Microfibers dulling or scratching polished aluminum

[66#1]

Whenever I polish my aluminum wheels or valve covers I always follow up with a coat of Zaino Clear Seal or UPGP topped with Zaino Z8 or Duragloss AW. Sometimes I just do one step or the other also.



In any event the last few times I've applied a detail spray my microfiber towels have really seemed to mar and haze the finish. I've used the green and red Viking microfibers from K-mart,and I always use a fresh clean towel also. I also have used the yellow Viking towels also,but I still get the same result.



These seem to be very soft towels so what's the deal? Even using a Powerball,wheel polishing is work. My aluminum valve covers look terrible also. It's really aggravating because I know these towels have a pretty good following on here. They work just fine on paint though.



Any suggestions? Softer towels??

 

[efnfast]

I found polished aluminum is a loser's game (just like most of detailing ) - it shows micro-abrassions very easily. The only way I've ever found to polish it was with a cyclo and fleece wraps ( Using the Cyclo Polisher ); anything else (Atleast with t6 6061 which is fairly hard), by hand, will leave marks behind.

 

[imported_WhyteWizard]

I think the detail spray is taking the filler off your aluminum and revealing the scratches.



Polishing aluminum is tricky because most polishes have diminishing abrasives that have to be worked until they've both broken completely down and removed the scratches they put in before they broke down. I'd suggest you try Mother's Billet polish and when you get it looking like you want, go "Cops," step away from the vehicle and put your hands behind your back.



Robert

 

[66#1]

I think the detail spray is taking the filler off your aluminum and revealing the scratches.



Polishing aluminum is tricky because most polishes have diminishing abrasives that have to be worked until they've both broken completely down and removed the scratches they put in before they broke down. I'd suggest you try Mother's Billet polish and when you get it looking like you want, go "Cops," step away from the vehicle and put your hands behind your back.



Robert

I've just about decided to do what you said! I haven't always had this clouding issue,and that's what's puzzling to me.



The polishing on these wheels was terrible to start with anyway! Somebody must've dry-wiped them with sandpaper before they shipped them to me.