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Cleaning tarnish?

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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 06:41 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by DCLXVI
Metal polish should do it, I'm not sure what's in the chrome polish. What you are seeing is simply aluminum oxidation. You can only stop that by keeping oxygen away from bare aluminum. Since that is virtually impossible we are stuck with polishing.
I wonder if clear coating the aluminum would work. I clear coated my billet aluminum on an old classic car I had and it worked great.
 
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 06:44 PM
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You could use some Mothers Aluminum polish and then what I used after that was a product from Starbrite, Aluminum Polish , it's in a blue bottle. Gives real good protection and doesn't wear off as quick as other waxes. And it's made for aluminum boats. Good chit.
 
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 06:57 PM
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Not that it really matters but technically its not tarnish it oxidation
 
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Fridge
My rocker covers and yokes have gone like that, they are clear coated though aren't they?

I've not used any kind of abrasive polish for that reason, was just going to live with it until I swap them out for chrome.

For the rust on the chrome I would use a piece of fine wire wool.
Use both Mothers and Never Dull.
Prefer Mothers for aluminum.
Any protective coating was long gone on my aluminum before I got the bike. On aluminum i've used a dremel to buff some of the stubborn spots -being very careful to feather in and out to not leave a low area.
(someday I'll get a compressor and buffer and do it the right way)
Was going to get a new chrome triple, but got good shine on the aluminum although it is going to require maintenance.

Had been told to keep in mind that chrome gets cleaned while aluminum gets polished.
Had also been advised against using fine wire wool as it can leave tiny bits behind that are prone to rust.
True or not, I don't know...
 
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 09:46 PM
  #15  
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This stuff never fails, works great on oxidized boat parts that have been sitting in the salt air...

http://www.flitz.com/
 
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 11:21 PM
  #16  
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+2 on the Happich simichrome, works friggin awesome on Aluminum.
 
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Old Feb 18, 2011 | 06:40 AM
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Use 0000 steel wool saturated with Mothers alum polish, follow with Semi-chome applied with a soft cloth. Will shine like chrome.
 
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Old Feb 18, 2011 | 06:58 AM
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Bad thing I've seen is once the aluminum becomes oxidized, it comes back easier and faster causing you to have to keep up with it even more. Best this is to coat the aluminum well before putting her up for a long spell.
 
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Old Feb 18, 2011 | 08:55 AM
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Get a Mothers Powerball or Powercone and use a cordless drill. Choose what ever polish/cleaner you like and let the powerball/cone do the work.....Great time saver.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 06:04 PM
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Thx everyone for the suggestions, i had already used the simichrome without much success but the nevr-dull has helped alot, cleaned about 85% of the oxidation so i can live with he rest.
 
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