75ZT Community

[Mad-Monkey]

Anyone know the easiest, off the shelf, DIY method of polishing aluminium?

I've purchased some angle for a DIY project, and could do with polishing it up. I don't have a polisher though What would be the easiest, cheapest way with good results? I've not got time to really order stuff off the net, so ideally, it should be stuff I can pick up from local DIY/Car places.

Are drill attachments any good, as this might be the cheapest??

Many Thanks

[DeuxGazoles]

Depends on what "finish" it has but I would use Autosol or Peek & good old elbow grease on plain aluminium but I've never had much success with the anodised stuff

[Mad-Monkey]

oh crumbs, I don't know what finish it is. Does it make a major difference? I guess it does though

[black olive]

angle is generally hot extruded, and from a fairly soft alloy, this gives it a rough finish and a tough skin, and it isnt easy to polish, if you just want a superficial shine then solvol autosol is good for ally, otherwise you are into getting the skin sanded down with finer and finer grades of wet and dry then a metal polish

do a google on polishing aluminium some good advice out there

[Mad-Monkey]

Cheers for the advice chaps, certainly gives me something to work on!

[Duncan]

Once ploished, doesn't it oxidise quite quickly unless you protect it with lacquer or something?