Polishing aluminum?

[clovis]

I have a used, but very nice aluminum pot that I would like to polish.

It was polished when it was new, and the finish has gotten dull over time.

What would I use to polish the pan?

Thanks!

[Old Vet]

You can't polish aluminum to a shine. You can clean it to a shine if you want to but not as good as new. Maybe some other poster can come up with the formula to clean it up.

[Bearfootfarm]

http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-5101-A.../dp/B0009H519Y

This is supposed to be one of the better brands of polish

[Beeman]

Wadding polish works, Simichrome, Mothers aluminum polish. Any motorcycle shop, truckstop or auto supply should have something. I have buffed aluminum with rouge sticks and buffing pads to make it shine. If you're near a truck stop or a place with a lot of big trucks ask around. they usually have someone that polishes their tanks and wheels. I'm sure he could polish it for you cheaper then you can buy the materials.

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by Old Vet

You can't polish aluminum to a shine.

Oh really?

Alcoa has a plant where I live and polishing aluminum for the aircraft industry is its only function.

Added, many people aren't aware that aluminum can be polished to a high shine so I'm yanking your chain a little since it can be done.

[clovis]

Thanks fellas! I certainly appreciate the input.

Windy, that plane is cool, but wouldn't the glare from the sun be awful?

Clove

[Old Vet]

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

Oh really?

Alcoa has a plant where I live and polishing aluminum for the aircraft industry is its only function.

Added, many people aren't aware that aluminum can be polished to a high shine so I'm yanking your chain a little since it can be done.

OK can you do it?

[frankva]

Try some Neverdull.

[Shavings]

A couple of years ago, I got tired of paying the Chevy dealer $95 to replace the cheap plastic door handle in the S10 3rd door, so I made one from aluminum and polished it on a buffing wheel with green rouge. It's got a few scratches on it now.

[Shavings]

When I figure out how to post a picture, I can provide a visual on the door handle.

Success, I finally got the picture in. Thanks to Windy for the advice on how to do it!

[Danaus29]

Good buffing compound, an electric drill, a buffing pad for the drill, and a lot of time and anyone can do it. Dh has done it.

[Wis Bang]

Bare aluminum could be washed w/ 'aluminum brightener' an acid compound to takeoff alot of the surface tarnish. Neutralized w/ water & then polish. I worked w/ a guy who took his truck to the show @ Englishtown. He mixed Mother's w/ corn starch and used a toothbrush to polish the alum grip-strut steps on his freightliner. Also had crayons to re-color the white raised logos on his tires too...Had a buffer for his wheels...

[clovis]

Originally Posted by Wis Bang

Also had crayons to re-color the white raised logos on his tires too...Had a buffer for his wheels...

Special crayons made for just this application, or regular crayons that I would find in DD's coloring box?

If just the regular Crayola Crayons, DD might not ever see another white crayon, ever!

Clove

[Wis Bang]

Originally Posted by clovis

Special crayons made for just this application, or regular crayons that I would find in DD's coloring box?

If just the regular Crayola Crayons, DD might not ever see another white crayon, ever!

Clove

Paint sticks from the truck stop look like oversized white or yellow crayons, same idea as the ones sold to cover scratches in paneling.

[Old Vet]

I really don't know if you would polish an aluminum Pot or not. I just hate to put out their and then you get sick from using the pot. I would use nothing but sand paper and then wash it out afterwords. There are a lot of things out their to polish aluminum with but most of them I would not want in a pot that I used to eat out of.

[Danaus29]

Now for something food safe you can use plain old baking soda. It won't give you a reflective shine but it does come out looking nice. Takes a lot of work but it can be done.

[Hooligan]

I know a guy who polished the aluminum fork lowers on his bike to a near chrome like finish.

600 grit
1200 grit
2000 grit
lots of polishing compound
an entire winter's worth of spare time.

They look great though.

[chickenista]

I also suggest the wadding polish! That stuff is amazing.
It works great on storm doors and windows too.
And on chrome!!! Like butter!! I love wadding polish.

[How Do I]

Here's a decent aluminum polishing kit. Don't know if I would use it on the inside of the pot though.

[sebastes]

if the aluminium is not anodized it will tarnish quite quickly especially if it is heated and used for cooking.

Additionaly, the tarnish is aluminum oxide which is virtually insoluble in water so polishing may allow more aluminum to leach into the food stuffs cooked in the pot especially acid foods like tomato sauce.