Topic: Polished Aluminum - what to use for care and feeding??

[jlh3rd]

Shark hide. It’s most durable treatment and is extremely widely used in the marine industry where boats and trailers are subjected to the most extreme conditions. Other products may work, nothing works better.

new kid on the block....

[Ozzybud]

Since I have options, I could use toothpaste as it has a grit in it... at least to see what it would look like, and it would give a texture for clearcoat to stick to (provided I rinsed well first).

This may be a first!  LOL

[M 750K6]

Hope he doesn't use his wife's toothbrush.

[grcamna2]

Shark hide. It’s most durable treatment and is extremely widely used in the marine industry where boats and trailers are subjected to the most extreme conditions. Other products may work, nothing works better.

new kid on the block....

This looks real good.

[Oddjob]

Actually for polished alloy surfaces it recommends Metal Jacket XL.

Might try some, can’t see a price though.

[Ozzybud]

Looks like good stuff.. wondering if it can be sprayed on?

Looking at the MSDS it's a polypropylene coating.that dries hard  it also contains Isocyanic acid which is a catalyst. Used in 2K paints

Google answer..
Metal Jacket XL" is a protective coating primarily used on aluminum surfaces, particularly in marine applications, designed to prevent oxidation and corrosion while also providing a slick, water-repellent finish; it dries to a hard, durable film once applied, effectively protecting the metal from the elements.

[grcamna2]

Actually for polished alloy surfaces it recommends Metal Jacket XL.

Might try some, can’t see a price though.

I had sprayed Duplicolor clear lacquer on nicely polished cast aluminum and it didn't like to adhere much,wanted to run-off a bit.
Curious if that Metal Jacket will adhere to cast aluminum which is polished.. says so.

[Rayzerman]

Hope he doesn't use his wife's toothbrush.

[grcamna2]

Hope he doesn't use his wife's toothbrush.

Lol 

[jlh3rd]

I've tried standard toothpaste on car headlights using a 3" damp orbital pad. yeah, it worked.....

[Ozzybud]

This post had discussion on whether Honda polishes parts and pieces on there bikes.
This is a screenshot from the CB350F. It clearly says the engine is "polished"
The later biger brother CB400F  had the clutch cover, stator cover and chain cover painted Honda Cloud silver.

[Rayzerman]

Thanks for the clarification.  I had noticed the 400F's covers were painted cloud silver...... I'll be polishing the 350F's covers.....

[Oddjob]

Is the brochure genuine Honda or a magazine write up? Not enough of it showing to see exactly what it is.

[Don R]

 I have a cast RC dyno cover that goes on a bike with a chromed dyno housing, I've been hand polishing it from time to time but no matter how many times it gets polished it the rag or even my finger turns black. Someone said that's because aluminum is made of dirt, that's starting to seem true.

[grcamna2]

I have a cast RC dyno cover that goes on a bike with a chromed dyno housing, I've been hand polishing it from time to time but no matter how many times it gets polished it the rag or even my finger turns black. Someone said that's because aluminum is made of dirt, that's starting to seem true.

You polish the cover and your hand gets the 'shadow'.

[Ozzybud]

Is the brochure genuine Honda or a magazine write up? Not enough of it showing to see exactly what it is.

Brochure. It's out of the Honda 1972/73 sales catalog.

[Rayzerman]

Picture of a friends bike, he's owned it since 1973, currently ~9000 miles.  The covers are polished so to speak and factory clearcoated, so not polished like a "chrome finish" so to speak.  Mine had a rougher life and the clearcoat had started to streak, and it didn't look polished.....  just sayin' what the original finish was..