Polished Aluminum vs Chrome
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
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The aluminum on bikes made in the past 15 years or so is clearcoated. To polish it, you gotta strip the clear off with aircraft stripper.
Here is a Dresser fork leg after the clear was stripped. I spent less than 20 minutes polishing on it with a bench buffer. A little more work with a finer compound and loose wheel will bring it out to look as good as chrome.
Here is a Dresser fork leg after the clear was stripped. I spent less than 20 minutes polishing on it with a bench buffer. A little more work with a finer compound and loose wheel will bring it out to look as good as chrome.
Last edited by xxxflhrci; Dec 16, 2008 at 03:42 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Nevada
Polished aliminum has a richer look than chrome, but you have to keep after it or it will oxidize. I stripped the clearcoat off the (factory) wheels on my '81 Vette. Now, every year I remove the wheels in the spring, put them on a workbench and polish them with a high speed drill, Mothers Polishing Ball and Semichrome. I follow this step with a coat of Never Dull.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Bella Vista, AR
The key to polishing aluminum is the grade of aluminum you are working with. You can't compare a high quality piece like r8rs4lf's Intros to a set of Eagle alloys, the Eagles will never have the shine. The late model hd covers are a cheap grade that doesn't hold a polish well. XXXFLHRCI's forks must be a better grade than the new stuff.
Extreme HDF Member
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Those forks in that pic are off of a 2000. I polished them 6 or 7 years ago. They laid on my work bench probably 2 years before that pic was taken. They are still laying their and pretty much look the same.
Extreme HDF Member
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Here's the dirty, banged up, 3 decade old rear brake drum off of my Ironhead. It's cheap AMF days cast aluminum. It didn't take much to make it shine.
Last edited by xxxflhrci; Dec 16, 2008 at 03:54 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 508
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From: Southeast, TN
Rat bikes are looking better every day!!!
Luv your blacked out look by the way.
Outstanding HDF Member
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From: Yokohama
It took a lot of work to keep my 2000 fxst nice looking because the polished aluminum on it was not clear-coated. If you'd rather ride than polish, go with chrome.
Last edited by Twinrider; Dec 16, 2008 at 04:25 PM.
Tourer
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From: Grayslake, IL
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
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It is true that you have to maintain polished aluminum. If it is garage kept, though, it doesn't have to be "a lot of work". Once or twice a year, I take advantage of a rainy, snowy, or otherwise crappy day and spend a little time in the garage just listening to the stereo and shining up the aluminum.
