polishing aluminum

[therealjoeshmoe]

anyone know something that will polish up the original aluminum grill on my 65? I want it looking chrome!! lol or close to it.. I know mothers aluminum polish wont work!

joey

[BackyardRest]

anyone know something that will polish up the original aluminum grill on my 65? I want it looking chrome!! lol or close to it.. I know mothers aluminum polish wont work!

joey

Your grille is clear anodized so about all you can do is use a rubbing compound to clean it up. If you want it to be bright like chrome you will need to remove the anodizing then put it on a buffer.

There are liquids you can spray on the anodizing then wait a few seconds to wipe it off. Other methods too but a lot more work and dont work as well

[UNIFAN]

I used dollar store oven cleaner to get the anodizing off of my grille and then polished.

[Effie]

If you do that and strip off the sealer stuff to polish it, don't you have to go back and re-seal it with something to protect it? What do you use, a clear coat like for paint jobs?

The oven cleaner doesn't spot it or turn it white??

[64Ranger]

After I had my grill polished I had it powdercoated clear. That has been a couple of years ago and I see no checks or yellowing. It held up to the rocks and bugs very well on the trip to KC.

[Thunderboy]

That reminds me of a question I had regarding grilles. The aluminum grilles are beautiful, but mine is steel and painted white. I know it could be stripped and chromed, but has anyone tried powder coating it an aluminum color to get the look of the aluminum grille? The chrome is pretty, but quite a bit brighter than the aluminum, IMO.

Anyone know about this?

Drew

[52elwood]

Drew,

I powdered coated my grill with the silver powder coat and it looks very good. It will not be a glosses as the chrome but i"m happy with it':D'. I have not put it back on my truck yet I will after I get it back from the paint shop.
I'll get you a photo of it before the weekend and post it here

Richard

[Thunderboy]

Thanks, Richard. I would definitely like to see some pics.

Drew

[52elwood]

Drew,
Here they are just a note, I just got these back but, once they are on the truck then I will buff them out. Which I was told that it will in cress the shine & deepen the shine out of the coating
Richard







The spot on the Grill was just some drit that wiped off. I didn't see it until I posted the photo




This is what they looked before I had them coated just paint white



Hope this helps
Richard

[Thunderboy]

First, your slick looks great, Richard. I like the red color on your truck. Is it Poppy Red or another color? I ask because I have a red 63 Falcon that would look great with that red hue.

Thanks, especially for the pix of your grille and bumper. I sense that you think it will be a bit brighter if you buff it, and it may. For some reason, it appears shinier in the close ups, maybe due to the flash of the camera. Honestly, I hope it does show a bit brighter. Either way, my grill and bumper and grille are white, too, and I think the powder coating looks a whole lot prettier.

How come you haven't installed your parts? I'd love to see a photo of your slick with the grille installed. Thanks!

Drew

[52elwood]

Drew,

The red on the truck looks a lot better in the photo's then it really is.
The Photo was when I brought it back in January 2008. I have done a full frame off restore on the truck. I'm working on the inside right now and once that is done I will repaint the outside I hope in the month or so. Then I will install the Grill and bumpers to complete the truck. I am going with the Gun metal flake color on the truck which is a dark gray color, so with the coating it should really show off the powder coating. It does have a very good shine but when all the painting is done then I will buff all of the truck and see how much better it is.
':D'
IF you want you can look at my other post to see a lot of photos
I'm still trying to get them loaded in my profile
Richard

[Fanatic]

My nickle's worth says you have what you have. I had a dash insert powder coated that silver and tried to buff it with no result then I wet sanded it and buffed again. Still no better. Could not get it to look even alittle like the polished aluminum gauge insert.

Tim

[slick4x4]

i think that grill looks REAL nice just the way it is
and i like that color of red truck

[52elwood]

Well,
If what I have is, what I have and buffing will not be any better, That's OK':D'
I still like what I have. ':lol:
The shine is real good and will go well with the Gun metal gray paint which will make the Grill and bumpers look even better.':dancing:'
Thanks
Richard

[ezernut9mm]

thunderboy and 52elwood, did either of you by chance attend the "johnny canuck school of thread hijacking"? lol

the parts and the truck look good btw.

[Thunderboy]

Aw, C'mon ezer, you mean you never got an idea related to what you had in mind for your slick when reading someone else's post?

To me, that is the great thing about reading and writing on forums such as these. We all learn from one another! That's good, no?

Besides, I have no truck with Johnny. I always give Albertans the benefit of the doubt. Ever been there? It is beautiful (in the summer, anyway)!



Drew

[BikerDude]

Once you polish the item to your satisfaction put Zoop Seal on it which will protect it for a year or so. Zoops works for all ploished aluminum parts. You can get it at Summit Racing and other places.

[ezernut9mm]

Aw, C'mon ezer, you mean you never got an idea related to what you had in mind for your slick when reading someone else's post?

To me, that is the great thing about reading and writing on forums such as these. We all learn from one another! That's good, no?

Besides, I have no truck with Johnny. I always give Albertans the benefit of the doubt. Ever been there? It is beautiful (in the summer, anyway)!



Drew

actually, yes i have. i am pot in this instance calling the kettle black. and i can understand you giving albertans the benifit of the doubt, especially jc. he needs all the help he can get.