How To Polish Aluminum- Polishing Aluminum Sheet Metal & Cleaning Aluminum

Polishing Aluminum Sheet Metal

• 1. Start with a clean sheet of metal. Clean the sheet metal with soap and water, removing any debris or dust. Rinse the item with clean water and dry it with a soft cloth.
• 2. You must wear protective eyewear and a mask. It is imperative that you protect your eyes and the rest of your face from the machines you are using. These measures are essential to prevent dust and polish from entering your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• 3. Sand the sheet metal. You need to sand to get a mirror finish on your car, boat, or aluminium panels. Start with medium-grit sandpaper and then move up to finer grit. Use a sanding machine, not a hand sander. It'll make your job much easier.
  For a quick polish, use 400-grit sandpaper and sand the entire area thoroughly. Use 800-grit sandpaper to give the area another good once-over.
  For a thorough polish, start with 120 grit and move up to 240, 320, 400, and finally, 600-grit.
• 4. Apply a cutting compound to your buffing tool. You must apply a cutting compound to the buffing tool before buffing. The cutting compound protects the metal and gives it a nice shine. Read the instructions on the package to determine which compound to use for your project.
  Start with a firm wheel and a brown compound for your initial polishing. Then, choose a softer wheel and a rouge (red) compound to get a high shine and smooth finish.
• 5. Use a rotating buffing tool to buff the aluminium. A cotton buffing tool is the best tool for the job when working with aluminium. Buff the sheet metal using circular motions. You must follow the instructions in the manual and exercise caution when using the buffing tool.
• 6. Remove all traces of compound. Use a soft, clean cloth to remove the compound residue from the aluminium. Wipe until you achieve a mirror finish.

Cleaning Aluminum

• 1. Wash the aluminium with dish soap and water. Wet your aluminium with water, then add a small squirt of dish soap to a rag or sponge. Use the sponge or rag to clean the aluminium thoroughly, removing any grime, dirt, food, etc.
• 2. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean the indentations in the aluminium. If the item you are cleaning has etchings or other designs, use a soft-bristled toothbrush or scrubber to clean the grime out of the recessed areas.
• 3. Thoroughly rinse the item. Rinse the item under the tap to remove any remaining soap or debris. Dunk your item in a large bucket of clean water or spray it with the hose if it is too big to fit in the sink.