Anyone use the rubbing compounds/rouge/etc ?

Was wondering if anyone had polished any aluminum with the rouges/tripoli etc etc compounds? I see some posts on another forum how a guy used an angle grinder, some pads and these compounds and the aluminum looks great. My experience is limited to mothers/blue magic and a dremel tool...


Basically, what compounds/pad combinations should I used? Like for my forks, couldn't I get by with the red stuff, followed by the white? (after I get the clear coat off them and wetsand).

Follow the link for what I found regarding aluminum buffing... Worked for me!

Buff-Book

I started a rebuild project last July and have tried to polish most of the aluminum pieces I could. I did my engine covers, various parts, and just finished my carb tops, bowls, and also my forks last week. I find it to be tiring work but very rewarding when it is all done. No pain, no gain I guess (and a few beers while your polishing doesn't hurt either as long as you are careful around the buffer). Plus, it gives me some needed garage time away from the little devils (3 and 4 year olds).

I have used my dremel tool with buffing attachments for tight spots in polishing, but if you want to save a lot of time, get yourself a bench buffer. I picked one up from Harbor Freight for $39.99.

I have always used the aircraft remover for the old clear coat, wet sand with fine grit, the black, then the white polishing compound.

I'm sure the red would work just fine too. I had some pretty bad looking aluminum pieces to fix though, so that is why I used the black first.

Depending on how bad the scratches, gouging, and pits are, and how you want it to look in the end, you can start with as rough a. Grit sandpaper as 8p grit, moving up progressively finer, as you get the scratches or gouges out, move up to 150-180, sand until you no longer see the last gtits scratches, then move on to 300-320, with the same steps, then 600 wet, 1000 wet, 1500 wet, then 3000 wet. Then as stated above, bench buffer and red or white.

So, where does Mother's and blue magic fit into the grand scheme of buffing/polishing?

as little sand as possible red white then when you think it perfect hit it with the blue wow!!

3M makes a deburring wheel it's super expensive but if you have any rough spots it will take them out.

and not leave any sand scratches to get out.

my brother has spent countless hours with various compounds and says when it's done the blue gives ot the extra punch we are all looking for he spolished a spot on my swingarm to show me then put mothers on it and it dulled it. did it again then put never dull on it and it dulled it




i mucked it up putting it on but rouge works!

I always start with black then brown/red then white. I bought about $200.00 worth of buffing pieces from tarheel several years ago.

I also use Rebels metel polish I bought in a truck stop in Effingham,Il. Rub it on ,rub it off,stand back and say,"Wow,look at that shine". :woohoo:

The hotter you get the metal the better.

I have very small buffs that I use on my die grinder. Roy

These guys are awesome- great forum and tutorial. I have bought many things from them- compounds, wheels etc.
www.caswellplating.com/