Polishing aluminum

[Surveyor]

I have recently removed some (a lot) very tenacious silicone from my deadlight frames and wish to brighten them up. Before I do anything though I want to know if I even can. Can aluminum be polished without ruining it? If yes, what would be the preferred method?

Thanks in advance,

[Tallystick]

You can polish aluminum with high grit sandpaper, or one of the automotive aluminum polishing compounds. Starting grit depends on the aluminum surface you are polishing. Wet sanding works best on soft metal, and you may want to do it by hand. I'd try buffing compound first, and if that brightens them up, finish with polishing compound. If buffing compound isn't aggressive enough, try 800 grit wet sandpaper, or drop lower if needed.

[LazyGuy]

Simichrome

http://simichrome.factoryoutletstore.co ... 4Aodnm_Yew

Works great on Aluminum. You can get it at most places that sell car care products.

[Cruiser2B]

Are your frames anodized? if so no need to polish. If not I suggest you get the cleaned up and then clear powder coated, if you polish them and then subject them to salt water they will corrode, they will get white and ashy. I had some of my mast step pieces clear poweder coated after they were soda blasted

[Cruiser2B]

Here is a better picture, just had to locate it

[Ric in Richmond]

strip, you can use oven cleaner or lye to take off the anodizing Sand to the level of finish you want and then re-anodize.

I polished a couple of motorcycle frames that NEVER got wet and they always turned gray and ugly just from exposure to air. A quick polish brought them back up fairly quickly. Can't imagine trying to keep that finish on a salt water boat.

Polished aluminum will NEVER look good on a boat and any coating will eventually scratch and lead to nasty blooms of white aluminum oxide and bubbling paint.

You can do this at home and will spend far less then having stuff anodized.

http://www.caswellplating.com/electropl ... -kits.html

[Surveyor]

Upon further review and soaking in the responses, I am going to leave them as they are. They do not look so bad that I will be embarrassed.

Thanks for the replies!