?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

Dershman

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 4, 2003
Messages
48
I'm prettying up my 1982 Silverline. What works for bringing the shine back to the aluminum around the windshield frame and rubber rubrail frame?
 

Wimperdink

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Messages
1,171
Re: ?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

a whole lot of elbow grease and mothers aluminum polish will make it look like chrome. I've not had good experiances with using power polishers or otherwise... tends to burn in places.. just ask my old harley. :D not sure about the rubber rubrail but possibly some armorall on a cloth would give it a shine. just wouldnt reccomend getting that stuff on anything else.
 

jmccall001

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
103
Re: ?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

try some glycerin on the rubber of the rub rail - won't hurt anything else and it will help soften it
 

Korn

Recruit
Joined
Sep 7, 2005
Messages
1
Re: ?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

I just cleaned some pontoons that were sitting for 10 years and were pitted and black. I used Metal Cleaner from the following site:<br /><br /> http://metalwax.com/Webstore/Subtopic3.htm <br /><br />I didn't want care about them being super shiny, so I only used the Metal Cleaner product. It was amazing. It's almost as if it burned the dirt and stain off. The polish looks like it will work pretty good too.
 

Ralph 123

Captain
Joined
Jun 24, 2003
Messages
3,983
Re: ?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

3M marine also makes an aluminum polish that works well...
 

Boomyal

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 16, 2003
Messages
12,072
Re: ?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

My windshield frame has spotty white corrosion all over it, probably from sitting under the cover, out in the rain 9 mo's out of the year. The cover kept the rain out but I'm sure the frame would sweat.<br /><br />The frame is annodized and I fear that I would rub thru the intact annodizing if I clean all the corrosion off of it.
 

Mark42

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
9,334
Re: ?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

mine was looking rather weathered so I started with fine steel wool, then moved on to auto rubbing compound then polishing compound. Came out mirror shiny. I keep waxing it, but noticed that it could use a little polishing again after two years.
 

Chris_Crafter

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
48
Re: ?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

Mothers is good, and I have used Nevr-Dull as well.<br /><br />Kevin
 

bigbad4cyl

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 28, 2004
Messages
386
Re: ?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

mothers billet aluminum polish beats there regular aluminum polish hands down
 

bigbad4cyl

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 28, 2004
Messages
386
Re: ?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

mothers billet aluminum polish beats there regular aluminum polish hands down rub with a micro fiber till blackened [ meaning the oxidation came off] and then wipe with a diaper ............ill tell ya a new favorite of mine though is some thing from p&s called aluma brite we use it on big rigs for lots of aluminum cleaned real quick ,,,its hydracloric acid mixed in a proper ratio,,,,,,,,be carful ,,,but it beats hours of scrubbing ...........it would do one of those aluminum camper/trailers in an hour ....it wont buff to a high shine afterwords though ,,not like the billet polish
 

one more cast

Captain
Joined
May 6, 2002
Messages
3,143
Re: ?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

Mothers or semi-chrome, but using super fine steel wool first will save you tons of time.<br /> If its really bad use a wet sos pad.
 

SS Gilligan

Recruit
Joined
Jul 28, 2012
Messages
4
Re: ?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

I Use NeverDull wadding to shine, rub out with white flour to remove black residue for a mirror shine. No sanding no scouring pads. Works on Aluminum, brass, etc.
From an boat and airplane restorers point of view.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: ?: polishing the aluminum windshield frame

This is a NINE YEAR OLD thread. Start your own thread
 
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