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    How to polish aluminium - a great guide

    Tutorials
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    • M
      mhbikesnbits last edited by

      Found this in the depths of my phone while trying to find some old picture it’s a great guide so I thought I would share.

      have been polishing
      aluminum on motorcycles
      for about fifteen years now.
      All of my polishing has been
      by hand with no air tools. A
      bench grinder with a buffing
      wheel attached helps. I
      have a 98 gsx-r 750 and
      just recently polished the
      outside edges of my rims.
      My '90 750 was completely
      polished, wheels, frame,
      triple clamps, handlebars,
      swingarm……everything that
      was aluminum. It looked
      great!
      Polishing the entire wheel is
      very tedious because you
      first have to sand the
      casting down on the wheels
      so that they are smooth, but
      leaving the cast spokes
      painted and polishing the
      edges is quite easy
      because when the rims are
      cut it smoothes out the
      casting on the inside and
      outer edges of the wheel.

      First mask off any part of
      the wheel you don't want
      stripped, if any. Then get an
      industrial grade stripper, I
      recommend a spray on
      stripper called Tal-Strip linked

      over and leave for about 20
      minutes. After that time
      check for bubbling and peeling. Use steel wool
      and wipe off paint, re-apply if necessary. Rinse
      with water. Once you have removed the paint
      from both sides it's time to sand them glass
      smooth.
      Start with 320 grit till the rim seems smooth. Then repeat the process with 400, 600,
      800. 1000. and mirror fine sandpaper till they are
      smooth as possible. Once you are sure that
      there are no deep scratches and the rim is
      smooth as glass then you are ready to polish.
      The sanding should be wet-sanding with plenty of water

      Now get some Mother's Mag & Aluminum
      Polish linked by editor to product info at Amazon and start
      polishing with a fine 100% cotton cloth. Buff
      each side of rim about 5-6 times wiping clean
      with a separate cloth each time. Once desired
      shine is achieved remount wheels. You must
      remember that once they are polished scratches
      show easily. Finish by applying a coat of
      automobile wax, I use Meguiar's. Some people
      will tell you to have them painted with clear coat
      but the paint will peel in time as the aluminum is
      too smooth to hold the paint effectively. You will
      only need to re-buff once every month or so. I
      would go over my aluminum real quickly with
      polish after each wash. If you keep it waxed it
      will not oxidize, don't believe people who say it
      will oxidize, just keep it waxed and give it a quick
      I polish every now and then. You'll get the hang of it

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