Photobucket sucks**
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Re: What works best for polishing aluminum parts?
[Re: 70Cuda383]
#198512
01/20/09 09:31 PM
01/20/09 09:31 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,195
Snowing in the north!
Dart 340
moparts member
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moparts member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,195
Snowing in the north!
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Quote:
buffing wheels are ok if there's no scratches. I polished up a home made aluminum shroud I made for my dad's van. started with some nasty scrap yard, heavilly oxidized aluminum, and started sanding with 180 grit sand paper. kept stepping up in grit...220, 400, 600, 800, etc. all the way to 2500 grit paper, then hit it with a buffing wheel and it came out looking like a mirror.
like a good paint job, it's all in the prep work before the buffer ever gets turned on
That works good. try using wd40 on the sandpaper
and really watch it shine. Also, there is a german
polish called Wenol that is fantastic and it also
helps keep it from corroding.
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Re: What works best for polishing aluminum parts?
[Re: Stanton]
#198515
01/20/09 11:19 PM
01/20/09 11:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,596
Shopping @ HoBo Fright
340SIX
Doc Flappergas's Evil Twin
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Doc Flappergas's Evil Twin
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,596
Shopping @ HoBo Fright
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Quote:
"sandpaper" and "polish" just don't belong in the same paragraph !!!
You want to polish you use buffing wheels - start with coarse compounds and work to finer.
I've found that the automotive compounds work well and are less work than using the hard blocks. A little water will allow you to buff longer before re-applying compound. Use the red compound to start and the white "clearcoat" compounds next. Finish up with something like the "powerball" and Wenol. a final coat of wax will help minimize oxidation.
BTW - you'll want to use something like a diegrinder to spin the buffing wheels - a drill just doesn't have the speed. You can do the final "powerball" with a drill.
Ok you are right I am wrong, I know nothing about this sorry I said anything carry on............
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Re: What works best for polishing aluminum parts?
[Re: Stanton]
#198516
01/20/09 11:32 PM
01/20/09 11:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,131
New Mexico
UCUDANT
Troll Hunter
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Troll Hunter
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,131
New Mexico
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Quote:
"sandpaper" and "polish" just don't belong in the same paragraph !!!
I have polished aluminum to a Chrome like finish. Especially if it's still as cast and not had any work done you'll realize that you need to sand it. As previously stated carefully/properly stepping the grit of the paper in stages will allow you to polish any metal.
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Re: What works best for polishing aluminum parts?
[Re: UCUDANT]
#198517
01/20/09 11:48 PM
01/20/09 11:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,868
Ontario, Canada
Stanton
Don't question me!
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Don't question me!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,868
Ontario, Canada
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Quote:
Ok your right i am wrong i know nothing about this sorry I said anything carry on............
Whoa, easy pal, put the gun down. It's just the OPINION of someone else who also has a bit of experience.
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Re: What works best for polishing aluminum parts?
[Re: Stanton]
#198518
01/21/09 01:48 AM
01/21/09 01:48 AM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,522
Ste-Sophie, Quebec, Canada
Wedgeman
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,522
Ste-Sophie, Quebec, Canada
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Polishing depends on how good or bad is the piece you start with......
For an ordinary piece of aluminum go with sanding up to 2500 grid as mentioned by 70cuda383 (the key here is straight sanding, not orbital), otherwise, if you are working with an already smooth piece and there are no visible scratches...polishing compouds might do the tricks... but for a true high gloss polish, a buffing wheel with sticks of compuds by colors, like those sold by eastwood are the way to go. It is a veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery long job,but quality takes time..
Dan
Last edited by Wedgeman; 01/21/09 01:49 AM.
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Re: What works best for polishing aluminum parts?
[Re: Stanton]
#198520
01/21/09 05:36 PM
01/21/09 05:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,596
Shopping @ HoBo Fright
340SIX
Doc Flappergas's Evil Twin
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Doc Flappergas's Evil Twin
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,596
Shopping @ HoBo Fright
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Quote:
Quote:
Ok your right i am wrong i know nothing about this sorry I said anything carry on............
Whoa, easy pal, put the gun down. It's just the OPINION of someone else who also has a bit of experience.
First off I was very stressed and came off strong with my reply sorry.
The number one thing that must be address is what you are working on, is what determine
shape what you are working in is in.When you state polish do you meen to polish a non polished part or clean one that already is polished?
Is it a previously polished surface that just needs to be cleaned. Or is it a ruff cast part that you are attempting to sand and polish.
Lots of times guys say they want to polish an item and it just needs cleaning.
If it just needs to be cleaned Wenol red works great followed by the blue. Once it is cleaned up regular maintenance I would use the blue. The blue is finer and gives a better shine then the red.
Normally use the red followed by the blue. Green Dragon and Speedy All Metal polish are also good products.
If you are working with a new part that is ruff and wanting to polish it to a chrome like finish start with the finest grit sand paper you can. This determined by how ruff the part is. I posted a how to on another web site here is a link
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=51612
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Re: What works best for polishing aluminum parts?
[Re: CrAzYMoPaRGuY]
#198523
01/22/09 09:30 AM
01/22/09 09:30 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,195
Snowing in the north!
Dart 340
moparts member
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moparts member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,195
Snowing in the north!
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
"sandpaper" and "polish" just don't belong in the same paragraph !!!
I have polished aluminum to a Chrome like finish. Especially if it's still as cast and not had any work done you'll realize that you need to sand it. As previously stated carefully/properly stepping the grit of the paper in stages will allow you to polish any metal.
Some cast pieces are sanded for sure before polishing. Think of polishing like very fine sanding, IMO.
I've polished quite a bit of aluminum over the years, I'm doing some Jensen parts right now...
Years ago when I was fabricating gauge models I
would use aluminum instead of chrome and get the
same shine. It takes some work but it can sure
look nice. Patience is the key. Different grades
of aluminum can polish better or worse also.
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