It polishing and buffing of chrome and aluminum is a challenging activity that, if done right, can be very rewarding. A well-polished car attracts attention with its shiny appearance. This article will guide you through a structured step-by-step plan for a shiny result.
What is your expectation?
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Shiny tank
With not too much work you can make an aluminum fuel tank shine very quickly. - Mirrored tank A bit more work, but with our metal polish you can literally turn your tank into a mirror.
Which products can you use for polishing?
For the polishing chrome and aluminum are various products available. Here are some recommendations, but don't forget that Truckshop offers many more options:
- Truckssupply Metal Polish with Polishing Ball
- Amglos Polish Super Finish Combi deal
- Great Lion Polishing Kit (2 Step, 31 Items)
- GL Elemental Microfiber Cloths (380gsm)
Polishing chrome and aluminum
1. Preparation
Start by cleaning the surface to remove all dirt and grease. Use a heavy duty cleaner such as Truckssupply Shampoo or Truckssupply Wheel Cleaner.
2. Dry sanding
To make the surface completely smooth, it is necessary to sand away all scratches, dents and stains. This can be done with sanding fleece in combination with a hand pad or mechanically with a sanding ball.
- For very noticeable scratches and lots of dents, grit #240 is the starting point.
- For light scratches we start with grit #1200.
- It is helpful to use a drill with a sanding ball to speed up the process. Follow these steps: #240, #400, #800, #1200, #2000.
- Once the scratches from the previous round are gone, proceed to the next step.
- To be able to judge this properly, it is advisable to work crosswise. For example: sand horizontally with #240 and vertically with #400 until the sanding lines of the previous grit are no longer visible.
- Continue sanding horizontally with #800 until the vertical sanding lines of the #400 grit are no longer visible.
- Repeat this pattern for the next grains.
3. Cleaning & drying
Have you just finished sanding? Then you can rinse the entire tank with water. In order to start polishing, the surface must first be dry. The best way to do this is with a microfiber drying cloth.
Polishing chrome and aluminum
From this step we start polishing. We can do this in different ways. By hand or by machine.
Manual polishing
4. Applying Polish
Use a suitable polish such as the Truckssupply Metal Polish. Apply a small amount of polish to a soft cloth, for example the GL Elemental Microfiber Cloths (380gsm) Thanks to the short hairs, you can better transfer the force from your hand movements to the metal. Polishing is easier, faster and you use less product.
5. Polishing
Rub the polish in using circular motions. Work in small sections, paying extra attention to areas with oxidation or discoloration.
6. After-treatment
Wipe the surface with a clean microfiber cloth to remove excess polish and enhance shine.
Machine polishing
1. Preparation
Ensure the surface is clean and free from impurities as described above.
2. Types of machines
You can also process the Metal Polish with a polishing machine.
- A polishing machine that you can equip with a cotton polishing disc.
- Or a cordless drill in combination with a polishing ball.
The speed creates much more energy and can work up to 20x faster than by hand. The surface will shine faster and in a shorter time you will achieve a better result.
3. Apply polish
Attach a clean polishing pad to your polisher and apply a small amount of polish to the disc.
4. Machine polishing
Turn the machine on and move it gradually over the surface. Keep the polisher moving to prevent heat build-up and damage.
5. After-treatment
Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to give the surface a final buff and shine.
