How do you polish ali and what with. Would you use an electric buffer, maybe a paint polish or something like WD40. It would be for the extrerior bonnet etc that shows. How often would you have to do it. How long does it take to come up really bling shiny (from new the panels are not that smooth/shiny).

Also I understand alumium has a protective outer layer but once that is penetrated it just turns to white powdering blotches. Wouldn't polishing wear away this protective layer!



[Edited on 3/4/13 by Zagato]

I could tell you the secrets, but then i would have to kill you !

Guns in the post Mind you, your only down the road from me so a big stick might be easier

Nice motor by the way. like the seats especially...

[Edited on 3/4/13 by Zagato]

Lots of info on Detailing World, but you may have to register.

Peek

Hahaha

If i was to build again, i would not go for the polished look, as it realy is a PITA, and goes off in hours, but if you really want to know, then the following is my prefered way

clean car with soapy water, to get grit etc off
apply t cut, with a cloth all over panel, and then buff with an electric drill and buffing wheel

wash off residue, and do it again, and again, and again (get the picture??)
and about 10 times more, !

last polish i use is "Anti dust glass cleaner" that is used by car valeters, for glass, this can be applied qwith a clean gloth, and polished off with a duster, the good thing about this product, is that it does not leave any residue or stains, like t cut

and there it is ONE panel done, and about 3 hours HARD work, just got to do the scuttle, bonnet, side panels,.................

If any one does know an easier way, or any product that will keep a shine for more than a couple of days, please tell me

Other products that are also good, is PEEK, Autosolve, G3, but Brasso is crap, so dont use that

regards

Steve

Thanks for that

http://www.tesco.com/direct/peek-mp-metal-polish-50ml/309-0094.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=309-0094&kpid=309-0094&sc_cmp=ppc_g__

Ouch not cheap, maybe better in bigger quantities.

Sounds like Ali is like black a PITA!!

I was going to go for painted but as from yesterday realise my garage is now badly falling down from subsidence (broken drain I think, been happening for years ) so gonna have to keep the build price low I'll shove the garage in a skip and build a timber garage/lean to... Whole house is falling to bits but hey, motors are more important

After hours on the buffing wheel I used to use Belgom Alu on bike engine cases...


t250

This is how the pro's do it. Link

Thanks for that, amazing work on the Roller

So the pro's use this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Briliant-ALUMINIUM-STAINLESS-steel-polish/dp/B0015PWXTA

So it was

P215 Total Autowash

Last Touch (to remove any residual rinsing marks)

dry with Mequires Water Magnet

polish with Brilliant Aluminium & Stainless Steel Polish #2

using a PC - Sonus SFX 3, 6" pad

protect with Collinite 476S Carbuna Wax



[Edited on 3/4/13 by Zagato]

What ever you do it's going to be hard work if you want it looking like the photo all the time

Also depends on how polished you want it...

Google "polishing aluminium aircraft" they have a simular problem, so do air-stream caravans ..

Basic issue is keeping salt away in the winter, else it will undo your hard work, there are some protective oils (duck oil?) that are used by the motorbike community that can help in this respect.. If it's a summer only toy you might be in with a chance of keeping it looking o.k.

As to the "protective layer" that's Aluminium Oxide, this will form on the surface due to oxygen in the air reacting with the Aluminium, nothing special..

It is possible to coat the polished aluminum with a clear coating of Acrylic lacquer not tried this myself also am unsure of how you get the stuff to key on an un-primed polished surface, or how long lasting it is...

Dan

If you can find some try California Customs Original Purple Polish, so much easier to get a good shine without a great deal of effort. Haven't tried their Dexosidiser as yet

Has anyone tried Maguires 'All Metal Polysh'? Ive tried it and it seems to leave a protective layer and lasts longer. Fairly cheap from Halfords. £8 ish a pot.

quote:

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Originally posted by DarrenW
Has anyone tried Maguires 'All Metal Polysh'? Ive tried it and it seems to leave a protective layer and lasts longer. Fairly cheap from Halfords. £8 ish a pot.

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Right I have done a quite a lot of this but I have to make this brief has I am vbusy at work right now

You need to buy something like these

Polishing Kits

I actually recommend going on ebay and buying this Angle Grinder adapter

Angle Grinder Polishing Spindle Adapter M14 SA00-0M14 | eBay

If you can buy some larger diameter mops the better, this will allow a faster rotational speed therefor faster polishing

I have had near mirror finish with this stuff

Menzerna P175 Yellow Super Finish - They sell it at the Polishing Shop

Watch this, this fellow knows his stuff, (expect for his lack of PPE)

Polishing Man Video

[Edited on 4/4/13 by Irony]

Replace the Ali panels for stainless steel job done

quote:

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Originally posted by DarrenW
Has anyone tried Maguires 'All Metal Polysh'? Ive tried it and it seems to leave a protective layer and lasts longer. Fairly cheap from Halfords. £8 ish a pot.

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