Back in the 70's a trucker turned me on to Never Dull, works well to clean and polish aluminum, chrome and stainless. My guess, is there may be better products out there now. Let me know what works best for you.
Phred,
If you want the ULTIMATE cleaner/fine polish for uncoated metals, try SIMICHROME. I've tried the rest and this is the best, by either machine or by hand. Here is a seven year old thread that is still valid today:
Wheel Polish (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=13161.msg71709#msg71709)
HTH,
Neal
We were using Simichrome in the 60's on our Triumph's exhaust piping.
I used Happich Simichrome for years. Really an excellent product. Expensive in the larger container. Lately, I have been using a container of Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish as it seems to be the same stuff and really inexpensive. I also have a can of Nevr-Dull aka "aircraft wool." It's a wadding that you tear a piece off of and then wipe it on brass, copper or aluminum.
In doing large surfaces like an aircraft cowling that has a lot of corrosion, we first use phosphoric acid (never muratic) until the corrosion is totally gone (that make take a while) and then give it a quick alodine solution rinse to convert the aluminum's surface. No fume problems with the phosphoric but should wear gloves and protective glasses even though it's pretty mild stuff. Home Depot has the phosphoric but may be hard to find in the store.
See Amazon for all the products at the bottom of the page at: Amazon.com: Simichrome Polish-8.82 Oz(250G) 390250: Automotive (https://www.amazon.com/Simichrome-Polish-8-82-Oz-250G-390250/dp/B000FGICHW)
Etching and conversion coatings article at: Metal Conditioning - Bondline (http://bondline.org/wiki/Metal_Conditioning)
Pierce
I have used it to polish chrome and also found it works great on plastic pocket watch crystals.. an amazing product..
Dave
Any guy who was in the Military knows about Never Dull. Shiny stuff for Inspection!!!
Any guy who was in the Military knows about Never Dull. Shiny stuff for Inspection!!!
Used Never Dull ( inappropriately name .....cause it does) to polish engine cowl's on B47's, KC135's and complete VC29 .
and propeller blades on Beech Queen and Beech King Air A100.
In military school, we used Brasso to polish our brass uniform bits. Back in the day, all they made was the original liquid style. It was applied with a cotton cloth and LOTS of rubbing. I'll never forget the distinctive (strong) ammonia smell. It was probably carcinogenic, but back then, who cared? By the end of 4 years, all the individual details on the brass pieces would be rubbed away, leaving them with a smooth, uniform, highly polished surface. Kind of a analogy for the rigorous 4-year training program we cadets endured.
I see they also later made a "wadding" version of the product.