How do you guys go about making the surfaces of the many alloy compnents in your car look good?

Not having a bead blaster, I have used elbow grease with WD40 and scotchbrite, but the results are not as good as I would like them to be.

I guess I need a bead blaster (or a nearby friend with one) if I'm going to make all this stuff look as good as new (or maybe stop trying to)

Your ideas are sought

John

Oxalic acid is great for cleaning aluminium.

It is what makes Rhubarb leaves poisonous --- boil the leaves up to extract the oxalic acid from them.

Another acid cleaners for aluminium is Phosphoric Acid --- Naval Jelly, Jennolite, and one version of Cilit Bang

Unless you're building a show car then give them a good scrub/brush with a bit of petroland have done with it (IMHO)

Baby oil works OK if its just a quick clean and shine (ooo errr)