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Author
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Topic: Polishing Aluminum
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'69PonyRider
Gearhead Posts: 231
From: Hawthorne, CA
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 04-26-2004 02:05 PM
   
I want to polish my valve covers, they are already smooth and were polished before but now they have water spots and the aluminum is really dull. Does anyone know which grit i need just to bring the shine back? maybe 1200 or so?Aldo
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adragon8u
Gearhead Posts: 4857
From: Oceano, Ca. member# 2895
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 04-26-2004 02:28 PM
For aluminum and chrome both, I like to use Mothers aluminum polish. I would use that on the transfer case of my motorcycles and they would get a mirror shine on them.------------------
"I started with nothing, and I still have most of it left"
http://webpages.charter.net/adragon8u/mystang
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bibbs68
Gearhead Posts: 1588
From: Jackson, TN
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 04-26-2004 05:03 PM
I wouldn't use sandpaper at all. As adragon8u mentioned a good polish will make them look like new. It will involve some elbow grease but it will be well worth it. The small round makup applicators the ladies use work great for little projects like valve covers. You can buy them at Wal-Mart and other stores in a bag of a dozen or so.One thing I learned long ago, let the polish do the work. Apply pressure but not your body weight. For stubborn areas apply pressure gradually and only in that area. It may take you a couple cleanings but a clear scratch free surface looks alot better than a hazy scratched finish.  ------------------
Jeremy
'68 Coupe
M&M Member #685
http://www.geocities.com/bibbs76/MyMustang.html
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mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 6677
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 04-27-2004 09:46 AM
@nd the motion for Mother's!! That stuff is the best. Also great for cleaning up lenses-tailight, inst.
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trashline
Gearhead Posts: 1320
From: Levittown, Pa
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted 04-27-2004 04:47 PM
i have polished aluminum wheels and i use brillo pads. they look great. i actully went around my car today and cleaned all my chrome parts up . car looks better ------------------
1966 mustang coupe
200ci 3 speed tranny
msd 6a ignition, blaster 2 coil, 2 inch exhaust to a glass pac, stock rear,I have the single out header not on yet though,and i have the parts for the cold air intake (homemade).
white w/ black interior
will eventully have (after years of great prosperity) a 67-69 fastbask (aka dream car)
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gmliebau
Gearhead Posts: 279
From: Port St. Lucie, FL
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 04-27-2004 05:03 PM
Neverdull works really well too. Just make sure you clean it off good...it's oil based.
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'69PonyRider
Gearhead Posts: 231
From: Hawthorne, CA
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 04-27-2004 06:13 PM
Went and bought some mothers polish, after four applications on a small 2"x2" spot i still didnt get all the water spots out.  Although it is shiny i want those spots out. I cant imagine going over both valve covers like this. My arm was already sore with that one spot. The mothers seems to work good but not good enough to remove the water spots. Are you guys sure i shouldnt wet-sand first with some really fine sand paper THEN apply some mothers??Aldo
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adragon8u
Gearhead Posts: 4857
From: Oceano, Ca. member# 2895
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 04-27-2004 06:22 PM
Those must be some bad waterspots. Are you sure that's what they are?------------------
"I started with nothing, and I still have most of it left"
http://webpages.charter.net/adragon8u/mystang
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'69PonyRider
Gearhead Posts: 231
From: Hawthorne, CA
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 04-27-2004 06:23 PM
I busted a water hose once....ok a couple times  but yeah they are water spots.
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 42859
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-27-2004 06:30 PM
I have a cloth wheel that goes on the end of a drill and polishing compound sticks that I think I got at Sears that works pretty well. I can get a mirror finish if I want with that.My favorite finish for valve covers isn't a mirror finish though. The finish I like comes with 0000 steel wool and some WD-40, the covers come out with a really cool sheen that doesn't show fingerprints. Sort of like the finish on a nickel. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip [This message has been edited by SteveLaRiviere (edited 04-27-2004).]
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460-67Stang
Gearhead Posts: 289
From: Southern Ohio, USA
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-27-2004 10:19 PM
Go to eastwoodco.com and check out their buffing supply section. To buff out aluminum to a mirror polish you should use a 4" or 6" loose buffing wheel and Jewelers Rouge. Follow up with the polishes mentioned earlier in this post for a beautiful finish.
Brian
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MidLifCrisis
Gearhead Posts: 464
From: Frederick County, MD
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 04-27-2004 10:31 PM
I second the buffing wheel. There are a couple guys around here that charge to polish stuff. Its really easy. Sears carries them, as do some larger hardware stores. Get a 6" soft buffing wheel for your bench grinder. Use the red rouge compound. They make black, brown and white, which are coarse cutting, medium, and mild. The red is the finest that can be used on soft metals like brass and gold. Let the wheel and compound do the work as bibbs68 stated, and don't be in a hurry. Take your time and it will turn out like a mirror. Good luck, Charlie
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