Topic: Polishing aluminium

[Trevor from Warragul]

Use Solvol Autosol "Shine" & tissues.  Something about the wood pulp helps achieve a great finish.

[feliz]

Agree, I use Solvol and paper towels.

[coyotecowboy]

Is Solvol an Aussie thing?  I googled it and found it on WD-40s Aus. website.  Looks kinda like Fast Orange.

We use a hand cleaner around the shop called Joe's Hand Cleaner.  We're an oilfield shop and that #$%* will clean anything up.  Got a white paint job and been splashing through red mud then it won't wash off?  Joes will get it off.

Might have to try to find Solvol.

[Freaky1]

I looked it up and it is a polishing product available at www.conservationresources.com I don't know where the company is located but the search showed that there is a hand cleaner from WD-40 also named Solvol but it is not the same thing.

[fishman_Phil]

Here in New Zealand solvol was widely used in the 50s and 60s for cleaning baths, sinks, etc. It was a form of sand-soap with built in suds. I can imagine it would be quite good for the initial aluminium polish. Other household cleaners took over, but solvol can still be found on shop shelves. In my younger days my mother would threaten to wash out my mouth with solvol if I was naughty or swore. It was a favourite saying in those days. Cheers

[Retro Rocket]

Hi guys, does anyone know if there is a clear coat that can go over polished aluminium so you don't have to polish it all the time..?

Mick

[dpen]

In Katherine  NT in the 70s we found out that Solvol is the only soap that suds up in water from a limestone bore - still not fun to wash with

[Trevor from Warragul]

Sorry guys, I was using part of the older name for the product - "Solvol" Autosol.

It's now called "Autosol Shine".

It's made in Germany.

It works better than Solvol Autosol (which was pretty good).  It works on stainless steel & rusty chrome as well.

Apologies,

Trevor

P.S.  The other Solvol is a tar soap.  I highly recommend it too.  It will make filthy/oily hands spotless & will even remove ingrained oil & dirt

[fishman_Phil]

Good thing I never had any sand soap (solvol) or I would have used it today. Especially on my hands. I used soap powder in the end for them.
I polished my fork legs and in a few minutes will be doing my brake caliper mount with ORION polishing soap with a mop on a bench grinder. The finishing soap, white in colour takes the alloy to chrome finish, then I will give it that added touch with either Ferro's Liquid Reflection or Belgom. Both I rate extremely good and apart from the mirror finish they give, they also protect the surface metal for a long time.
Autosol I used in my younger days, but these 2 products above are great. Now off to do my calipers mount. Cheers ...

[XN]

Hi guys, does anyone know if there is a clear coat that can go over polished aluminium so you don't have to polish it all the time..?

Mick

There are clears that are made for this, they could also be clear powder coated. But they both may dull the luster some. There is also zoop seal...

[Retro Rocket]

Thanks XN, its funny that it dulls it because every other you use clear on paint it brings out the shine. I love polished aluminum but its so hard to keep it looking good.

Mick