Polishing/cleaning aluminium

[adrianbarker]

What is best/easiest ?


Access not too bad.

Only a relatively small area to attack!

On a postcard please..............

 

[sarabande]

if it not anodised ali, then Brasso is pretty effective. Messy in the early stages, but leaves a good shiny surface which takes a while before it starts to go off again.

 

[CobraYellowfin]

If the Ali is not lacquered then it has to be

Solvol autosol

Toothpaste tube of white cream - rub it on with a bit of elbow grease then polish off for a mirror shine - been using it on motorbikes for 20 years and still haven't found anything better

Edit: find it on eBay - good for chrome too

Andy

 

[PaulGooch]

If the Ali is not lacquered then it has to be

Solvol autosol

Toothpaste tube of white cream - rub it on with a bit of elbow grease then polish off for a mirror shine - been using it on motorbikes for 20 years and still haven't found anything better

Edit: find it on eBay - good for chrome too

Andy

Absolutely ! Also used on bikes for...erm...several years. Used to polish Jap ally engine cases to a mirror finish.

Once you have it shiny though, a really good way to keep it so is "Belgom Alu", also on Ebay. Less aggressive than Solvol and leave a protective coating, which makes the finish last longer. Great for chrome and stainless too.

 

[Whopper]

if it not anodised ali, then Brasso is pretty effective. Messy in the early stages, but leaves a good shiny surface which takes a while before it starts to go off again.

Would window frames be anodised? If so, how best to clean them up? My fathers boat has milky stains on some parts of the window frames.

 

[PaulGooch]

Would window frames be anodised? If so, how best to clean them up? My fathers boat has milky stains on some parts of the window frames.

Window frames usually are. You need to be careful that you don't damage the anodising, so don't use abrasives or chemicals/solvents. Try a strong soap or dishwasher liquid. I certainly wouldn't use any of the products already mentioned in this thread.

 

[CobraYellowfin]

If it IS anodized then don't go near it with solvol
Apart from polishing it's great for destroying an anodized finishes!

Andy

 

[CobraYellowfin]

Paul
Just realized I've used it for about 36 year.... God I'm getting old

 

[PaulGooch]

Paul
Just realized I've used it for about 36 year.... God I'm getting old

Tell me about it. Started using it on my first bike, 38 years ago

 

[CobraYellowfin]

Sorry for the thread high jack but I have to ask....

Fizzle or AP50 ?

 

[adrianbarker]

Thanks all for the advice.

On the Fred Drift...........


ah the memories, the scars ..........!!


- Fizzle for me - kept falling off the Bl**** thing !, mate had an AP50 - was faster and sounded better, even with my baffles taken out. Didn't we all do that? !!

 

[CobraYellowfin]

Ha!
I had drops, homemade rear sets and expansion chambers without baffles on my AP50
Must have looked aright idiot! Fun before I wrote it off though

Kept the same theme upto my 'kettle' (gt750) before settling down to 4 strokes

 

[PaulGooch]

Sorry for the thread high jack but I have to ask....

Fizzle or AP50 ?

Honda CD175 (pressed steel frame)

 

[Momac]

Polishing aluminium

Another vote for Autosol - (Also used it going back to japanese bikes many years ago)

If starting with a vey dull or slightly pitted surface or if the intention is to remove a coating the Autosol can be used with fine wire wool, then Autosol on a cloth since the wire wool will inevitably create fine scratches. Avoid the wire wool stage if possible.

Finishing off with MER , which is an excellent polish for maintaining the shine on already polished aluminium. It can create a near mirror finish and adds some protection.

 

[adrianbarker]

Thanks all.

Tried the Brasso(thanks Tim), with a scouring pad, without as much success as I want really. Next step wire wool and Autosol.

It's not decorative, and not seen generally, so I'll be happy enough with little scratches, if that's what happens.