Polished aluminum on cars?

[Light]

      Thanks to everyone who responded. 


       I now know a bit more about this.  I think what the best plan is now would be to get another hood. Check the Aluminim type. Polish and clear coat. And if that doesn't work, put old hood back.   Its a 2009,  but I am sure that somone has wrecked one by now and its down at a scrap yard.  The glare concerns me, but then I will put a black strip right on the drivers side....Heh.  Have to see.   And you know I just remembered that I have an unpainted  aluminum canoe out in the garage.  I think I will start polishing that and see what happens. Its a Grumman (of course), and It doesnt look so good right now, but I will get out the polish and see how that goes.  Its a 17 foot one.


http://www.marathonboat.com/doubleend-17.asp


  Once again, Thanks for the info.



 ps.  I just found this link here were somone polished up there aluminum boat. Looks fantastic..  I really like that look.


   http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7241

 

[SFRT - Frenchy]

I did that on a part of my bike, and on a car. The car ended up being undriveable because even a little bit of sun will intensely reflect on a polish hood. It really is a pain to drive on the freeway with half an eye open, and one closed. You will alos feel the heat on your face and end up massively sunburned  . On a winding road, the reflaction will come and go, blinding you on/off.

If you still want to go with it, here's how you do it for cheap:

1/ Sand off the paint, better yet, use a chemical to "peel" it off so you don't damage ur hood much.
2/ Sand the alluminum in ONE direction using 800ish grit sandpaper.
3/ Sand OTHER direction using higher grit paper.
4/ Repeat till you reach 2000ish grit sandpaper.
5/ Buff using a alu polishing compound.
6/ Clear coat your hood to protect it from tarnishing and weather.
7/ Dip your right arm in cold water for a week, forget about basic needs like masturbation.

That's how I did it, worked and looked ok. Personaly Brushed alluminum looks better than polished, I don't like too much chromes on a car/bike. Chrome is cutiecutie, brushed is rugged.

Don't have pictures of the car, here's the bike.

[rabbidrabbit]

Ever hear of the word "glare"?  At the moment you posted that, Darwin winked.

[Light]

    Frenchy!


    That is who I wanted to hear from. Somone who had attempted this and lived.  Hmm... blind?  Sunburnt?  Intermitant blindness?  Not what I wanted in my drive down I-91.  I love the bike though.   Looks wonderful.  I like how you did the sides and painted the top.  Maybe the hood is not the best thing to polish. 


   Here are some Polished aluminum cars I found. They do not seem like drivers.  Show only.

   
Ford Shelby GR1 Concept (2005), Aluminium Body

http://www.fordcartalk.com/2009/ford-shelby-gr1-concept-2005-aluminium-body/

   Quick pic
   

    Not sure about this one..
   


   Bugatti

   http://autoreview.belproject.com/item/478



   Merc

   


   Brushed aluminmum? Unpolished maybe....

   


   Jay Leno's Silver Bullet. Powered by a huge V-12 engine straight out of a Sherman tank.

   

   

   

   
 
   


    I think Jay had a good idea.


   Shelby Cobra... Shiney!

   http://www.kobrabytes.com/pictures.html



    OK look at this amazing job of polishing a B-25 up.  Stunning. I want one of those.

    http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31060

    Ok thats it. 

[Reschke]

I have polished a couple sets of aluminum wheels, and while it was quite labor intensive I really don't think a hood would be all that bad.  With a silver car it might actually look ok, but no more than that, if you started doing the fenders and stuff and it would like like crap IMO.  Glare could definitely be an issue.  Polished aluminum will get dull over time and need to be cleaned up.  As long as you stay on top of it it's not that much work though.  If it was me I would clearcoat it when done, this will reduce the shine a bit but with glare being a concern that's not so bad, and will keep it from getting dull.

When you say this is a new car, do you mean NEW new, or new to you?  If it's an older model I would try and find a good straight used hood to do this too.  That way you can take your time and do the job right while still having your car intact.  And if you don't like it, or decide you want to put it back to stock to sell you don't have to pay an arm and a leg to get it repainted.

And just because it's sexy....
(Image removed from quote.)

Yes, I know thats painted and not polished.

Nope thats smurfy

[Shuffler]

On a plane it is fine because it is airborne. A cars hood gets hit with lots of small debris from highspeed dust to sand and rocks. A highly polished surface can't stand any type of hits at all without showing scratches. One scratch on a highly polished surface looks like the grand canyon.

If the hood is made of 2000 series aluminum then it is also extremely soft and susceptible to damage anyway.

[Dago]

I don't think it would be a good idea IMHO.  If your driving in bright sunlight it would cause a glare from hell.  But since you don't live around me you can try it.

Exactly why on many WW2 fighters and bombers, they painted the nose cowl flat black when the rest of the aircraft was bare aluminum.

[Charge]

Somebody mentioned Delorean?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nQxs4RESms&feature=channel

-C+

[sluggish]

Exactly why on many WW2 fighters and bombers, they painted the nose cowl flat black when the rest of the aircraft was bare aluminum.

I'm sure you meant olive drab.

[Cthulhu]

I'm sure you meant olive drab.

I believe both flat black & OD were used for anti-glare sluggish.

[phatzo]

The problem with stainless is that people get it into their heads that they can polish it with fine steel wool. This is a huge mistake. Steel wool has so little carbon in it that's it pretty much just plain iron. Polishing stainless with it leaves microscopic pieces of iron imbedded in the stainless. Eventually these little bits of iron rust. (very bad thing  )

I come across this with customers who buy stainless steel balastraude components from me, they believe stainless can be left alone and it will look as good as the day they got it. Tea staining is the main and first sign of trouble
http://www.plant-maintenance.com/articles/Tea_Staining.pdf
before you do any thing to this car also check that the paint isn't separating any dissimilar metals

http://www.engineersedge.com/galvanic_capatability.htm
hope this helps

[Dan216TH]

ok so I'm driving on the street next thing I know there's a polished chrome or whatever in front of me and next thing I know I slammed into a tree. the point is BAD IDEA it's an insurance nightmare, but ur welcome to do what u want

[Wingnutt]

there have been a few that have done polished aluminum, they stopped doing brushed stainless after the Delorian, it was found to be WAY too hard to keep shiny and would cause strange issues at 88mph.

[Cthulhu]

there have been a few that have done polished aluminum, they stopped doing brushed stainless after the Delorian, it was found to be WAY too hard to keep shiny and would cause strange issues at 88mph.

Hah, you funny