Polishing Metal - Is it more a chemical reaction or *abrasive*

[pingable]

Since my wheels are in hibernation, I've started to polish them. My experiance with metal polishes is luster pads, flitz and mothers billet. I usually use the luster or flitz and then follow it up with mother's billet right before I zaino them.



I've noticed it doesn't take much effort to polish them. Whether it be my chromed exhaust tips or the wheel halves (polished uncoated aluminum), it just takes a bit of pressure, polish and then wipe off the oxidation-black stuff that always seems to come up the minute the metal polish is applied. I probaly repeat this step 2-4 times, depending on how much oxidation-black comes up. After each wipe, I always use a new clean cloth to apply more polish since it seems like the previous *oxidation* just smears more around the metal that I just cleaned off. Does my technique sound about right



- apply metal polish on cloth and work into the surface

- clean rag, etc to wipe off oxidation

- apply metal polish on NEW piece of cloth and work into the surface

- clean rag, etc to wipe off oxidation/grime



Repeat until satisfied.







With that said, it seems like most of the work being done is more a chemical reaction in my experiance. Yes, I'm sure abrasives play a role.

 

[forrest@mothers]

A chemical will not "polish" aluminum inthat you must abrade away the oxidized surface to bring the shine back.



The chemicals will do a fine job of removing the dirt on the surface, but a mechanical polish must be used to truly polish the aluminum.



Out of curiosity, are these the same wheels you mentioned with the clear coat failure in your other thread? Using an aluminum polish on a clear coated wheel is not advised, as it may damage/remove the clear coat.

 

[pingable]

Yes, the same wheels but I'm only using the polish on the outer halves of the wheels. That area is non clearcoated aluminum.



With that said.....I think I may get myself a dremel of some sorts to bring back that mirror shine to it. While hand polishing brings it back to life, when I had my detailing shop do the wheels last year, it was almost chrome like when I picked up the wheels .





This is not a great shot due to the sunlight , but here's a pics of the wheels. I need to pick up a set of wooded Q Tips as the regular ones I have now is not durable enough when I get into all the nooks and crannies - especially the inner edge when the centers mount onto the wheel halves.





The centers are brushed/ clear coated and the outer wheel halve is high polished non clear coated.