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  1. #1

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    Aluminum polishing

    Over spring break last week I spent quite a bit of time polishing aluminum rims, tanks, battery boxes etc on our fleet of Peterbilts.

    I managed to get a couple of pictures of a before and after.


    With the hub and nut covers off.

    after one pass with a blue aluminum polishing wheel on porter cable rotary and brown jewler`s rouge.

    some after shots




    They didn`t get the best job that i can do because
    1.they weren`t taken off the truck which makes it more difficult work some areas.
    2. In MN we still aren`t done with winter and road salt does a number on highly polished alum. - they will need a touch up before summer.

    I would say my knowlege and ability in metal polishing is greater than my paint buffing abilities, so if you have any questions, just ask and i`ll do my best.
    I forgot to get a pic of my polisher and setup. Maybe next time.

  2. #2
    97F1504x4's Avatar
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    Re: Aluminum polishing

    Very Nice!

    Richard
    1997 Ford F150 4x4 Pacific Green w/HOK Kandy Green Flames
    2006 Mustang GT

  3. #3
    aka PEI Detail Brenton's Avatar
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    Re: Aluminum polishing

    Good job. What`s your process?
    Brenton Dickieson

  4. #4
    New Normal cwcad's Avatar
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    Re: Aluminum polishing

    Interesting!!

    Thanks for sharing the pictures. After attempting to fix some wheels on a pickup this last weekend I have a better appreciation of the work that it takes to make a wheel shine. This is so much more of a job. WOW!

    My hat is off to you!
    cwcad

    DO WHAT YOU SAY.....SAY WHAT YOU DO!!!!
    www.ldkbox.com a blog about life`s details

  5. #5
    Swirls?!?! NNOOOOOOO!!!!! Big Leegr's Avatar
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    Re: Aluminum polishing

    Is your blue polishing wheel the same blue one that`s seen on e-bay and the like from Flitz or is it a special "industrial" brand? Felt, foam or other?
    Also, do you find that Jewlers Rouge works better than a liquid? I would have thought having that much to polish, a liquid would be faster, but I don`t do much metal polishing, so I don`t actually know...
    Of course, it looks much better!
    Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult!

  6. #6

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    Re: Aluminum polishing

    I don`t have a pic of the acutal wheels i use but they look similar to this accept they have a meta center with the same treated pleated material around it. There are different stiffness wheels that are parallel to cutting and polishing pads for paint.

    This type of work is done much easier with the dry stick version of polishes. They are like a grease or a hard dry material that is applied to the edge of the wheel worked back and forth in line as you can see i had started in one of the pictures.
    I follow up the machine buffing with a liquid polish to get rid of any residue and get the best finish.
    If you were to try and tackle jobs like this with strictly a liquid polish you would have a very sore arm and many many terry clothes filled with oxidation.

  7. #7
    Just One More Coat Beemerboy's Avatar
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    Re: Aluminum polishing

    Great job I learned allot about aluminum polishing with my last rims...I used Zephyr pro-40 and a high speed rotary with cotton bob`s and the same wheels that you have pictured...again nice work
    Old Enough To Know Better, Too Stupid To Care....

    Dave`s Detailing
    Sonoma County, CA

  8. #8

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    Re: Aluminum polishing

    Thanks for the complements, I like polishing alum that is pretty far gone. The transformation is so dramatic.
    The only part that I don`t like is all the black crap that gets flung around.
    Here`s a pic of me after doing a full day of polishing before I started wearing my painting respirator. The little dust mask wasn`t cutting it as you can see!

  9. #9
    Ari Gold G35stilez's Avatar
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    Re: Aluminum polishing

    Wow!


    Can you link the jewelers rouge?

  10. #10
    Founder Poorboy's World Poorboy's Avatar
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    Re: Aluminum polishing

    Quote Originally Posted by mtmaher1
    Thanks for the complements, I like polishing alum that is pretty far gone. The transformation is so dramatic.
    The only part that I don`t like is all the black crap that gets flung around.
    Here`s a pic of me after doing a full day of polishing before I started wearing my painting respirator. The little dust mask wasn`t cutting it as you can see!
    come on we know you are getting ready to go to a paint ball game mao
    life is short ..do it while you can

    e-mail info@poorboysworld.com

  11. #11
    97F1504x4's Avatar
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    Re: Aluminum polishing

    For anyone interested in polishing wheels and the jewelers rouge and other compounds check out:
    http://www.eastwoodco.com/

    They have a great selection of stuff. They are actually having a 30% Off sale on buffing wheels right now.

    Richard
    1997 Ford F150 4x4 Pacific Green w/HOK Kandy Green Flames
    2006 Mustang GT

  12. #12

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    Re: Aluminum polishing

    Here is another site that offers a large selection of metal polishing supplies.
    http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/index.html

    I haven`t ordered anything from this company but i have looked into their products.

    When i called my compounds "jewelers rouge" earlier- they are also called named
    tripoli compounds depending on the company they are purchased from.

 

 

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