Polishing Aluminum
#1
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
Thread Starter
Polishing Aluminum
Looking for opinions...
Importing a couple sets of wheels from Japan that clearly need work to clean up.
Anyone here have experience with Zephyr aluminum polishing kits and compounds? Or any recommendations to refinish aluminum?
There are tons of "off the shelf" types like Meg's and Eagle at O'Really and Peppy Boys that I've used for lighter work; but I've never really been too impressed with how much work goes into using those (because of the gradients of abrasiveness.) Using a rouge seems like the way to go (y'know, sand to high cut to mid-cut to final polish just like you do on the car's finish). Heck, even Harbor Freight sells a polishing kit for $20 that includes bars of rouge and a bunch of polishing heads. Thoughts on those?
Was considering this kit: https://zephyrpro40.com/product/supe...polishing-kit/
Tx
Importing a couple sets of wheels from Japan that clearly need work to clean up.
Anyone here have experience with Zephyr aluminum polishing kits and compounds? Or any recommendations to refinish aluminum?
There are tons of "off the shelf" types like Meg's and Eagle at O'Really and Peppy Boys that I've used for lighter work; but I've never really been too impressed with how much work goes into using those (because of the gradients of abrasiveness.) Using a rouge seems like the way to go (y'know, sand to high cut to mid-cut to final polish just like you do on the car's finish). Heck, even Harbor Freight sells a polishing kit for $20 that includes bars of rouge and a bunch of polishing heads. Thoughts on those?
Was considering this kit: https://zephyrpro40.com/product/supe...polishing-kit/
Tx
#2
350Z-holic
iTrader: (13)
Ive always used the department store goop ... The stuff I have in my wash-bucket is Blue Magic Metal Polish. It sounds like the stuff you've previously mentioned.
I mainly use it to buff-out the intercoolers, radiator, and exposed aluminum I have on the rig.
Let us know what you decide and how it works out.
I mainly use it to buff-out the intercoolers, radiator, and exposed aluminum I have on the rig.
Let us know what you decide and how it works out.
#3
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
Thread Starter
Ive always used the department store goop ... The stuff I have in my wash-bucket is Blue Magic Metal Polish. It sounds like the stuff you've previously mentioned.
I mainly use it to buff-out the intercoolers, radiator, and exposed aluminum I have on the rig.
Let us know what you decide and how it works out.
I mainly use it to buff-out the intercoolers, radiator, and exposed aluminum I have on the rig.
Let us know what you decide and how it works out.
Similar to this condition...
#4
General & DIY Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
iTrader: (64)
Muc- I wish there was some breakthrough in cleaning and polishing aluminum (particularly on race cars), but I've yet to find it. Aluminum grades and clearcoats have improved, but for restoring older wheels, it's a lot of elbow grease and the same old polish brands we've used in the past.
#5
General & Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
Here's a novel idea if you don't care for abrasives and drill powered buff wheels. Muriatic acid will literally burn holes in concrete at full strength. It might be possible to reduce to 50/1 soaking overnight in a plastic container or apply by hand in an inconspicuous area. A quart costs less than $10.
It might be possible to simply "etch" a new finish rather than grind one. If a test area works you can do a whole wheel, rinse and clear coat wo polish residue.
It might be possible to simply "etch" a new finish rather than grind one. If a test area works you can do a whole wheel, rinse and clear coat wo polish residue.
#6
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
Thread Starter
Muc- I wish there was some breakthrough in cleaning and polishing aluminum (particularly on race cars), but I've yet to find it. Aluminum grades and clearcoats have improved, but for restoring older wheels, it's a lot of elbow grease and the same old polish brands we've used in the past.
Here's a novel idea if you don't care for abrasives and drill powered buff wheels. Muriatic acid will literally burn holes in concrete at full strength. It might be possible to reduce to 50/1 soaking overnight in a plastic container or apply by hand in an inconspicuous area. A quart costs less than $10.
It might be possible to simply "etch" a new finish rather than grind one. If a test area works you can do a whole wheel, rinse and clear coat wo polish residue.
It might be possible to simply "etch" a new finish rather than grind one. If a test area works you can do a whole wheel, rinse and clear coat wo polish residue.
#7
6 inch cawk is my fave!
iTrader: (3)
Any updates on what you ended up going with? I need to do something with my track wheels if I get some motivation...
I might just Scuff them up and repaint them but then I see pictures of those polished ones and I'm like that could take up all my free time for the next 8 months...
Por 15 has a degreaser that your supposed to use before you etch the metal and apply it... It's some really nasty **** and kinda seems like the acid that John was talking about.
I might just Scuff them up and repaint them but then I see pictures of those polished ones and I'm like that could take up all my free time for the next 8 months...
Por 15 has a degreaser that your supposed to use before you etch the metal and apply it... It's some really nasty **** and kinda seems like the acid that John was talking about.
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#8
New Member
iTrader: (2)
I've got a spare set of G35 19" aluminum Rays wheels I was going to polish and I found a write-up on a different site. They used Aircraft remover to get off the first layers and then scraped off all the gunk. Then, it was a process of using progressively finer grit sandpaper starting at 120 with a final polish and buff.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Aircraft remover/stripper has been toned down in strength over the years and it's more of a PITA to get off the initial layers.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Aircraft remover/stripper has been toned down in strength over the years and it's more of a PITA to get off the initial layers.
#9
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
Thread Starter
Sorry, Mike, no answer here. Wheels are in boxes and untouched. Lost interest when pandemic hit. Will pick it up again eventually.
I did pick up a polishing kit that had a couple grades of polish and different buffer pads but haven’t tried it yet.
Can’t look at it right now as I’m off mainland but when i get back in a month….
I did pick up a polishing kit that had a couple grades of polish and different buffer pads but haven’t tried it yet.
Can’t look at it right now as I’m off mainland but when i get back in a month….
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