Polishing / cleaning bare aluminum?

[rongawer]

I use Blue Magic metal polish and my Cyclo Orbital polisher to get it shining, but then once it's shiny, I use Wash-Wax All as my cleaner/wax to keep it clean and shiny. Works well. A good description of the process (albeit using Nuvite) is here Cyclo Polish

[Kooshball]

Originally Posted by rongawer

I use Blue Magic metal polish and my Cyclo Orbital polisher to get it shining, but then once it's shiny, I use Wash-Wax All as my cleaner/wax to keep it clean and shiny. Works well. A good description of the process (albeit using Nuvite) is here Cyclo Polish

Does the blue magic require the Cyclo or could it work with an automotive orbital polisher like a Porter Cable 7424xp that has a minimum speed of 2500 rpm?

Thx

[rongawer]

Originally Posted by Kooshball

Does the blue magic require the Cyclo or could it work with an automotive orbital polisher like a Porter Cable 7424xp that has a minimum speed of 2500 rpm?

Thx

2500 rpm is pretty high speed for bare metal polishing and might put swirl marks, but if you use a cotton cloth as a barrier it might work; test it on an out of way spot or spare piece of aluminum first. YMMV.

Blue Magic should work fine with any polisher, including the Mark I "hand polisher".

[Thermos]

Originally Posted by alpinelakespilot2000

FWIW, here's an email exchange I just had with California Custom: <snip>
Can you tell me if either the California Custom Purple Polish or Deoxidizer includes any silicon that may interfere with the later painting of an aluminum surface?
Thanks so much,
Steve


Hi Steve,

Those products don?t contain silicone. You may prep for painting in the future as you otherwise would.

Regards,

Mike
California Custom Products, Inc.

Many thanks Steve, that helps a lot!

Dave

[billnaz]

Timely topic for me. My plane is polished. I used the nuvite system which is the way to go if you want it to look great. I hadn't completed the job completely, leaving the ailerons un polished. Last week i decided to give the bottle of Purple Polish and prep (two step, the prep is a deoxidizer wipe on then polish)I'd purchased at an airshow a try. I used the nuvite orbital, did one pass, and would rate the results as acceptable. Definitely still grainy on close inspection, but it had the polished look. Fine for a stop gap until final finish.