I know this has been discussed before but I can't find it anywhere now I need it

I am just about to order the aluminium for making up all the panels on my car and I was going to go for mirror polished. I don't mind doing a polish every so often but I don't want to go that route if I am going to have to do it every drive / week.

I seem to recall that somebody on here had found a product that could be used to protect polished ali .... would really appreciate it if somebody could let me know what it was.

Cheers all

Polished all the alloy bits on my bike...The bits you could get at were fine and just needed a polish every couple of weeks but the bits you can't get at soon looked scabby..ie behind the exhaust mounts ect

I dont think you can laquer it because it wont stick? but I may be wrong

3M makes a product they push as an "invisible bra" for autos. thin plastic, adhesive.

nearly invisible when applied.

check out www.paintshield.co.uk

dave

Good suggestion but I was hoping for something that could be painted / sprayed on. Thanks anyway.

Anybody else offer any other suggestions?

Hiya

there is a product glysterol or something like that by por 15, try frosts

Cheers


Brian

Now that looks promising .....!!!!

Anybody tried it??

I have a polished aluminium body locost and use a product called Alumagic.

This gives thre months protection against oxidisation and dulling.

Its available from L B Restorations at approx £6 per bottle.

If you have a good local anodizing place, you could (this'd be some work mind you), make pannels, drill all holes, get everything sorted...then take it all off and polish it up.
Then take it to be anodized clear.
The anodizing makes the surface harder, and less suceptible to marring/corroding, and will look really good.

If you are going to do the above, polish it before you drill the holes, or else the sheet will thin next to all the holes as the polishing mop picks up on all the edges.

Cheers

Fred W B

Even if you find a product to coat the alloy, I think you'll have problems keeping it free of scratches etc. The problem with aluminium is that it turns white when corrosion starts, hence the nasty marks on alloy wheels when they get scratched.
I found the best polishing product is BELGOM, which can usually be found on Ebay, and can be bought off Cetem polishing products.
It's very nice to use as it flows a lot easier than the usual polishes.
Still causes masses of black polishing cloths though.
Looks brilliant when finished, the more you do it the better it gets!
Cheers John

Clear anodizing makes for a very fine finish. I have also had some polished ally wheels clear powder coated which gave them great "depth" and lasted very well.
Any film type products will add considerably to the weight of the panel. A barrier polish or anodizing would not add to the weight.

Have you considered using mirror finished stainless steel. As long as the panels are not structural you can use thinner gauge steel and thus the weight penalty is reduced.
Looks far better IMO and easier to care for.

Mick