Polishing Aluminium

[07cob]

Hello...

I have a few Al bits and pieces that I would like to polish (or have polished) and I am wondering if I can manage it myself. I have read some comments recently on other threads suggesting there was some expertise out there so I thought I should ask.

What sort of tools are best to use? What is the process? What products are best? Is there any maintenance i.e. continued polishing etc.

Any help appreciated.

GeoF

[FUNFER2]

Oh boy, your in some hard dirty work but, it's worth it at the end. If you want to email me, I can go into detail. The proper tools are essential.

cobrakev@galaxycable.net

[Ralph_C]

Try this site ... lots of great info to get you started.
I used it to work out what I needed, then went for it...

http://www.englishcustompolishing.com/

Lots of dirty, mindless hours in front of you ... have fun

[PCC]

Great Site Ralph,

Took me back to my heritage. Visited many of the places in person.

One rule for polishing - bloody hard graft

[07cob]

Thanks Gents.

Sound like a bunch of hard and dirty work.

GeoF

[Lowell W]

Sound like a bunch of hard and dirty work.

Yep!

Take it to the local plating shop and have someone else polish it while you do something else more enjoyable...like pulling weeds out of the yard on your hands and knees.

I've spent enough hours standing in front of the buffer and had enough pieces ripped out of my hands and slammed to the floor to be able to say that...

Still have both my eyes and all my fingers, though.

Lowell

[07cob]

Originally Posted by Lowell W

Take it to the local plating shop

Hmmmm

Might just be doing that yet!!

GeoF

[*Cobber*]

I took my bits to the local polisher and picked up the next week. Top job and cheaper than buying the buff wheel and all the other stuff that goes with it.

Still got lots of weeds in the garden though.

[07cob]

OK, so that looks like 4 votes 'against' and 0 'for' .

Surely there is someone who is keen on DIY polishing (although it doesn't look too good at this stage!!)

GeoF

[MFE III]

I took my alum pieces to a polishing shop as well. 6 pieces covering the entire firewall and foot boxes . . total cost $225. After trying a few small pieces, I agree I'd rather pull weeds or even perform root canal on myself first!!
But then I did something stupid. I thought to preserve the finish I would have the panels anodized in a bright dip finish. Cost another couple hundred bucks, but came out an ugly dull grey. Gonna have them stripped and repolished.
Chalk it up to experience!!