Aluminum Cleaner/polish
|
08-19-2006, 14:36
Post: #1
|
|||
|
|||
Aluminum Cleaner/polish
What is a good product to restore the luster of
what I believe to be, aluminum extrusions? The side molding, the awning shields, and the awning arms have a milky appearance, no luster. Mothers just laughs at it. I have on order some Simichrome that was mentioned earlier. Anything else? Bob Janes '87FC35 Greenville, SC |
|||
08-19-2006, 15:27
Post: #2
|
|||
|
|||
Aluminum Cleaner/polish
Bob,
I use Meguiar's All Metal Polish applied with a Mother's Ball on my wheels and am very happy with it. I've also used Flitz applied by hand which works fine but after the wheel is already in pretty good shape. The bus came with some Solvol Autosol which works fine also. The latter I've used on the awning rafters and it works good. I haven't tried the awning cover slats. A friend uses Blue Magic and swears by that product on his wheels. Again, applied with a Mother's Ball. Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA ----- Original Message ----- From: one_dusty_hoot To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 7:36 PM Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Aluminum Cleaner/polish What is a good product to restore the luster of what I believe to be, aluminum extrusions? The side molding, the awning shields, and the awning arms have a milky appearance, no luster. Mothers just laughs at it. I have on order some Simichrome that was mentioned earlier. Anything else? Bob Janes '87FC35 Greenville, SC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
|||
08-19-2006, 15:43
Post: #3
|
|||
|
|||
Aluminum Cleaner/polish
Bob,
I used a product called "Easy Aluminum Polish" on the aluminum side molding on my 83 PT40. Worked better than anything else I had tried. Mike Bulriss 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan" San Antonio, TX --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "one_dusty_hoot" > > What is a good product to restore the luster of > what I believe to be, aluminum extrusions? The > side molding, the awning shields, and the awning > arms have a milky appearance, no luster. > > Mothers just laughs at it. I have on order some > Simichrome that was mentioned earlier. Anything > else? > > Bob Janes '87FC35 Greenville, SC > |
|||
08-19-2006, 22:24
Post: #4
|
|||
|
|||
Aluminum Cleaner/polish
Leroy- will that polish work for the 80's coaches? We have the old style
aluminum and mine needs help, for sure. Ernie-83pt40 in Montana with Brenda [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
|||
08-20-2006, 02:02
Post: #5
|
|||
|
|||
Aluminum Cleaner/polish
Bob:
I have used Semichrome for years. I use it on my side moldings, awning covers, wheels, chrome bumpers, mirror housings and recently installed polished stainless steel. It keeps all of my stuff shiny. It will not polish the front or rear grill extrusion because they are anodized. I use power tools to cut the time. If you really want to get anal, check your polished aluminum work at night with a black light and look for white spots. If you have them, keep polishing until you don't. LOL>LOL No kidding, it works. Leroy Eckert 1990 WB40 Niceville, FL ----- Original Message ----- From: one_dusty_hoot To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 9:36 PM Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Aluminum Cleaner/polish What is a good product to restore the luster of what I believe to be, aluminum extrusions? The side molding, the awning shields, and the awning arms have a milky appearance, no luster. Mothers just laughs at it. I have on order some Simichrome that was mentioned earlier. Anything else? Bob Janes '87FC35 Greenville, SC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
|||
08-20-2006, 03:23
Post: #6
|
|||
|
|||
Aluminum Cleaner/polish
There are two different types of aluminum on the '80s 'Birds:
The long brushed-aluminum pieces on he '85-up sides (the ones with two srips of black in them) are ANODIZED. This cannot be polished with any abrasive or caustic!!!!!!!! The anodizing is a very thin layer of aluminum-oxide produced by the anodizing process which protects the finish of the aluminum, buff through that and it'll corrode very quickly. The milky appearance on the surface is probably due to a caustic cleaner staining the finish, which really can't be removed without exposing the alloy beneath. This is not a pure aluminum, but an alloy which needs the coating as it corrodes very easily, and buffing through it would be tricky also as the coating is much much harder than the aluminum alloy. Some polishes which are largely waxes are best to quench the surface and shine it up. The awning arms and metal awning wrap are also anodized, you'll notice that anywhere the finish is scarred it usually shows substantial corrosion. The other aluminum such as the trim around the front of the older FCs and PTs (the one with the large black plastic insert), the end-caps and mounting brackets on the awnings, is not anodized and can be polished. Depending on the extent of the damage, I've removed these pieces and run them on a wire-wheel to get down to clean metal, then polish with a red rouge (tripoli), then if a mirror polish is required a finer compound. The wheels also respond to an aggressive start if they are in bad shape, 300grit paper is what I've used to start on some rough wheels I had on an FC some years ago to remove damage, then the tripoli, then a Busch polish (all with machine polishers). After I had spent $$hundreds on polishes and buffers I found that RIV and other FMCA rallies typically had people there who would buff them to a reasonably good luster for around $15/wheel, find a good truck- wash and they'll have guys also who buff wheels, some are very good, and you'll likely only invest around $20/wheel plus tip. Get a good understanding of what you want the wheels to look like when discussing price. Once you have a good base polish on the wheels it isn't very difficult to maintain it by hand, many polishes work such as Bush polish, Mothers, Alcoa, et al. - Jeff Miller in Holland, MI --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "one_dusty_hoot" wrote: > > What is a good product to restore the luster of > what I believe to be, aluminum extrusions? The > side molding, the awning shields, and the awning > arms have a milky appearance, no luster. > > Mothers just laughs at it. I have on order some > Simichrome that was mentioned earlier. Anything > else? > > Bob Janes '87FC35 Greenville, SC > |
|||
08-20-2006, 03:34
Post: #7
|
|||
|
|||
Aluminum Cleaner/polish
I think Mike Bulriss sells some amazing polish and cleaner. And there is a
Birder out on the West Coast that has that dry wash stuff. Safe travels, Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider Ralph's RV Solutions, Duncan, Oklahoma http://home.swbell.net/rlf47/index.htm At 10:24 AM 8/20/2006 -0400, you wrote: >Leroy- will that polish work for the 80's coaches? We have the old style >aluminum and mine needs help, for sure. Ernie-83pt40 in Montana with Brenda > > |
|||
08-20-2006, 04:15
Post: #8
|
|||
|
|||
Aluminum Cleaner/polish
Ernie:
Jeff posted a complete explanation. He is correct. Anodized aluminum will not polish. However, I do use Semichrome to clean and/or polish every piece of bright metal on my bus. I have sanded aluminum and stainless steel then polished it with Semichrome and rouge respectively, with excellent results. If you use care, you can polish Plexiglas with Semichrome also, again with excellent results. All of the above from personal use and experience. Aircraft restoration specialists have used Semichrome on polished show aircraft for years, including the award winning one I owned in the 80's. Hope this helps. Regards; Leroy Eckert 1990 WB40 Niceville, FL ----- Original Message ----- From: erniecarpet@... To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2006 9:24 AM Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Aluminum Cleaner/polish Leroy- will that polish work for the 80's coaches? We have the old style aluminum and mine needs help, for sure. Ernie-83pt40 in Montana with Brenda [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
|||
08-20-2006, 04:23
Post: #9
|
|||
|
|||
Aluminum Cleaner/polish
Leroy I see you use the Semichrome on your 'awning covers'. I'm not sure but
I think mine have some sort of anodized finish. Am I correct in this? I would sure like to find something that would bring them back to a shinny concition but don't want to make a mistake and use a wrong product on them. Your thoughts would be appreciated. On 20/08/06, Leroy Eckert > > > Bob: > I have used Semichrome for years. I use it on my side moldings, awning > covers, wheels, chrome bumpers, mirror housings and recently installed > polished stainless steel. It keeps all of my stuff shiny. It will not polish > the front or rear grill extrusion because they are anodized. > > I use power tools to cut the time. If you really want to get anal, check > your polished aluminum work at night with a black light and look for white > spots. If you have them, keep polishing until you don't. LOL>LOL No kidding, > it works. > > Leroy Eckert > 1990 WB40 > Niceville, FL > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: one_dusty_hoot > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 9:36 PM > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Aluminum Cleaner/polish > > What is a good product to restore the luster of > what I believe to be, aluminum extrusions? The > side molding, the awning shields, and the awning > arms have a milky appearance, no luster. > > Mothers just laughs at it. I have on order some > Simichrome that was mentioned earlier. Anything > else? > > Bob Janes '87FC35 Greenville, SC > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson 94 WLWB [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
|||
08-20-2006, 04:34
Post: #10
|
|||
|
|||
Aluminum Cleaner/polish
Hey Jeff:
Perfectly stated. All the technical stuff in your head would plug up my C-drive. Are you associated with Holland Motor Homes? Leroy Eckert 1990 WB40 Niceville, FL ----- Original Message ----- From: Jeff Miller To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2006 10:23 AM Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Aluminum Cleaner/polish There are two different types of aluminum on the '80s 'Birds: The long brushed-aluminum pieces on he '85-up sides (the ones with two srips of black in them) are ANODIZED. This cannot be polished with any abrasive or caustic!!!!!!!! The anodizing is a very thin layer of aluminum-oxide produced by the anodizing process which protects the finish of the aluminum, buff through that and it'll corrode very quickly. The milky appearance on the surface is probably due to a caustic cleaner staining the finish, which really can't be removed without exposing the alloy beneath. This is not a pure aluminum, but an alloy which needs the coating as it corrodes very easily, and buffing through it would be tricky also as the coating is much much harder than the aluminum alloy. Some polishes which are largely waxes are best to quench the surface and shine it up. The awning arms and metal awning wrap are also anodized, you'll notice that anywhere the finish is scarred it usually shows substantial corrosion. The other aluminum such as the trim around the front of the older FCs and PTs (the one with the large black plastic insert), the end-caps and mounting brackets on the awnings, is not anodized and can be polished. Depending on the extent of the damage, I've removed these pieces and run them on a wire-wheel to get down to clean metal, then polish with a red rouge (tripoli), then if a mirror polish is required a finer compound. The wheels also respond to an aggressive start if they are in bad shape, 300grit paper is what I've used to start on some rough wheels I had on an FC some years ago to remove damage, then the tripoli, then a Busch polish (all with machine polishers). After I had spent $$hundreds on polishes and buffers I found that RIV and other FMCA rallies typically had people there who would buff them to a reasonably good luster for around $15/wheel, find a good truck- wash and they'll have guys also who buff wheels, some are very good, and you'll likely only invest around $20/wheel plus tip. Get a good understanding of what you want the wheels to look like when discussing price. Once you have a good base polish on the wheels it isn't very difficult to maintain it by hand, many polishes work such as Bush polish, Mothers, Alcoa, et al. - Jeff Miller in Holland, MI --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "one_dusty_hoot" wrote: > > What is a good product to restore the luster of > what I believe to be, aluminum extrusions? The > side molding, the awning shields, and the awning > arms have a milky appearance, no luster. > > Mothers just laughs at it. I have on order some > Simichrome that was mentioned earlier. Anything > else? > > Bob Janes '87FC35 Greenville, SC > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
|||
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »
|
User(s) browsing this thread: 5 Guest(s)