Brushed Billet Aluminum

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MGood

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I fabricated a brushed billet aluminum grill for my 1965 Mustang GT Coupe. After I brush the aluminum the grill looks shiny and reflects the light well. I then wash off the excess dust and grime from brushing the aluminum, which intern lessens the shine.

I tried Maguire’s chrome clean and polish foam spray which worked pretty well but then turned the aluminum yellow.

I then tried eagle one never dull, but that just made it get black and grimy and no matter how many times I wiped it with a microfiber cloth it would stay black and greasy.

Then I tried using some rouge compound and I got nothing, this created far more black grime.

I have a 6 inch grinding/buffing wheel and a Dremmel. But neither of these seems to restore the shine or remove the yellow stain. They also seem to take away the brush effect.

How do I get this brushed aluminum to shine and be protected from further tarnish?
 
What did you use to give it the brushed look??
 
LOL...if you have brushed aluminum and use anything stronger that white greaseless, it won't be brushed anymore...just highly polished.:props:

If the NevR-Dull is leaving black reside, then it most definitely is the residue that remains in the brush marks...must have used too aggressive of a tool to brush the soft billet with.

Use some acetone (nail polish remover), or even try WD-40 on a rag...anything to chemically pull the black off of the piece.

Happy detailing...:autowash:

edit:1.What color greaseless do you have on hand?

2.What grit did you sand out to?
 
Use your never dull until it has the black residue on the aluminum, then put some flour (Baking flour) in a bucket and coat a MF towel with flour in the bucket. Once the towel is covered in flour, lightly shake the excess flour off of the towel and then rub off the black residue with the flour coated towel.

If you try this you'll be amazed at how quickly and easily it takes the black residue off of the brushed aluminum.
 
See the bucket under the sink in this photo? A bucket of flour for aluminum polishing residue removal. Once you try it, you'll always have a bucket of flour handy when polishing aluminum.

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Great idea Dave, from a seasoned pro.:dblthumb2:

If the brush marks are too deep, then the black will remain. The flour will bond with the residue, similar, to glaze on finished paint.
But, I think he polished most of the brushing off.:dunno:
 
DaveT435 said:
What did you use to give it the brushed look??
Click to expand...

I tried steel wool first but I did not like the fine brush finish. I then bought a 6inch wire wheel Medium and fine grade for my grinding wheel and used that.
 
Vegas Transplant said:
LOL...if you have brushed aluminum and use anything stronger that white greaseless, it won't be brushed anymore...just highly polished.:props:

If the NevR-Dull is leaving black reside, then it most definitely is the residue that remains in the brush marks...must have used too aggressive of a tool to brush the soft billet with.

Use some acetone (nail polish remover), or even try WD-40 on a rag...anything to chemically pull the black off of the piece.

Happy detailing...:autowash:

edit:1.What color greaseless do you have on hand?

Greaseless?

2.What grit did you sand out to?
Click to expand...

Steel Wool, 400 and 300 grit, thin a wire wheel.
 
tuscarora dave said:
Use your never dull until it has the black residue on the aluminum, then put some flour (Baking flour) in a bucket and coat a MF towel with flour in the bucket. Once the towel is covered in flour, lightly shake the excess flour off of the towel and then rub off the black residue with the flour coated towel.

If you try this you'll be amazed at how quickly and easily it takes the black residue off of the brushed aluminum.
Click to expand...

Ill giver it a try thanks.
 
10-04...I have a lot of respect and admiration for you and the blessings bestowed.

Keep up the good work hand!
 
Vegas Transplant said:
10-04...I have a lot of respect and admiration for you and the blessings bestowed.

Keep up the good work hand!
Click to expand...
Speaking of 10-04...I just hooked up my Uniden Washington at the shop with my 1/4 wave di-pole vertical on PVC piping about 35 feet up, now I can polish cars and read the mail at the same time. OP sorry to hijack your thread.
 
MGood said:
Steel Wool, 400 and 300 grit, thin a wire wheel.
Click to expand...


Hope that you got everything squared away.
The biggest problem with your situation is that you are trying to brush a soft metal.

Maybe just go for the polished look instead.

3&4 hundred grit is about where tripoli stands, IIRC.
White compound will remove 600 grit with the right wheel and speed, but you're still left with the rez in the brushings...and eventually you'll polish the brush marks out as you maintain the piece.

As far as the yellowing, must really be a thin piece.

@ TD: I'd just as soon read the mail as jaw jack. It's an awesome feeling to reach out and touch someone waaayyyy out in the distance! The Washington, Grant, and Lee are the best of the Presidential line.
 
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