have some slot mags (the center caps have a big "A", Appliance) anyhow, are they aluminum, magnesium?? How does a guy tell for sure? Also, what is the best stuff you guys have found for polishing these things by hand?? Thanks
I used to use Wenol or Flitz but I came across Busch's Aluminum polish last year and this stuff is amazing. It doesn't require a lot of buffing or rubbing. My procedure is to hit the part with Scotch-Brite pads ,then lay on some Busch's and wipe with a clean cloth.
I've heard of Wenol and Flitz but never Buschs, thats interesting. Whatever I use is probably gonna have to be something I get at the local Ace Hardware...
Yeah, Busch's might be an east coast thing and availible only where they show up with their trailer. I won't be seeing them until the middle of July in Syracuse or I'd get you a bottle.
motherc mag and aluminum polish. that way you don't have to worry about messing em up. and mother makes pretty good stuff.
Magnesium will weather to a dark gray color, while aluminum will stay lighter. Magnesium gets this weird corrosion that's kind of scaley looking too. Furthermore, most slots were aluminum. Being Appliance, I doubt these are Magnesium. The wheels are probably a bit corroded, no? If so, take them to a blaster and have them cleaned up. Next, do the following: -Blend any curb rash w/ a grinder w/ a fine scotchbrite pad -400 grit paper -600 grit paper -800 grit paper -Semi fine compound -Fine compound -Terry cloth to wipe excess compound away For the compounds, you're going to need to purchase a good die grinder and six small polishing wheels (sewn). Electric is better than pneumatic, unless you've got a monster tank. Provided the wheels are in decent shape, this really isn't as much work as you'd think. 1-1.5 hours per wheel. Far less than you'll spend aimlessly polishing away w/ Mothers or a similar product. Furthemore, you'll end up w/ mirror polishing, rather than a dull shine. Here's one of four wheels I just refinished.
Mothers mag and aluminum polish will make them re-oxidize. Avoid polishes that contain ammonia, anhydrous, or acids. Aluminum is one of the most sensitive metals out there. You'll be lucky to get anything worth a damn from ace hardware. After all you wouldn't go to a car dealership for construction equipment or advice. find a pH neutral polish, Then you'll only repolish once every six months to a year.
I know some peolple won't like this, but if they are rough this is what was recomended to me, it's readily available and it worked for me... I got some acid stuff from NAPA ( I just went in and told them what I wanted to do and they hooked me up with it) I can't remember the name but they should know. Anyway it is an acid so you have to be carefull with it. You just spray it on from any type of spray bottle (like you can get at the gardening section for watering ferns or the hardware store for bulk cemichal use) any way spray the whole wheel down real good and wait the rtecomended period of time and rinse THOUROGHLY! After you've gotten off the eccess, you just polish it with some mothers or other aluminum polish...it turned out realy nice on mine. The acid basicly eats off all the crude and oxidation build up, to get you down to the aluminum so you are actualy polishing the surface you want instead of having to beat your way through the crude. Use this method at your own risk and follow the instructions to the letter... If your not carefull you can F'up big time but done right, it works miracles. Just my experiences...hope it helps.
the wheels have a decent shine on them now, I dont think I need to go through the whole sanding and buffing routine right now. Can you recommend a ph neutral compound?
Well, I manufacture my own metal polishes that are pH. neutral and endorsed by most of the big british museums. The product is actually american and called English because I was raised there. I try to advise with out pumping my own products too much. I believe Busch is pH neutral also, though they make one product and I make a bunch of them for different applications. Busch and ECP are not the only pH neutral products out there, there are others. You guys can do the research. As for the idea of aluminum brighter, wheel acid, call it what ever you like. ammonia bi flouride or hydrofloric acid is what it is. It eats aluminum, makes it brittle, will open all sorts of pits if there is any silica in the casting and causes re-oxidation. As for mothers, apply it to anything you like alongside a pH neutral polish you will see the deterioration in mothers in a week. But you won't get a finish as bright with mothers as you will with my products, Busch and many other products in the first place. I don't want to get into a fight with people about the good and bad polishes. You can do your own research and see for yourselves.
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