File finish or upgrade to brushed aluminum

[SSSammy]

I recently sold my brushed Kirkham with polished stripes that was done by Kirkham. If you seriously think you want to own a bare aluminum car, then you owe it to yourself to go to Provo and visit the factory. They are extraordinarily nice people and they will show you unfinished and finished cars and even show you how they do it.


Look at some of the mirror cars on their site and understand how flat those panels have to be to look like mirrors. It's a big metal working exercise along with the several stages of sanding and polishing. This is also the case for the brushed panels. The body has to be perfect before the final step with a block and 100 grit. They start the block at one end of a panel and hold it down and walk the entire length of the panel without lifting. Exact pressure is key. Then they go back for another stroke, and so on. When it is done it is like a linear vinyl record. Go look at one in person.


This is not a suitable finish for a car that gets used a lot if it bothers you to see it scratched up and blotched with stains from hand prints. I've seen people walk up to my car and scratch with their finger nails to confirm it is not a wrap If you think you can touch up a scratch from a stroller or a belt buckle, realize that as you own the car, the aluminum will patina (oxidize) slowly. So even if you are very good with a sanding block, the reworked area will stand out from the original finish.


My point ... let Kirkham do it. Indulge yourself! You are spending close to $200K for this car. $15K to get a quality finish, polish/brush or paint is an investment that will help your car stand out from the pack at resale time.


Good luck!
Sam