restored my old scratched chrome trim!

[snowflake]

I did not want to put the old scratched rain gutter trim back on so i restored it to a very acceptable close to new condition.

I started with a 100 grit sand paper to lose all the ugly scratches, sanded completely, then passed over again with the following grits, one at a time until perfect.

150 grit,

240 grit,

320 grit,

400 grit

600 grit

and then used a metal, aluminum polish.

I could have used one step higher(800) but that's all i felt like scrubbing!

Oh yeah! there's lots of it.

[Mars]

Nice work.

Just be aware that since you stripped off the anondized finish on there they will dull and fade periodically. You'll have to buff them up once in a while.

But, it beats spending hundreds of dollars for new trim, right!?

[esty]

But, it beats spending hundreds of dollars for new trim, right!?

not in my opinion...frugal me tried that route...it sux a big one....it dulls more frequently than occasionally...it will dull at the touch....if you want lifetime maintenance i say go for it, otherwise, invest in a good used set or call blunt

[Harv]

Nice job. Now go get it clear anodized for protection.

John

[Arshloch]

It's not that tedious after all. I have polished my carb and it shines nicely for a few months maintenance free. A quick buff is all it takes. think of it as the oldie tradition polishing 'silver'. Also the reflection is deeper than that of anodizing.

[Grover]

Could you just spray some sort of clear coat on it?

[ought2]

Bavauto has a kit for this specific purpose.

[snowflake]

Thanks for the positive feedback,

i just checked out Bavauto, in search of the

Anodized aluminum finish.

part # 07500100002

aluminum trim deoxidizer $59.00

leaves a shiny anodized aluminum finish

Great advise here,

Thanks

[donfjohnston]

thanks for the tip snow flake

[TMK-001]

But, it beats spending hundreds of dollars for new trim, right!?

not in my opinion...frugal me tried that route...it sux a big one....it dulls more frequently than occasionally...it will dull at the touch....if you want lifetime maintenance i say go for it, otherwise, invest in a good used set or call blunt

Hahaha, I haven't been around here for a while... Esty, you've changed!

[esty]

Esty, you've changed!

no...just more grey hair...maybe that's why i appear different....

ok guys about coating aluminum....most, if not all clear-coats and or paints won't stay put on aluminum...unless you scuff it really well to give it a good tooth the prime with epoxy primer...if you want to polish it then protect it for mote than a few months and save a few bucks on wasted clear-coat spray bomb...buy some GLISTEN PC

it's the one thing i found that does the job...it's a 2 part material...it cures quicker in humid conditions and is best applied with a brush rather than spraying...if you want, it can be sanded and buffed like any other automotive clear-coat but it will take several days or more to fully cure

i stripped my rear window surrounds, polished them then applied glisten

[Bill_Riblett]

I would think that brush painting the Glisten with the part you were painting in place would be a good idea since the paint probably won't like the flexing it takes to get the trim in place.

[AlaskaMike]

You can take your aluminum trim to an absolute mirror finish with these products by 3M:

http://www.ottofrei.com/store/product.php?productid=4019

start with

30 micron

go to

15 micron

then

9 micron

then

3 micron

At this point you are at a mirror finish after polish. If you want to reflect every photon in the tri-city area, take it on to 2 micron and 1 micron! (I have never gone past 3 micron.)

polish with this 3M marine product

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Marine/Home/Products/Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECIE20S4K7_nid=GSTCY24D8BgsH8PTZGX97RglGSGZ6VKHDYbl

I did this with custom telescopes I built and got aluminum finishes like this --

from raw part (left) to 30 micron (right)

http://www.pbase.com/mclemens1969/image/68820093

at 9 micron

http://www.pbase.com/mclemens1969/image/68820136

9 micron

http://www.pbase.com/mclemens1969/image/68842893

3 micron unpolished

http://www.pbase.com/mclemens1969/image/68842910

3 micron polished

http://www.pbase.com/mclemens1969/image/68842915

super product and I only re-polished about every 3 -4 months, the marine product holds up beautifully. The entire sanding phase from 30 micron down to 3 micron is done soaked in WD40. This will not attract dirt the scratch pattern is practically invisible. It wipes down like a piece of glass.

[John_in_VA]

polished wheel rims? I have a set that are polished but currently unprotected, and would like to keep them looking good. Does the product go on smoothly/clearly (no bubbles or brush strokes)?

TIA?

[AlaskaMike]

Hello. That marine schtuff goes on simple, dries quickly to a green cake, and then rubs right off. As I recall (been 3-4 years) it was a lot like putting car wax on and wiping it off.