The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Anodize stripper/polish

I am trying to refinish the trim metal on my 64' Nova, I think the metal is aluminum and anodized. How do I polish the metal? Do I need to get through the anodize before the buffing? do I need to re anodize it after I polish?

Clint Ellison
- Ventura, California, USA
2002

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If you've tried to polish the trim with metal polishing paste or liquid and it didn't seem to do anything then if it is aluminum it must be anodised. Otherwise your polishing rag would go black and the metal would go shiny. To get a polished finish you will need to get through the anodising. Abrasives will remove anodising but it can be hard work by hand and needs great care if power tools are used - once through the very hard anodising a flap wheel for example will rapidly grind away the soft alloy underneath. It can be very easy to wreck the job. The best way to remove anodising (on new parts) is to get an anodising shop to do it by dipping the parts in their caustic bath. The problem with old parts is that scratches in the anodising can allow corrosion to set in and the caustic can turn pinholes into pits. Then the metal will need to be ground back to remove them - assuming it's thick enough in the first place - before it can be polished. I'd seek the advice of an anodising shop.

Once you've got your parts polished, re-anodising will preserve them but you might not be able to get the same bright anodised finish they probably had originally and if the car is well looked after and only used on "high days and holidays" the trim will probably look better just polished with a waxing and occasional repolish to keep it looking good.

Gary Middleton
- U.K.
2002