# polishing aluminum **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [December 4, 2006, 7:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106 "2006-12-04T07:27:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TrueBlue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/trueblue/32/7245_2.png) [@TrueBlue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TrueBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 7:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/21 "2006-12-05T07:46:34Z")
> [@Tunerfreak](#): > > nice i think i will take it up to 4000 grit for that extra shine Yo’re gonna want to clear coat it or the aluminum will tarnish after a while. That reflective powdercoat looks really good. ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 10:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/22 "2006-12-05T10:02:53Z")
> [@LAFENGAS](#): > > i don’t think yours were done in a “reflective chrome” CONFIRMED Viper, yours were actually done in “Silver-Grey”, not “almost chrome” Polishing is good, but i still recommend clear coating the aluminum… once it’s polished, maintaining the finish is the key. ---
**Author:** ![HotRodKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hotrodkid/32/7609_2.png) [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 10:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/23 "2006-12-05T10:10:39Z")
> [@LAFENGAS](#): > > Polishing is good, but i still recommend clear coating the aluminum… once it’s polished, maintaining the finish is the key. zoop seal \> clearcoat on aluminium ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 10:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/24 "2006-12-05T10:12:03Z")
> [@HotRodKid](#): > > zoop seal \> clearcoat on aluminium I agree, but you have to re-apply zoop seal seasonly if i’m correct. That’s not so easy when you’re talking about installed IC piping. ---
**Author:** ![HotRodKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hotrodkid/32/7609_2.png) [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 10:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/25 "2006-12-05T10:18:48Z")
depends on whatr type of enviroment its in, and how you try to clean it this quote is obviously about a pampered car: > How long does Zoopseal last on my product? > So far on the test car, the “Zoop-Coupe”, it’s been on for 4 years and counting. [http://www.performanceunlimited.com/zoopseal/questionsanswers.html](http://www.performanceunlimited.com/zoopseal/questionsanswers.html) ive often wondered how zoopseal would preform if it was coated in clear, as obviously the clear would have to get damaged for the zoop to be exposed, would seam that the zoop would protect the finish, and the clear would protect the zoop ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 1:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/26 "2006-12-05T13:20:44Z")
> [@HotRodKid](#): > > ive often wondered how zoopseal would preform if it was coated in clear, as obviously the clear would have to get damaged for the zoop to be exposed, would seam that the zoop would protect the finish, and the clear would protect the zoop you probably won’t get a good chemical adhesion with zoop on before you clear coat… Personally, i wouldn’t recommend it. Last winter i polished the lips on my rims and cleared the aluminum with clear coat…not a single problem. on the other hand, clear coats whether paint or powder, will make the aluminum look a little more dull than if it were straight up polished aluminum. ---
**Author:** ![HotRodKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hotrodkid/32/7609_2.png) [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/27 "2006-12-05T13:35:53Z")
> [@LAFENGAS](#): > > on the other hand, clear coats whether paint or powder, will make the aluminum look a little more dull than if it were straight up polished aluminum. true, which is why im wondering about zoop-ing it first, think that would help w/ the dulling effects that clear would have ? ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 2:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/28 "2006-12-05T14:41:01Z")
> [@HotRodKid](#): > > true, which is why im wondering about zoop-ing it first, think that would help w/ the dulling effects that clear would have ? the “dulling” isn’t the the polished aluminum dulling, but the the result of looking at the polished aluminum through the clearcoat itself. ---
**Author:** ![HotRodKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hotrodkid/32/7609_2.png) [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 2:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/29 "2006-12-05T14:51:55Z")
ah alrighty, i wasnt sure because its been a long time since i last saw polished aluminium that was cleared. ---
**Author:** ![TrueBlue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/trueblue/32/7245_2.png) [@TrueBlue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TrueBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/30 "2006-12-05T15:22:49Z")
Okay, here’s a Q: When clearing polished aluminum, should you polish, then scuff, then shoot, buff? Or only go to a medium grit, shoot, and then buff. ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/31 "2006-12-05T15:39:09Z")
> [@TrueBlue](#): > > Okay, here’s a Q: When clearing polished aluminum, should you polish, then scuff, then shoot, buff? Or only go to a medium grit, shoot, and then buff. it has to be thoroughly cleaned and there’s an acid etch available at automotive paint stores… the acid etch disolves contaminantes between the grain structure, providing a bonding surface. ---
**Author:** ![HotRodKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hotrodkid/32/7609_2.png) [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/32 "2006-12-05T15:39:36Z")
sand, polish, shoot, then wetsand and buff out any peel in the clearcoat ---
**Author:** ![TrueBlue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/trueblue/32/7245_2.png) [@TrueBlue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TrueBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/33 "2006-12-05T16:33:50Z")
So, polished where you want it, etched, shot, then buffed. ---
**Author:** ![Tunerfreak](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tunerfreak/32/7427_2.png) [@Tunerfreak](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Tunerfreak)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106/34 "2006-12-05T20:01:11Z")
i did one pipe earlier sanding it with 1000 to 2000 to 4000 then i used never-dull one time around and it looks so much better. i am going to do another round of never-dull for more luster [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/polishing-aluminum/21106.md?page=1)