Polishing Aluminum

[Pulcher01]

I have heard of people polishing aluminum to a chrome finish but I was wondering what compunds they are using to give it the chrome finish. I know that you have to sand the metal to make smooth finish but not sure about the other. Any feedback would be great. I have a set I'm planning on putting on but I would like to get them up to par before that day comes.

Thanks!

[dammitmitchell]

go to FAQ section
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...35#post3363235
i posted this last week and did an example with formerly powdercoated aluminum....
sooo.. it isdefinatley possible!

[Pulcher01]

Hey thanks. I thought there was going to be alot more to it with sanding and changing compounds and sor forth. I always wanted to get a mother poishing wheel but I did not think I would use it much. Now I have a reason.

Thanks again dammitmitchell.

[dammitmitchell]

hey dont forget also.. a buffer wheel is GREAT! a mother's ball wont always give you a supershine... BUT a grinder with a buffer pad WILL... and in no time at all!

[Pulcher01]

I just need to be careful when using the buffing wheel so I'm not using alot of pressure. Correct?

[dammitmitchell]

yeap! and when you run a buffer wheel they are high speed..
if you get a blackened "film" on the surface move to a new spot until the metal cools.. keep Light water on it..
.. good luck

[Pulcher01]

Thanks. I will post some pictures of my progress.

[piecesparts]

If you go out on the web, there are companies that sell what is called a "Razor Buff". This is a very thin buffing wheel and they come in a variety of diameters. I use the 4" and 3" wheels, so that I can mount them on a tapered spindle on my die grinder. These things take very little pressure and polish real well if the metal has been sanded and prepped properly. I use the different levels of polishing compounds to do the work, each being more aggressive than the other. I also have a grinder motor set up with bigger buffing wheels on them and do a lot of buffing that way.

I finish up with a Mothers aluminum polilsh and then the Mothers Billet polish to get the final shine. That is kept that way with a metal sealer to keep dirt and corrosives out of the pores of the metal. I get my sealer from a company called Wizards (it is called Power Seal)

[Pulcher01]

Sorry I have not replied in a couple of days. I was off work for a coupple of days. Thanks for all the input on polishing, I'm sure it will help when I start the process.

[gcburdic]

I picked up some Edelbrock VC and air cleaner cover off of Craigslist...they were definitely in need of polishing....wet sanded the heck out of them starting with 3mwetdry sand paper picked up at AutoZone.....320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, and finally 2000!!!.....Bought the mini buff kit at Home depot for $10 (had 4 buffing compounds included).....cleaned and painted the finned area semi gloss black....and here is the before and after....still has some minor flaws, but turned out pretty good!!!

[dammitmitchell]

hell of alot better then they were!
good lookin eal ther.. that's "hard to do " one because those gooves can start cutting down buffer wheels fast..

[marc70chevy]

there is this stuff called maas that works great. i used it to do the rims on my little brothers truck and got the mothers ball shaped brush thing that you can put on a drill gun and it made his aluminum rims shine to a mirror like finish

[gcburdic]

Now, since I'm done polishing, I heard I need to put carnuba car wax on them....is this right or should I use something else??

[dammitmitchell]

i use high temperature clear cote...
that's jsut me though

[sangermike]

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by sangermike

..... what im saying is that i have made the move from professional auto detailer to manufacturing. im putting the finishing touches on this now....

Sweet! Keep us informed on your progress. When your ready to bring it to market, let me know. I will do an article for you to showcase your product. Take a look in the suspension or parts forums for an example of what we can do for our vendors,-..

[sangermike]

[VA72C10]

I'm interested....let us know when you're up and running...