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polish aluminum question

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JPSmit

JPSmit

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Over on the Spridget boards we've discussed anodized aluminum polished refinishing etc. I was just watching a truck show on TV & they were doing "tips" The guy said - if you take oven cleaner - spray your aluminum - wait ten minutes - it will take off the anodizing, then polish with flitz and you've refinished your aluminum. Has anyone tried this? How does it hold up? sounds like a neat way to brighten up window surrounds etc.
 
Sure it works JP. But as soon as you get it brightened up it will begin to unbrighten itself. That's why anodizing is used so you won't have to work you self to death keeping the aluminum polished.---Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 
Oven cleaner does take off the anodizing but the finish will look terrible once this part of the job is done, and will require a lot of polishing to bring out the shine.
 
JP....point is yes...if you have to refinish your aluminum...the anodizing of course has to come off..never tried the oven cleaner but since your going to have to elbow grease it anyway give it a try and let us know...I'm always looking for helpful time saving tips....I know there are lots of recs when it comes to polishing products but I have used a product called SIMICHROME since the 70's and it'll make you alum look like Chrome....problem is as Steve says you'll need to respray it if you want to keep it shiny...HAVE FUN!

BTW: just an after thought was there any mention of what it might do to the paint if it get's on it...I'm assuming the piece would be off the car....
 
I have seen what oven cleaner will do to paint when a friend of mine used it to clean his engine bay. It ate through all the paint that it touched. It did remove all the gunk though, and smelled lemony /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif

There's a bright side to everything. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
There is a product called "ZoopsSeal" which is claimed to "seal" polished aluminum to keep it looking good for up to a couple of years- never used it, but I've heard good things.

https://www.zoops.com/zoopseal.asp

And oven cleaner makes a great paint remover. It is essentially the same stuff that you can buy at the auto store as "aircraft remover"- but it a little less harsh. that only means you leave it on longer. I used it to strip everything off of an Aluminum Briggs engine I restored. Worked great, did not damages the aluminum. Use gloves- burns.
 
Oven cleaner does work just great. Does not touch rubber or glass. Have at it.
 
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