How do I do this ? Real polishing :)

Y

YeboGoGo

New member
I saw this car at a local autoshow.



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http://www.autopia.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14981&stc=1&d=1268058795





Its raw aluminum and was polished. It looks VERY impressive!



So now I decided my car needs to be polished.





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http://www.autopia.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14980&stc=1&d=1268058760



Any ideas on how to do this ? I thought I would go 400 grit, 800, 1200 and 2000 git then 105/205 and maybe a polish at the end. I'm not sure if I would need wax or not.
 

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Do a search on Polished Kirkham and you should find some one that has been through the process. Kirkham makes aluminum bodied Cobra replicas. I can tell you, from the folks I know that have been through the process, it is a LOT of work. Progressively finer grits and then the proper rouges, 105/205 probably won't touch it. Yes, you do want to seal it once done. Once you start down this road, it is a maintenence nightmare. I don't know what car you have that has a bare aluminum body but it is a lot of work. Many that started dropped back to a brushed finish which is MUCH easier to maintain.
 
LIttle progress.



Used 400 then 800 then 1000 then 2000grit sand paper.



And then that Red heavily compounding polish with a yellow wool pad on my PCXP.



Tomorrow ill take a whack at it with some 205 and maybe fine polish.. Still debating what to LSP it with
 

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All done.



It was a pain in the ***! I think the results are worth it



RIP Harbor freight polisher! It look its own life when the cord got snagged by the pad and ripped out of the housing :(



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hey man, the best way to polish aluminum like that is a wool pad at full speed with some hard core compound, and i am talking super heavy duty. then you can go back with some aluminum polish and a DA with a wool pad for polish. I wouldn't recomend the foam pads. it almost a waste of a pad. You can check out some of the Big Peterbilts threads that Ive posted. basically the same thing. looks like its tuning out real good though
 
Tru_Shine said:
hey man, the best way to polish aluminum like that is a wool pad at full speed with some hard core compound, and i am talking super heavy duty. then you can go back with some aluminum polish and a DA with a wool pad for polish. I wouldn't recomend the foam pads. it almost a waste of a pad. You can check out some of the Big Peterbilts threads that Ive posted. basically the same thing. looks like its tuning out real good though
Click to expand...





Pretty much what I landed up doing.



I went to an autopaint store and got this -
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3m Super duty cutting compound which is made for old laquer finishes.,



I used a 2" long wood pad on my HF Polisher at full speed. Worked well.

Then I switched to a 1.5" wood on the HF rotary and used the same compound. The results are pictured. I might try find some of that white diamond stuff locally and give it a shot!



Thanks for the thread info! I read them end to end! I might try get that foamed wood pad for my PC and see what it does.:buffing:
 
i think you'd be better off with some jewelers rouge. you have to sand it first, depending on if its pressed or spun aluminum. if it has small grooves like on center line rims, you're in for a lot of work to get them out and polished smooth. if its smooth already, it will mostly depend on the quality of aluminum as they grade it based on alloy mix. the purer it is the easier it will be. like those guys at the swap meets that polish beer can bottoms. those are almost pure aluminum there for very soft and easy to polish
 
Good job - however, I'm certain youll be finding out (especially if you're a true Autopean ;) ) why most Kirkham owners end up paintin gpolished aluminum cars - it is a PITTA to keep it looking decent. if you swipe a microfiber on it, chances are you'll marr if. if you sweat on it, time to repolish. water on it, repolish. yadda yadda yadda.



I went one step further on my 65 cobra and polished ALL the aluminum panels. e



e.g., my trunk





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and a week later I powdercoated everything when I realized I couldn't maintain this. Polished aluminum is the devil
 
Yea I had a 32 foot Early 70's Airstream that I polished and it was hell. Took me days and days to fully complete it. It did look amazing but am not sure was worth the time/effect. Just remember you must seal it. Either use some type of paint or spray or use a sealant and just keep at it.





-LI 85
 
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