How do you keep a mirror finish on aluminum ?

[huntnphool]

I picked up a Pro Tech tool box for my new truck yesterday and want to keep the mirror finish. Anyone know if there's something you can put on like a wax so I don't have to polish it every week. Thanks Allen.

What part of your truck is polished aluminum?

.  The tool box

Diamondplate?

. No its smooth aluminum.

Even better!!! Polishing diamond plate is a real PITA!!!

If you want it looking like mirror at all times then continuous polishing is going to be the only way. Anything you put on it will dull the finish. That being said, paint may be a good option, as long as you treat your box like you treat the rest of the paint on the truck. Clear paint will leave the best final finish without dulling too much, and will stay that way as long as you dont chip it, same as the car.

[huntnphool]

Here's a picture

Very nice. I think you should just resign to the fact that you will need to polish it every 6 months, that would be my approach.

[Heredoggydoggy]

That clear-coat paint in a rattle-can you can get for aluminum wheels would be what I'd try.  Otherwise it's scrub-a-dub-dub.  Especially if you drive where they put that deicer stuff on the roads in the winter! 

[CAMPMEAT]

Flitz........

[porkchop]

Flitz........

I'll agree with that.. got a couple friends that drive log trucks and they say that's the best stuff they've used so far and lasts quite a while. I've ran protech boxes in every truck I've ever owned and the newest one I bought close to 4 years ago and if you keep it washed and towel dry it afterwards it holds its shine. Main thing is to keep the de-icer off it that will kill the shine in no time..

[runamuk]

Flitz........

ok so will this work on aluminum rims

[huntnphool]

Flitz........

ok so will this work on aluminum rims

Yes

[runamuk]

Flitz........

ok so will this work on aluminum rims

Yes

thanks  will see if I can find some

[CAMPMEAT]

I used to use it on diamond plate drop axle fenders. You put FLITZ on a heavy piece of carpet, 6x4 inches, or whatever works and rub, rub , rub, Then take a piece of clean carpet, same size and polish it off. SHAG carpet won't work............

[huntandjeep]

Never thought of Flitz as a protectant. I used to use it all the time for polishing my  rims.

[huntnphool]

Never thought of Flitz as a protectant. I used to use it all the time for polishing my  rims.

It doesn't protect aluminum, it only polishes it.

[6x6in6]

Opti Coat   http://www.optimumcarcare.com/ocoat1.php?li=4
Expensive, but worth every penny.
It's all I use on both my polished aluminum Pro Tech headache racks on the trucks and it's awesome for the upper half of my horse trailer which is polished aluminum.
Every other year application.  You should probably go every year if your really picky as mine start to show their "age" about this time of the year coming up on a summer application time.

[PolarBear]

I'm buying a Featherlite stock/combo trailer and was also wondering what would be best to make it really shine and protect it?

[cohoho]

Rob, you ought to show a picture of that shiny North River and trailer.  He is always easy to find on the water, just look for the rays of gleaming light coming from the water!!  Warning do not anchor near him on sunny days....   lol

I personally go for the dull, grey battle ship look..

[huntnphool]

Rob, you ought to show a picture of that shiny North River and trailer.  He is always easy to find on the water, just look for the rays of gleaming light coming from the water!!  Warning do not anchor near him on sunny days....   lol

I personally go for the dull, grey battle ship look..

Here is the boat.

A few months ago I noticed the paint on the exhaust manifold risers has finally started to bubble, happens to all boats eventually. So yesterday I dove in and removed the risers with the intent of sand blasting and powder coating before putting back on.

 Once I pulled them I noticed that the manifolds as well as the risers are aluminum, I thought they might be but wasn't sure. I purchased the boat new in '04 and after 10 years you can see that the engine still looks pretty good, risers are not noticably that corroded.

 The last pic is one of the risers after removing. This is where the exaust tube was connected, you can see the work that its going to take to look good again.

 I'm going to blast them and then polish them since they are aluminum. I'll post pics of the progress as I go.