Aluminum Polishing

[Turbonut48]

My Lemans cap and the edges of my aluminum wheels are starting to discolor/haze. I would like to shine them up.
Whats the best compound or product to use?
Thanks, The Nut

[ACademic]

I get terrific results using Mother's Billet polish.

[Phx Mike]

I have used Mother's Aluminum Polish and the Nuvite S compound and prefer the Mother's polish. Just be aware that if you have anything other than very superficial scratches and oxidation you will need something more aggressive to start. The coarser grades of Nuvite are good here.

[Kit Coyle]

Happich Simichrome Polish. It is German and expensive at ~$15 per 2oz.
tube but a little bit goes a long way. I've used it for over 50 years and
always will. Mother's is OK and cheaper.

[427Larry]

Like Kit Coyle said, expensive yes, but Simichrome is the best. I have also been using it for 50 years. You can buy it at any Motorcycle Shop, but I buy it on line because I buy it by the can, not the tube, no matter what quanity you buy, you will get the best price on line. I have tried about every other brand over the years, and always come back to Simichrome, can't beat that German Quality.

[CNGreen]

Originally Posted by Phx Mike

I have used Mother's Aluminum Polish and the Nuvite S compound and prefer the Mother's polish. Just be aware that if you have anything other than very superficial scratches and oxidation you will need something more aggressive to start. The coarser grades of Nuvite are good here.

Agreed, but I tend to stay with Nuvite. I tend to use the F7 on raw panels, C for second pass and S compound for final polish. To brighten weathered things like the lemans cap I try the S first and move up to C if needed only.

Then I sharkhide it, which dulls it a little but locks in the overall shine:

[Phx Mike]

Originally Posted by 427Larry

Like Kit Coyle said, expensive yes, but Simichrome is the best. I have also been using it for 50 years. You can buy it at any Motorcycle Shop, but I buy it on line because I buy it by the can, not the tube, no matter what quanity you buy, you will get the best price on line. I have tried about every other brand over the years, and always come back to Simichrome, can't beat that German Quality.

Thx I had not heard of that but will give it a try. On the Mothers vs Nuvite S for some reason I seem to get fewer streaks and a deeper shine with the Mothers - just seems to be easier to get a good result.

[Dwight]

Blue Magic Fantastic polish. It will take the blue out of chrome pipes.

I just bought another jar.

Wal Mart has the best price. You can buy it online.

Dwight

[Dirty Harry]

I've used a lot of Simichrome over the years. If you can't find it, there's a similar product called Flitz that seems to be just as good.

[Lou1119]

Originally Posted by Turbonut48

My Lemans cap and the edges of my aluminum wheels are starting to discolor/haze. I would like to shine them up.
Whats the best compound or product to use?
Thanks, The Nut

In addition to being a car nut I also collect watches. I was getting ready for a car show and did not feel like using Flitz, semi chrome or my other paste polishes and decided to give the polish that I used for my watches. It is called Cape Cod polishing cloths. I started on my polished intake manifold and couldn't get over the shine and how easy it was to use vs the pastes. I thought if this works here why not give it a try on the shiny ceramic side pipes where I tried everything with mixed results. I couldn't believe how much more shine it brought out; close to chrome.
It comes with felt like pads impregnated with something that smells like vanilla. One pad is enough to do the engine or both pipes or all four wheels. I buy it on Amazon in the large tin size. Give it a shot.👍

[Turbonut48]

Lots of choices. I ve heard of the Simichrome and Mothers.
Are these all hand applied, or the use of a polishing ball recommended?
Can I assume there is a lacquer or some kind of clear coat on the wheels?

Thanks for the suggestions, The Nut

[Kit Coyle]

These are all hand applied. Unless your non ferrous metal is corroded or pitted it will
polish by hand with minimum effort. They all contain very mild abrasive in suspension
and they will all work with varying degrees of elbow grease. Even toothpaste will work.
I have tried many of these and stick to Simichrome...it has a pinkish color so it probably
contains jeweler's rouge as the abrasive. A dime sized spot on a cloth with a few fingers
behind it and have at it. Just try it.

[Turbonut48]

A friend let me try the Blue Magic. It seems to work well.
Thanks for all the advice.

The Nut

[4Scargo]

Replacing the heads on FF and decide to polish up the engine compartment. Went the rubbing compound route with heavy, not so heavy, medium, light medium, etc. with 5" pads from Fleabay. Finished up with 'White Lightening' a truck driver recommended. Mirror finish now.

[40k Later]

I use Met-all. First discovered when working on commercial aircraft. The engine inlet lip skin was polished to almost a chrome finish. Very deep shine



MET-ALL POLISH from Aircraft Spruce

[Turbonut48]

That engine cowling looks great.
But , I do have a life and will not be trying to get to that level.

The Nut

[razerwire]

I live in ca and none are as good as they used to be. Truck shops that sell accessory's will be up on what still works the best. They took the zink out of the oil also which caused some problems. No need to go into junk gas that we have to use in ca. Sometimes you see products at shows that work well, such as stuff I buy from fellow Prevost owner to polish stainless steel, big job on a bus. I have tried all products mentioned and the ones that turn your rag the blackest the quickest is what your looking for. Have not bought product out of state so I don't know if they would be old formula.

[grego]

I've used most of these products over the years polishing all aluminum airplanes and found that they are fairly comparable. The big difference in my experience was in the amount of elbow grease used.

One trick an old timer taught me was in the removal of the residue after polishing. He said to use a clean cloth dipped in flour, which I've done for many years now. It seems to take up all of the black residue. You do have to be careful to get up any flour left over that might be in seams or other catch places.

Grego

[40k Later]

Ditto on the flour, real time saver and saves on rags

[shaps]

Grego, 40k,
Can you elaborate on the "cloth dipped in flour"? just that simple?

Thank you!