How do you keep alloy shiny ???

[SpinFx]

Thought I'd put a thread here to both help myself and the newbies of the biker world......

We've just spent hours :yawn: polishing the aluminium bits on our bikes with Autosol or similar .....and need a product that will keep them in this lovely polished mirror like state....:first:

The Question: What do you suggest and where can you get it ???

[Boob Johnson]

Also while were on the subject. What about "pitting" on aluminium? Whats the best product & method to use to remove it?

[James Deuce]

Mothers Alloy Polish. Repco.

[scumdog]

Also while were on the subject. What about "pitting" on aluminium? Whats the best product & method to use to remove it?

Pitting? You can only remove it by sanding with fine sandpaper (wet'n'dry and CRC do the trick)
But some pits can be too deep to ever remove.

[Eurodave]

We've just spent hours :yawn: polishing the aluminium bits on our bikes with Autosol or similar .....and need a product that will keep them in this lovely polished mirror like state....:first:

The Question: What do you suggest and where can you get it ???

I use a POR 15 product called "Glisten" a 2 pack clear that you can mix up then brush on,after preping the polished bits with their "Metal Ready" I get it from PPG's Spray Store here in Christchurch. Google "POR 15" for more details, its da shit!!!:yes:

[Boob Johnson]

Pitting? You can only remove it by sanding with fine sandpaper (wet'n'dry and CRC do the trick)
But some pits can be too deep to ever remove.Ok thanks for that, will give it a crack. What about after its been removed? What should I chuck on top?



Mothers Alloy Polish. Repco.
A bit of this maybe?

[James Deuce]

The Mothers polish is good for fur and very fine pitting, but you really need to give it a good number of goes to get things looking like new again.

[nadroj]

I use S15 Engine brightener on my alloy. When it gets dirty I just wipe it off then reapply.

[riffer]

Fine Steel Wool (Steelo pads, I kid you not) and water.

Followed by Autosol applied and buffed up with a rag will give a near chrome-like polished alloy look.

[Guitana]

If alloy wheels are pitted badly you can take them to a polisher and have them resurfaced.

[Pwalo]

I use Eagle One Never Dull on my pipes, steering head bolt, fork tubes, and levers (that's all the chrome on my bike). Seems to work well.

I've also got a tube of the autosol, but only use this if things are a bit dirty.

Fortunately I've never got to the pitting stage.

[Dodgyiti]

I use a POR 15 product called "Glisten" a 2 pack clear that you can mix up then brush on,after preping the polished bits with their "Metal Ready" I get it from PPG's Spray Store here in Christchurch. Google "POR 15" for more details, its da shit!!!:yes:

Yeah- that is good stuff, not cheap mind you. And you have to be very careful there is no residue polishing compound lurking in the porous ali or it will haunt you a few years down the track.

Or you could get them pro-coated in polished ali 700 degree system. Will not do mags but everything else ali and mild steel. Its cheap and tough as. Like HPC but half the price. The photo does not do them justice..

I use auto sol on my cloth wheel on the bench grinder. On the other side is a mild green scotch wheel- this is quick for removing dings and pits, then a bit of a go on the cloth wheel and your done. Then hand polish the parts with a good quality wax product to protect it from oxidization and repeat every 4-6 months depending in what weather you are riding in.

The first pic is the pro-coat on raw un-polished rocker covers, the second pic is my blinged out baby.

For I am the Grand Pimp-Master of Bling :sick:

[Madness]

3m Scotchbrite pads come in 2 or 3 grades finer than the green medium, the grey one is good for a quick hand job, followed by a rubbing with cotton with some Autosol. Polishing Metal is a science almost in itself, especially Stainless.

[Dodgyiti]

the grey one is good for a quick hand job.

Ouch!

It would have to be quick.

[paturoa]

kero with 3 rags does the trick and doesn't cost much.

One rag for getting the crud off, have never had anything that kero wont get off and it wont damage anything.

2nd rag with more kero as a wipe down.

and 3rd rag with kero leaves a spanking finish.

(well if I'm really honest only my new bikes get the 3 rag treatment, and then only for a few months, and then 2 when the enthuiasm tapers off and finaly onlt 1!)

[Terminated]

I have been cutting back with wet and dry, 800grit, 1500grit, and 2000 grit, and super fine steel wool and using CRC in little dozes. Progress is very good on front forks and started around engine. Master cyclinder came up to brilliant chrome finish after cutting back with grit paper then using Autosol polish.

I was advised to put a clear lacquer over the worked areas as a final protection step. I have purchased " ColorPak - Professional Series Acrylic Gloss Clear" Got it from the Resene/DuPont car paint shop in NaeNae.

Product is from Formula Marketing Ltd [Phone 0800 4FORMULA].

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Drum]

... Progress is very good on front forks and started around engine. Master cyclinder came up to brilliant chrome finish after cutting back with grit paper then using Autosol polish........

I might have to pop around to check progress this weekend BB#1.

[Terminated]

I might have to pop around to check progress this weekend BB#1.

Apologies, just got to this thread [Sunday] welcome to pop around whenever mate.

[jonbuoy]

I'm not sure how I'm going to do this long term in the past I've just given it all a wipe over with a bit of CRC on a rag after polishing, now maybe just a once over every week with metal polish?

[hitch]

[/QUOTE]
I was advised to put a clear lacquer over the worked areas as a final protection step. I have purchased " ColorPak - Professional Series Acrylic Gloss Clear" Got it from the Resene/DuPont car paint shop in NaeNae.

Product is from Formula Marketing Ltd [Phone 0800 4FORMULA].

Heads Up and Enjoy[/QUOTE]

Buckbuck

So would this give a longterm clean polished look then?????

[Unforgiven]

If you prep and paint it properly then clear coat will give you a permanant shiny finish, just clean it as you do all the other paint.
Just make shure anyone else being helpfull doesnt attack it with Autosol or anything similar.