Aluminum re-finishing.

[Don R]

I've been using these interleaf flap wheels to re-finish the old coatings and corrosion on my bikes aluminum. It works quickly and doesn't leave behind a lot of scratch marks in spite of being 80 grit, the scotchbrite between the sandpaper softens it up. Then I use my favorite aluminum polish by hand. I posted a pic of the fork lowers in the brakes section.


interleaf flap.webp

[chuck hahn]

Hard pleated yellow buff and black magic rouge here. Rouge is a cut ./ color compound so it cleans corrosion and does a mirror shine all in one step. Then i seal raw aluminum with ACF50
See post 79 here for before and after pics.
From 78c to 79s clone - The GSResources Forums

[Nessism]

Did a google search and found these in 3" diameter wheels. Is that what you used Don R ? Not cheap, but anything that saves time is a good thing!

My personal approach to polishing aluminum involves first stripping the clear coat chemically. Then, sand out the deep corrosion using 220 grit sandpaper on a DA or similar. Then polishing using a sisal wheel and black cutting compound. This brings the shine back to OEM level. Not chrome bright, more brushed looking.

P1020637 by nessism, on Flickr

[Don R]

Very nice, the polish I like is green dragon, when I look it up, I find a cannibis/alcohol drink. lol. It has carnuba wax in it so it also seals the aluminum a little to keep it looking good for a while.
I used to get it from a guy at the drag strip, now I see it listed at the highway shine company.

[Don R]

I got 2 of the flap wheels from ZTSupply on ebay for under $23 shipped. Airgas has similar ones for 2 times that price each. I do break them in a little before polishing something precious.

[Don R]

I enjoyed watching the tracking while usps juggle the shipping, the address had a wrinkle in it and the machine apparently couldn't read it. It was in Michigan twice, Illinois several times, Indiana once and St. Louis 3 times. It arrived a couple weeks late but at least it arrived. Everything that goes through St. Louis seems to linger there 3 days before it escapes.