restore shine to diamond plate rail caps, and maybe wheels?

[benoit454]

I got a set of diamond plate rails on my 88 k1500 that are very dull, like silver paint and wondered what's good and maybe cheap to use to polish them back up. I tried some automotive rubbing compound, machine polish and mag/alum. polish before in that order on some valve covers and it was acceptable results but not great. I know they were probably shiney polished when new like toolboxes are, but I want to bring em back to life.

Also might want to sand and polish my alloy late 90's style wheels, any tips or step by steps on doing them?

[Mudder]

The diamond plate most likely has clear coat or a type of coating on it. Once you remove it, ( I think I used some kind of paint solvent on my tool box), you can shine the metal back shiney like it was when it was new. If the coating is really gone and the tred plate is really bad you may have to buff it out using jewlers rouge or some kind od buffing compound.

[cdowns]

most of those type accessories had a clear protective coating of some type like clear powdercoating ,the stuff turns milky whitish type texture

you need to strip off whatever coating is there then compound buff and use polish to restore to a shiney finish

[benoit454]

I know somebody clear coated the tailgate cap, but I don't know on the side rails. I don't think they have a coating but I can take em off and hit them with some thinner to find out.