My arm is about to fall off. Still the swirls keep moving around and so do the fingerprints. I have used microfiber towels only and a lot of Mothers also 3M rubbing compound and polish. I cannot seem to get it right. Would really love it if my firewall was like a mirror finish. Does anyone know the answer to this puzzle???
I read it ..thank you I guess I didnt have the guts to use sand paper 1500 then 2000...it seems like that would cause real problems.
Hello, By using a Carnuba Wax finishing compound like Colonite, you will get a smooth finish and protection. Plus, it goes on any surface easily and comes off faster than others. Using a microfiber towel gets it done, but for best results, a simple cotton face cloth or cotton hand towel is the best. Years of maintaining a black Impala, a red El Camino, Ford Sedan Delivery, and a shiny series of sailboats, with stainless steel plates worked well using Colonite Wax and a simple cotton hand towel. We all have tons of white cotton towels handy... But, you will get a ton of answers and it is for you to try. Colonite wax is for cars, boats or whatever. They sell all labels for different uses. We use the same can for both cars and our sailboats. But, the original can purchased for the car worked well for the sailboat surfaces, including several stainless steel plates. We even used it on a 1960s chrome plated, mid century ball, table lamp for best results. Jnaki It almost does not matter what you use, as far as wax. But, as I will get a lot of flack, Colonite is the best over all name brand auto only protection wax products. Been there, done that... and gave away all bottles and products with name titles everyone knows to a hot rod enthusiast. It is simple...or ease of application and a super fast wipe off Colonite with a cotton face cloth or hand towel works the best for use. YRMV
Use Silvo polishing wadding then finish with a wax Polish Aluminium is notoriously difficult to polish
To get a true mirror finish you are going to need to use power tools, to do it by hand will be a challenge. However the finer you sand it the easier it’ll be to make shiny. Flat surfaces are the hardest to get to look even. If you are committed to doing it by hand keep sanding up to 3-5000 grit. It’ll basically be most of the way there already.
I had a panel like that on my PU, the air deflector over the grille. The polished SS was hard to maintain. Solution? I engine turned it. Pull that firewall out and lay it on the floor or a big work table, get a drill base, use a 1" medium cratex. The engine turning doesn't show fingerprints, swirls, easy clean up, looks cool. Lot of work but it is one and done. Cry once.
Check this guy out: https://www.instagram.com/summershine_7/ Pull the firewall, it'll be so much easier.
Get a proper buff that you can use in something like a drill or angle grinder and some aluminum rouge compound. Will speed things up tremendouly.
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I suggest pulling the panel, it looks like it would be an easy task. Block sand it to 2000 in a horizontal position and buff it using your metal polish of choice. I think it would be easier to polish and definitely give you the best results.
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