aluminum polishing???

[Gorilla0178]

Who has a good way or process to polish aluminum?? I have a powerlift jack plate that I had to disassemble to clean up and am thinking of polishing the outside faces. The rest of it will get a good cleaning and a sanding or gone over with the scotch bright disks to clean it up. Just wondering if its worth polishing some of it.
Thanks

PS anybdy know where to get parts or diagrams for the pump model# 7050????

[Mr.Rude]

I have sanded in stages with progessively finer grit paper until the smooth finish was satisfactory. Then i would take a polisher/buffer wheel with jewelers rouge (2 stage process) and the end result is excellent.

[Rigaud]

If it's anodized which it should be you'll need to get it removed by sanding unless you know a plating place that does anodizing and they can strip that in 30 sec. Polishing with a cotton wheel on a bench grinder is best and theirs a green paste for aluminum polishing but not certain where you could get it in your area since I was doing this for commercial application. Search the web for aluminum polishing, you should easily find something. If your going to use the part afterwards in salt water it's going to tarnish and get pitted.

I use to get my parts either clear anodized for salt water or a clear urethane over it if it didn't see salt water.

[Jacob]

http://www.ccsilver.com/supplies/polishing/polishing1.html
And apply with a cotton buffer wheel :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Gorilla0178]

I don't think is anodized, I'll look at it again to make sure. I figured i would have to sand it a bunch then polish it, didn't know if there was something special to do to make it real shiny. thanks

[Rigaud]

I don't think is anodized, I'll look at it again to make sure. I figured i would have to sand it a bunch then polish it, didn't know if there was something special to do to make it real shiny. thanks

It's easy to check if it's anodized, use an ohm meter and see if theirs any resistance. If anodized theirs no continuity. ;)

[Mr. Demeanor]

Unless you have or want to invest in all the equipment and compunds, I would just take it to a place that does polishing. Check with your local motorcycle perfprmance shops for a reference. The cost shouldnt be much for something like that.

[props4u2]

Your local prop shop can polish it also.


Lee

[Gorilla0178]

i have sanders and polishers plenty of paper, I'll test a piece to see how hard it is. The whole thing needs to be cleaned up anyways its old and grey and covered is grease.

[max200]

If it gets wet it wont stay polished based on experience from polishing lower units only way to keep it nice is to clear coat it. good luck with it. probably would look good that way.

[Stoker1]

polish it then have it anodized with the color of your choice. very nice.

[pumpmaster]

an easy inexpensive route is take a power drill and use a mothers powerball with mothers aluminum polish $50 total. i did my sportmaster lower and it looked really good, its easy and inexpensive and reuseable!

[Gorilla0178]

Thanks alot for the info. I'll see how it goes. I'll let you know

[chrispallen]

you could do a search on www.dootalk.com

Ski-Doo forum.. lots of guys polish their tunnels.... (the part under the seat for you non sledders)

[qctracing]

I have sanded in stages with progessively finer grit paper until the smooth finish was satisfactory. Then i would take a polisher/buffer wheel with jewelers rouge (2 stage process) and the end result is excellent.

X2. Do it right and it will look like chrome

[donmac]

autosol works good and a little trick to get rid of the black residue is to use talc or baby powder and it buffs right off. If you have a truck stop near you they usually have some supplies and the guys hanging around usually have some knowledge of polishing aluminium buds,tanks,and battery boxes.