How To Machine Polish Oxidized Aluminum Diamond Plate

[Mike Phillips]

How To Machine Polish Oxidized Aluminum Diamond Plate (http://www.marine31online.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50)

Last week we shot some new how-to videos on boat detailing with Marine 31 Products and after we were finished I was left with a boat to wax and one fender to polish.

Here's a few before and after shots to show the difference but the most important thing I'd like to share is that when machine polishing oxidized diamond plate aluminum fenders, this type of project doesn't require,


Much skill
Much time
But the results from the time and effort adds a LOT to the appearance of the trailer fenders and maintains the value of the boat trailer.

The most important thing I did was to tape off the aluminum frame the fenders were bolted between to avoid getting black oxidized residue on the frame aluminum and that too was very simple.


First... if you look closely you can see in this first picture I've already buffed out the back half of the fender, that was for a video project. Now I need to finish the front half.

Tip...
Also note the amount of black residue on my microfiber towel? Aluminum polishing is very messy and chances are good you'll have black stains left in whatever towel you decide to use, so keep this in mind when choosing microfiber towels from your microfiber towel collection and consider choosing microfiber towels that are already too tatty for use on the topside, clear plastics or the hull.

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_001.jpg


Here's what the aluminum looked like before it was buffed out. It is stained with water spots and oxidation.
http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_002.jpg

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_003.jpg



Here's what the aluminum looks like after some quick buffing with a wool pad on a rotary buffer...

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_004.jpg


Huge difference in finish quality and appearance...

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_005.jpg



In this shot you can see the section of the frame I taped-off and all of the diamond plate from the tape to the can sitting on top of the fender has been polished and is covered with dark black polishing residue...

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_006.jpg

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_007.jpg


Any towel you use will end up looking like this so choose towels that it won't bother you if they are a little stained after metal polishing...

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_008.jpg


And here's the end-results...

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_014.jpg

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_015.jpg




Metal Polishing Tips

Wash dry or wipe clean any metal surface before you start so you don't grind previously accumulated dirt into the aluminum.

Choose a buffing pad recommended for metal polishing.

Use a rotary buffer that offers a low RPM range as low RPMs make it easier to spread the polish around without getting it all over the place.

Spread the aluminum polish over the diamond plate in the area you're going to buff. You can use a spatula or your finger. You can also a little product directly to the face of the buffing pad.

Run you polisher between 1000 RPM and 1500 RPMs.

Hold the body of the rotary buffer so you're buffing on the edge of your buffing pads to get in and around the actual stamped diamond pattern in the metal.

Clean your pad after the initial cut and re-polish using less product, less pressure and a faster arm movement to really bring up the shine.




Pad Cleaning

Machine polishing oxidized aluminum is going to really load the face of your buffing pad up with oxidation and spent metal polish.

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_009.jpg



Step 1
Place one full scoop of Marine 31 Polishing Pad Cleaner into your Marine 31 Pad Washer and mix thoroughly.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_016.jpg



Step 2
Place your buffing pad into the pad washer and close the splash guard lid.

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_010.jpg


Step 3

Run the polisher around 1000 RPM to 1300 RPM and at the same time pump the pad up and down against the insert inside the pad washer.

After pumping the pad up and down for about a minute, lift the polisher up to lift the buffing pad off the pad cleaning insert and then increase the RPM's to the high setting to sling out any excess water from your buffing pad using centrifugal force.

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_011.jpg


Done!

Your pad will now be clean and ready to put back to work machine buffing metal.

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_012.jpg

http://www.marine31online.com/gallery/data/511/Diamond_Plate_Fenders_013.jpg



Important
Dedicate your pads for the way in which the are used.

Have dedicated pads for metal polishing, fiberglas gel-coat polishing and paint polishing, don't mix-and-match pads to different products and surfaces. For example, don't use a pad you've been using to buff oxidized aluminum to buff a gel-coat finish.

Also, after all pad cleaning is over from your metal polishing project, be sure to wash out and thoroughly clean your pad washer before mixing fresh pad cleaner and water to clean pads being used on gel-coat or paint.



On Marine31.com

Marine 31 Finish Cut Metal Restoring Polish (http://www.marine31.com/marine-31-boat-metal-polish.html)
6.5 inch Lake Country Level 1 Pre-polishing Wool Pad (http://www.marine31.com/blackfire-pre-polishing-wool-pad.html).
A wool pad spur from Lake Country (http://www.marine31.com/wool-pad-spur.html)
Flex PE14-2-150 Rotary Polisher (http://www.marine31.com/flex-pe14-2-150-rotary-polisher.html)
Marine 31 Pad Cleaner
Marine 31 Polishing Pad Cleaner



:)

[Dapper Don]

I have the Griots 6" DA polisher but no rotarty, can I use that on diamond plate as well? If so, what pads would you recommend?

[Addicted2Bling]

A DA won't do anything, you have to use a rotary.

[Dapper Don]

Okay, so rotary it is. Thanks for the reply.

[Mike Phillips]

A DA won't do anything, you have to use a rotary.




The reason a simple dual action polisher like the Griot's Garage 6" DA won't do anything is because this tool like other DA polishers are NOT direct drive and what this means is when you push the pad against a surface and especially at an angle, (like you would do for diamond plate), the pad won't rotate.

If the pad is not rotating you are not doing anything.

A rotary buffer is a gear driven, single rotation action tool and with a wool pad and a good metal polish you basically grind off a lot of dead, oxidized aluminum real fast.

Get a steel spur too to keep your pad clean.

Pad Cleaning Spur (http://www.marine31.com/wool-pad-spur.html)


:thumb:

[Dapper Don]

Okay so I got my order in with Nick yesterday afternoon and today I have the Marine 31 polishing paste, LC wool pad, backing plate, and spur with the rest of my gear. I will be heading to the marina this evening to start the restoration of my 2004 Sea Ray Sundancer using all of the Marine 31 products that Nick has advised me on. Another question I have is will this polish/pad combo work to shine up my stainless steel outdrive props?

[Dapper Don]

Wow, this forum is a little...underwhelming with activity.

http://c2.thejournal.ie/media/2014/08/20120418120245-62cbeff6.gif

[Nick]

Okay so I got my order in with Nick yesterday afternoon and today I have the Marine 31 polishing paste, LC wool pad, backing plate, and spur with the rest of my gear. I will be heading to the marina this evening to start the restoration of my 2004 Sea Ray Sundancer using all of the Marine 31 products that Nick has advised me on. Another question I have is will this polish/pad combo work to shine up my stainless steel outdrive props?

Wow, this forum is a little...underwhelming with activity.

http://c2.thejournal.ie/media/2014/08/20120418120245-62cbeff6.gif

I was off all weekend (yes, it does happen every now and then! :captain:) and Mike has been out in California working on a special project the last couple days, so I apologize for the delayed response.

To answer your question, YES that pad/polish combo can be used on your props. They will look great! :thumb:

[Dapper Don]

LOL! Well as hard as you work I am sure you deserved it. No worries about the response time, I was just busting chops a little.

[Mike Phillips]

Wow, this forum is a little...underwhelming with activity.





I've been running forums professionally since 2004 and what makes a forum busy is exactly the word you used.... activity. Activity would be detailing boats, taking before and after pictures and then sharing the pictures via the forum.

So whenever I have a boat detail I share it on this forum. That creates activity. Members sharing their boat detailing projects also creates activity.

Stay tuned... more boat detailing write-ups coming soon...


:)

[Dapper Don]

Hi Mike. And you are so very correct. In fact, Nick has done such an awesome job of getting me set up with an entire Marine 31 product line and other essentials for my 280 Sea Ray and trailer I am starting tomorrow. I am very excited to see what these products are capable of and feel very confident on this project having the Marine 31 forums as well as Nick to be there if I stumble.

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Mike. And you are so very correct. In fact, Nick has done such an awesome job of getting me set up with an entire Marine 31 product line and other essentials for my 280 Sea Ray and trailer I am starting tomorrow. I am very excited to see what these products are capable of and feel very confident on this project having the Marine 31 forums as well as Nick to be there if I stumble.


I just had a guy call me with questions about the order to use his products and his options.

It was a good phone call because his boat isn't too badly oxidized he has more options. Plus he owns both a rotary buffer and a dual action polisher, this is a great tool combination as it enables him to do so much by machine.

If you have any questions... either Nick or myself are always happy to discuss via the forum or the phone.


:)

[Dapper Don]

I just purchased an entry level rotary to go with my GG 6" & GG 3". So I feel like I have the equipment necessary to step up to the plate.