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cleaning /restoring ali
bracey - 23/4/08 at 05:17 PM

after finding out best product to clean ali with ,tried auto glym metal polish but doesnt seem strong enough ,not trying to get mirror finish just remove water staining oxydization ?etc
cheers
richard


zetec7 - 23/4/08 at 05:24 PM

I've had my best success with Autosol & elbow grease... I found the Auto Glym was quite a bit finer than the Autosol. Great for shining, but it didn't cut as well to get down to a polishable finish.


DarrenW - 23/4/08 at 05:37 PM

Maguires all metal polysh. Seems to add a protective layer to last a little longer. Defo worth a try. Got my small tub from Halfords.

Try a search on this subject - i recall seeing some good recommendations before. Bottom line seems to be though that keeping ali looking good is a chew on.


dave1888 - 23/4/08 at 05:46 PM

I had the same problem and the only cure i found was paint. Just finished the undercoating but cant decide which final colour to go for.


BenB - 23/4/08 at 06:31 PM

The problem isn't so much getting aliminium shiny (Autosol does it for me)- it's more that it oxidises that quickly that unless you put a protective laquer / wax coat on top of it immediately after polishing you'll have to polish it again after about a week!! You'll end up with very thin aliminium and worse repetitive strain injury than a teenage geezer with a playboy subscription


rusty nuts - 23/4/08 at 06:42 PM

Just polished my side panels using a 6 speed polisher from ebay cost £30 +p&p Put Mequires metal polish on the mop and each side took ten minutes.


02GF74 - 24/4/08 at 08:30 AM

well different grades of aluminium have, not surprisingly different properties. raw aluminium can be rather "porous" so can stain quite easily - you may find it takes a lot of elbow grease to remove the stain.

Once done, spray with clear laquer. I have done that on my bonnet and so far it has stayed on.


MK Charlie - 24/4/08 at 06:19 PM

I wet flat my ali then just used normal polish and it looks the dogs doo dahs