So, I took a buffer + rubbing compound to a piece of cloudy

[Guest Anonymous]

aluminum trim, and the results look pretty spectacular. Question is, what did I do? Remove the anodizing?

It's a junk piece of bent up belt trim, but representative of the rest of the trim on the car. It looked pretty crappy before, and blindingly shiny (ok, it's hyperbole) afterwards.

If the anodizing did lift off, what are potential options for continuing on this route? Leave it? Clearcoat? Clear powder coat?

[Guest Anonymous]

not sure if power coating would work or not, but a spray on clear might be good. Otherwise, you'd need to repolish it from time to time.

Do it different ways and let us know which is best. ;-)

Dan

[Guest Anonymous]

I sanded and buffed out some trim with really nice results also. The anodizing gets moisture under it and goes cloudy. The sanding and buffing took the anodizing off. I tried a POR product - glisten. It's a two part mix up deal. Instructions said it would brush on with no brush marks. Not exactly. If you get it exactly right the first brush on it's pretty good but there is no going back over at all or it gets lumpy and leaves brush marks. I stripped it back off and I'm going to try thinning down afte mixing and spraying on. If that doesn't work I guess I'll live with periodic polishing up. I'm thinking by the time you pay to have a clear powder coat or reanodize the cost starts approaching buying new or good used. I've seen some stuff on the internet about do it yourself anodizing but if the cost factor doesn't outweigh getting new or good used the hassle factor probably would. Good luck on your efforts. I should by trying my spray on gig pretty soon.

Pete