Taking aluminum to autopian standard?

TH0001 · 05-20-08, 05:06

I have a muffler and tail pipes at my house from a Ferrari 360, which I believe is aluminum.

I was goofing off with polishing it yesterday by using Menz Power Gloss on an orange pad and Menz PO85u on finishing wool, hand polishg with mother's mag and aluminum polish. The result is very very shiney (though I think it could be more).

If you wanted to refinish aluminum to autopian paint standards and go for maximum gloss, what products would be recommened. I used some English Custom polishes in the past, and while they looked great I don't think they would have produced a much higher or "darker" shine then did using traditional polishing compounds.

Ideas, exchange of the thought, or experience would be super appericated. Thanks guys!

Todd

SuperBee364 · 05-20-08, 05:14

Subscribed. Anxious to hear how to polish aluminum well.

MotorCity · 05-20-08, 05:21

Here is a post where a 1922 Rolls Royce (aliminum body) was polished..

Most of us have a set of winter tires in the garage - you have a Ferrari exhaust system... to funny

Spirit of Ecstasy - 1922 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost

D&D Auto Detail · 05-20-08, 05:30

What about steel wool?

TH0001 · 05-20-08, 05:37

Also, do any companies make metal polishes or particular pads. (I know wolfgang/pbm) does but is there a menzerna of the metal polishing world?

I really want to start bring the metal of the cars I work on to perfection as well. Thanks in advance.

(I will post pictures of the muffler in a minute),

Pats300zx · 05-20-08, 05:49

I just got some of the English Custom polishes as well Todd. I was pretty impressed with them but not blown away. I think you can do just as well with some of the other readily available metal polishes (Wenol, Impressive Reflections, Mothers Billet, Simichrome, etc)

Looking forward to some pictures of the exhaust...

BlueZero · 05-20-08, 05:50

Should be an interesting thread. One thing I do know is it sure is a dirty job!

ajnavo61490 · 05-20-08, 05:54

Meg's has a good Aluminum polish. I really like it.

baseballlover1 · 05-20-08, 06:08

what about deep alum i believe its called.

D&D Auto Detail · 05-20-08, 06:09

Adams also makes some metal polishes.

zoomzoom mazda5 · 05-20-08, 06:20

I use to do some aluminum polishing with metal compounds and polishes that come in bars and use with Buffing Wheels and Mushroom Buffing Wheels. I hoped this might help you out Todd.

Totoland Mach · 05-20-08, 06:21

Todd: for aluminum, I typically start with an aggressive polish like Simichrome and a sewn cotton buffing wheel attachment for a drill. (this process is for smooth metals. for "as cast"...you need to use a sanding wheel).

I get the finish in the condition I want, then move to English Custom with another clean buffing wheel. Following that, I use Meguiar's NXT Metal Polysh and another cotton buffing wheel. Mother's Billet Creme works well as a final step.

My Team III wheels

For harder metals like stainless, I start with Simichrome and 1,500 grit paper and work my way to 2000 grit. Then use the buffing wheels similar to above.

Stainless SLP Exhaust

Finally, are you sure the exhaust is aluminum? Generally that metal is a poor choice for exhaust due to the corrosive action and heat of exhaust systems.

Toto