How do you polish aluminum engine parts?

**BlueAngel** · 03-07-2009, 09:13 PM

I want to polish aluminum engine parts using my drill, but I don`t know the proper pads or aluminum polish to buy. A friend of mine recommended the Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish for engine parts. He said he used it on his engine and it works fine. Your thoughts guys. Excuse the stupid questions. I am new and eager to learn from you guys.

**jaymz** · 03-11-2009, 09:26 AM

Well, I can answer from my particular point of view. I have a Ford LIghtning with several aluminum "Bling" items under the hood. My problem was water spotting. None of the typical "white" metal polishes would take them off (simichrome; Flitz; Mothers; etc). I could get them off using Eagle One, but every time I wahed the truck, the items spotted again. Drove me nuts and very labor intensive.

Finally tried some Diamond Brite Aluminum Truck Box polish (at Lowes, near truck box section). Used a cotton wheel on a drill and also a buffing wheel on a Dremel. That cleaned them up great! At that point, I clear-coated the items to prevent more water spots and it seems to work fine.

You could also try Meguiars #105

Jim

**jaymz** · 03-12-2009, 03:40 PM

White polishes cannot really take out things like Water Spots. Believe me, I know.

Try Aluma-Brite Truck Box polish (Lowes), Meguiars #105 (Yes, it`s for paint, but it works great on SS, Aluminum) or Heavy Metal Polish (Green #2).

Then, once you clean it up, seal it with a rattle can of clear coat.

Jim

**BlueAngel** · 03-12-2009, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by jaymz

White polishes cannot really take out things like Water Spots. Believe me, I know.

Try Aluma-Brite Truck Box polish (Lowes), Meguiars #105 (Yes, it`s for paint, but it works great on SS, Aluminum) or Heavy Metal Polish (Green #2).

Then, once you clean it up, seal it with a rattle can of clear coat.

Jim

Jim, thank you for responding. I tried white polishes like Mothers and sure enough your right! I tried it and got slight results after 4 hours! My hand nearly tore off! I will try what you recommended. I`ll look for it this weekend at Lowes. Thanks again!

**imported_Luster** · 03-12-2009, 05:38 PM

This is the best aluminum polish I`ve ever used. I discovered it about 10 years ago and nothing can touch it IMO.....

Available at any Harley dealer.

**BlueAngel** · 03-12-2009, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Luster

This is the best aluminum polish I`ve ever used. I discovered it about 10 years ago and nothing can touch it IMO.....

Available at any Harley dealer.

really! How much??

**fbirdquik6** · 03-12-2009, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by BlueAngel

Jim, thank you for responding. I tried white polishes like Mothers and sure enough your right! I tried it and got slight results after 4 hours! My hand nearly tore off! I will try what you recommended. I`ll look for it this weekend at Lowes. Thanks again!

try a dremel with a felt pad to help save your hand

**BlueAngel** · 03-12-2009, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by fbirdquik6

try a dremel with a felt pad to help save your hand

I have always heard of them, but don`t know anyone who owns one. Your thoughts please & best place to buy them.

**fbirdquik6** · 03-12-2009, 08:26 PM

the dremel is possibly single most useful, and versitile powertool that exists, its a must have for sure. I know sears, and walmart sell them, also harbor freight has a cheap version that i have yet to try, but for ~$15 I may just have to pick one up

**BlueAngel** · 03-12-2009, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by fbirdquik6

the dremel is possibly single most useful, and versitile powertool that exists, its a must have for sure. I know sears, and walmart sell them, also harbor freight has a cheap version that i have yet to try, but for ~$15 I may just have to pick one up

How much does the Dremel usually go for?

**jaymz** · 03-13-2009, 06:04 AM

Simichrome is awesome for metal that is mostly prepped for a final polis. However, it WILL NOT remove water spots on aluminum billet. Believe me, I tried it several times (well, maybe if you rub for hours, it might).

Try the three I recommended and you`ll be good.

Jim

Originally Posted by Luster

This is the best aluminum polish I`ve ever used. I discovered it about 10 years ago and nothing can touch it IMO.....

Available at any Harley dealer.

**jaymz** · 03-13-2009, 06:05 AM

test test test

**jaymz** · 03-13-2009, 06:07 AM

Simichrome won`t remove water spots on aluminum. I know; I tried it many times. Works great as a final polish, though.

Dremels are great! I used a drill and a white cloth wheel to clean up my Al billet engine bling with Heavy Metal grn.

Here`s a link on using Megs #105 on an aluminum truck box (with pics):

M105-A-Thon - Car Care Forums: Meguiar`s Online

Jim

**imported_Luster** · 03-13-2009, 06:11 AM

Originally Posted by BlueAngel

really! How much??

$5.95 a tube... $19.95 per tub.

For water spots you can try One Grand Special Touch, non-abrasive polish... Right on the label it states that it specializes in removing water spots. I`ve always had good luck with it for water spots. Bought it on-line a few years ago. Google it.

**Accumulator** · 03-13-2009, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by fbirdquik6

try a dremel with a felt pad to help save your hand

Yeah, there are a scad of different Dremel models these days. Plus, you might find one of the older/discontinued ones very cheap.

I`m a *BIG* fan of using an extended flex-shaft with a drill or a Dremel (or even just an electric motor with the right fitting on it for heavy-duty work). You can hold the shaft like a stylus/pencil and it`s *so* user-friendly. Worth the expense IMO.

Heh heh, if I were buying a Dremel I`d probably splurge on one of the new digital-control models, or maybe their biggest rechargeable one.

But you could look into all the different rotary tools out there...even a big bulky one is handy enough with the flex-shaft. I have an old DuMore grinder (like an antique Dremel on steroids) from around WWII that still works great, so I wouldn`t hesitate to buy something used if it seems to work OK.

It is "Caswell" that sells all the good polishing stuff? Sorry, can`t remember for sure :nixweiss