Polishing Billet parts?

[PaulHart]

I almost hate to post this here because you guys are gonna cringe. I don't know if I would attack a bike with a buffer and wheel but if you have deep scratchs that's the only way I know to get them out. Green then white jewelers rouge and a buffer. I guess you could use a small cotton wheel on a small die grinder or something. I'm just speaking from experience from keeping the big rig polished. I have the alum cut with a buffer about once a year and keep it up between with the Zephyr 40. But I'm in some nasty stuff with the truck like Petro Coke, Lime and such. I've seen wheels wet sanded with 2000 grit paper and then buffed if they're real bad. They have computer controled machines now that polish wheels for trucks at $45 bucks a wheel but they pull the wheels off the truck. If the scratches/pitting is bad I'd bet you'll have to wet sand and buff. We are talking alum here. Haha don't try that with chrome.

 

[PaulHart]

Mother's Billet Aluminum Polish with 100% cotton cloths (NOT micro-fiber). Just keep working it in circular motions, then flip the cloth over to take it off.
IF that doesn't do it, get a Mother's Polishing Ball (available at Wal-Mart, etc), put it in a cordless drill and carefully buff those areas...still using the Mother's Billet (paste) polish to begin with, then back off to a Wizard's, etc (liquid) aluminum polish.

I'll be real surprised if they're not gone or minimized where most can't be seen after all that.

In fact I would take K9's advice here. Unless you ride like Raywood or some of those guys I can't imagine you have pitting bad enough to attack it with wet sand paper.

 

[K9Anniv]

So...which one is better (and easiest to use)?? Who has used and compared both to give some good feedback??
Thanks!
Zephyr Pro-40
-OR-
Mr. Buffer metal polish aluminum chrome silver brass cleaner

 

[erldawg]

Between-the-fins cleaning...aint sure what they call them, but I use what is essentially nothing but a tongue-depresser sheathed with a canvas material. 3M makes them. They're called something like a "Rigid Cleaning Tool." Get them from my dealer (Gateway Big Dog), and they're cheap. About .50 cents apiece. Do a pretty good job. My aluminum polishes are Mother's and Wizard's. The Mother's I use for detailing and the Wizard's I use for a quicker cut. Both do an awesome job!

Dozer do you have a 3m part #? I looked on their website and didn't see anything.

 

[PacoPetty]

Chrome everything you can! lol

 

[Rally]

A friend uses MET-ALL Aluminum Polish on his struts and anything aluminum, it comes out looking like chrome!

Not much work just rub it on and when it starts turning black wipe it off it's like magic.

Here's the link it's pretty amazing stuff :up:

Met-All page

 

[K9Anniv]

A friend uses MET-ALL Aluminum Polish on his struts and anything aluminum, it comes out looking like chrome!

Not much work just rub it on and when it starts turning black wipe it off it's like magic.

Here's the link it's pretty amazing stuff :up:

Met-All page

Thanks! That's a new one on me...never heard of it before.

Have you compared it to other popular brands - like Mother's Billet Aluminum Polish, Wizard's, Meguiar's, etc - to see how it stacks up?
So many polishes...so little time (and money)! :lol:

I'm always looking for "the new best aluminum polish", but if I had all the money back I've spent on polishes I've tried the past 5 years I could put a downpayment on a new bike! :bang:

 

[fatty]

the stuff i used on my aluminum is called luster pad its a cotton pad that comes in some polishing compound. best stuff that i have found so far. my wheels were brown and nasty when i got my bike used this stuff and now there like new again and i didnt have to break a sweat polishing either stuff works well will very little effort:2thumbs:

 

[C00lHandLuke]

Ok, I bought some Mother's at lunch. I'll give it a try when I get home.

 

[Ray]

Also FYI...
A professional detailing vendor at AZ Bike Week told me to steer clear of using micro-fiber towels on polished billet aluminum because "they'll leave fine, hairline scratches as they're made from synthetic material" (he called them "melted down plastic"). He said to look at the content and buy only 100% pure cotton cloths or baby diapers to use on polished billet aluminum.
He said "you'll see a big difference". So next time I'm at 'Wally-world', I'm picking up some cotton and will give it a whirl (to avoid the 'swirl'..:lol.

Use a cotton diaper if you have any available. You can get those super fine hair line scratches out using mothers billlet on your finger kinda go with the grain.

Ray :up:

 

[K9Anniv]

Use a cotton diaper if you have any available. You can get those super fine hair line scratches out using mothers billlet on your finger kinda go with the grain.

Ray :up:

I agree! :up: The only towels I use on my bike now are 100% cotton...makes a BIG difference! Wal-Mart sells packages of 6 cotton cloths, each double thickness and about 15" square. Buy a couple packs and wash them first (before using), to make sure there's no grit in them. Ain't it fun to be 'anal-retentive' when it comes to our bikes?! :lol: :loony: