detailing Fire Engine help

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imported_ffmedic

New member
hey everyone looking for some adivice on proper products for cleaning a fire engine with neglected diamond plate. i know its going to be a pita to get it all polished up, i ve read where some people used acid wash on the metal? if so where do u get it? also on the inside whats the best product to use? everytime i try and scrub it and rinse it out it still looks dirty so any help would be fantastic.
 
Diamond plate can be polished, however, that is all one is doing.

In a month or so, the dull condition will return if not "acidized', due to the "porus" surface of such aluminum.

Using a "dangerous" and getting hard to obtain, acid' will clean into the pores and do something very important.

The use of it will "densify/compact" the top mil or two of the aluminum's surface.

Which results in the aluminum taking a gloss easier and since it is more dense, will last longer.

Everytime the aluminum, is first acid washed and polished, the "denser" the aluminum's top substrate becomes. After 3 or 4 of such acid washes and polishing, the plate is dense down to 3 or more mils.

There are variables, but those are more in aircraft type of aluminum used, due to the alloy's of such.

The diamond plate can be "shined" as stated, however there are many things to be taken in to consideration when doing such work.
 
i know its a lot of work but i like taking pride in my rigs and i am willing to put in the work. where can i obtain the acid wash? I've tried researching stuff but nothing looked that promising.
 
Hard to find the actual acid because the companies have been removing it from the marketplace the past few years due to the extreme health issues with it.

hydrofluric acid

You might be able to find some still around, is a blend of hf and sulfuric or hf and phospuric, they refer to it wheel acid or wheel brightener.
 
Ron Ketcham said:
Hard to find the actual acid because the companies have been removing it from the marketplace the past few years due to the extreme health issues with it.

hydrofluric acid

You might be able to find some still around, is a blend of hf and sulfuric or hf and phospuric, they refer to it wheel acid or wheel brightener.
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I'm guessing that one would have to be a bit careful about getting that on surrounding surfaces, such as paint, huh?
 
Fire trucks are done in a two part expoxy, just rinse off any that gets on it, don't let it dry.

I am wondering if the new ProGard Truck and Trailer wash will work to clean the plate without the dangers.

Suggest he take a look on the ValuGard.net website to check out the product.

If he is doing a lot of diamond plate, will need a rotary buffer that spins at least 3,000 RPM, and several 8 inch sewn cotton buffing wheels and at least two roughes. English Polishing has all he needs.
 
i have a rotary buffer so just need the pads and polish i know its a lot of work but its worth it in the end. ill check out some of these other products you have mentioned thanks for all the reply's guys.
 
On the English Polishing site is some great information on how to do various metals, as well as professional supplies.

englishcustompolishing.com
 
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