How does metal polish work?

[PoorManQ45]

Title should say it all. I am specifically talking about "Mother's Incredible Billet Metal Polish".

I am currently using it, and it is simply amazing. WHen compared side by side with an unpolished area, it's a night and day difference. I love it.

Now, you all know me, I can't simply accept something for surface value, I have to know how it works. Can someone please explain ho this stuff works?

[driverdriver]

It works very similiar to wax(without wax ingredients), it fills in metal imperfections not discernible to the eye and leaves a gloss layer after its buffed.

[PoorManQ45]

So all it does is waxes the metal?

[911/Q45]

Metal polish contains very harsh abrasives that grind off the oxidation leaving shiny bare metal.

[AZhitman]

Metal polish such as Mother's works in two capacities:

Mechanically and chemically.

Mechanical: It contains abrasives which remove the microscopic "peaks" (which show up as dullness) from metal.

Chemical: It contains solvents which "clean" the metal, removing oxidation, road grime, and detritus from the mechanical polishing process.

Most also contain some sort of sealant (typically silicon-based) which "seals" the metal and protects it (for a short time) against oxidation.

[PoorManQ45]

Most also contain some sort of sealant (typically silicon-based) which "seals" the metal and protects it (for a short time) against oxidation.

Thank you.

So, what would you recommend that I use to seal the intake for atleast 6~12 months?

[Jeff Williams]

Zoop seal. It is amazing. Designed for aluminum.

[PoorManQ45]

Where can I find this "zoop seal"?

[Falkdesigns]

http://www.metalgloss.com

Simply amazing. It makes the bottom of a soda can look like perfect chrome. Saw a demo at the LA Auto Show, and was blown away. The sealer that goes on after the polish makes water just fall off.

[Jeff Williams]

http://www.zoopseal.com

[elwesso]

Sorry to thread hijack, but do you think what Kevin linked up would work good on my wheels???

Strip off the paint, and shine those babies up?

[PoorManQ45]

so would you recommend that stuff instead of Mothers Polish?

[Falkdesigns]

I tell you what, you guys all know what the bottom of a soda can looks like. That stuff makes it looks like amazing polished aluminum. I thought (it would be a pain in the a$$) that it'd be cool to have a party with all the cans polished, it's seriously amazing. And they claim it lasts a long time.

[AZhitman]

Buying some right now...

Gotta re-polish my 240's rim lips for the Nationals!

[elwesso]

Holy god, $24 for the sealer and polish!! I may give it a try on my wheels... Id like something that not quite as tedious and perfection oriented as the paint...

[PoorManQ45]

Holy god, $24 for the sealer and polish!! I may give it a try on my wheels... Id like something that not quite as tedious and perfection oriented as the paint...

That's expensive... I picked up the mother's polish for ~$4 at Walmart .

But, if that stuff does indeed give a mirror finish, I might have to pick some of it up

[elwesso]

Do you think itd shine up my wheels?

[PoorManQ45]

That depends. Are your wheels finished and sealed. They probably are . You'll have to take the finish of to get a "chrome" polish on them

[elwesso]

Theyre painted so i was planning on stripping the paint anyway...

[PoorManQ45]

Once you strip them, you have to sand and wet sand them. Then polish them with a rubbing compound of your choice. When you're satisfied, use a sealer of your choice

I must warn you, it will take you a LONG time to get each wheel highly polished. I've gone over some parts more then three times and I'm still not satisfied with the shinyness of them. I suggest you does this over the winter or if you have another set of rims, you should use them

[AZhitman]

The Zoop is NOT a polish.

It will not make aluminum any shinier than it is, it's a protectant.

PMQ, you're doing somethnig wrong. Aluminum is pretty easy to bring to a "chrome-like" finish. Bet you skimped on a step or on supplies.

I'll be glad to help if you'll detail what you've done thus far.

[elwesso]

Greg id appreciate it.... I was referring to that stuff that Falk pointed out....

[PoorManQ45]

The Zoop is NOT a polish.

It will not make aluminum any shinier than it is, it's a protectant.

PMQ, you're doing somethnig wrong. Aluminum is pretty easy to bring to a "chrome-like" finish. Bet you skimped on a step or on supplies.

I'll be glad to help if you'll detail what you've done thus far.

First step:Dry sanded the part with 120 grit. Then wet sanded it with the 120 grit. Wet sand with 320. Wet sand with 400. Wt sand with 600. All grits were used for atleast 5minutes per 4x4in area. Then I wiped the whole part down with a dry cloth. Then I applied the mother's polish. Built up alot of black residue. Added more polish when residue started to disappear. I think I may not have rubbed the residue on long enough.

How do you know when the metal is as polished as it's going to get? Is there a way?

Should I have dry sanded up to a higher grit and then started wet sanding?

[AZhitman]

Nope - Sounds like you're real close.

You need to wash the part between sandings and between polishings, and it sounds like all you're lacking now is speed.

Get a couple good buffing wheels, use one with the Mothers and one to final buff.

[AZhitman]

You know the metal is as polished as it will get when it is a perfect mirror finish and the Mothers no longer creates black residue.

Don't use too much, the black residue is the best polishing agent.

[PoorManQ45]

Ok, so when black residue no longer appears, that means it's as polished as it's going to get? Thanks.

You're right, I'm lacking speed . But sometimes it's good to go slow

[Jeff Williams]

Zoop is what you use to protect the aluminum, once you get it polished. It will protect it better than regular waxes and polishes.

[94Q45]

I thought I would chime in as I did aluminum polishing for 2 years on cast and extruded aluminum. Everybody has great ideas and most of them will work to a point! You need to go to 1000 grit paper to get the alum to a point that it doesnt take much more to make it look like chrome Take a buffer with a polishing wheel you can get them through eastwood go there you can realy find out what else you can get to make this an easy project. Sometime intial cost is a factor but it is out wayed in the long run Go to eastwoodco.com click on Metal Buffing & Finishing !!!

Eastwood provided metal buffing & finishing supplies. From surface prep to final buffing, They have the tools, buff motors, compounds, and supplies you need for any stage of restoration and finishing. http://www.eastwoodco.com

[AZhitman]

Good info.

I was under the impression that anything finer than 600-800 was useless, as the polishing compound can take it from there.

Guess there are varying opinions on that one.

Learning something new every day!

[94Q45]

Thanks AZhitman I am not trying to step on toes just after doing alot of motorcycle frames especially Yamaha extruded stuff the finer it is the easier it is to get to the finished product Thats just my opinion Thanks for the responce on that!