Marine 31 Forum - View Single Post - How To Machine Polish Oxidized Aluminum Diamond Plate

Mike Phillips · 05-28-2013, 02:26 PM

How To Machine Polish Oxidized Aluminum Diamond Plate

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.

Here's what the aluminum looked like before it was buffed out. It is stained with water spots and oxidation.

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

Huge difference in finish quality and appearance...

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...

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...

And here's the end-results...

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.

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

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

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.

Done!

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

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
6.5 inch Lake Country Level 1 Pre-polishing Wool Pad.
A wool pad spur from Lake Country
Flex PE14-2-150 Rotary Polisher
Marine 31 Pad Cleaner
Marine 31 Polishing Pad Cleaner

05-28-2013, 02:26 PM	#1
Mike Phillips Status: Director of Training Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 675	How To Machine Polish Oxidized Aluminum Diamond Plate How To Machine Polish Oxidized Aluminum Diamond Plate 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. Here's what the aluminum looked like before it was buffed out. It is stained with water spots and oxidation. Here's what the aluminum looks like after some quick buffing with a wool pad on a rotary buffer... Huge difference in finish quality and appearance... 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... 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... And here's the end-results... 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. Step 1 Place one full scoop of Marine 31 Polishing Pad Cleaner into your Marine 31 Pad Washer and mix thoroughly. Step 2 Place your buffing pad into the pad washer and close the splash guard lid. 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. Done! Your pad will now be clean and ready to put back to work machine buffing metal. 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 6.5 inch Lake Country Level 1 Pre-polishing Wool Pad. A wool pad spur from Lake Country Flex PE14-2-150 Rotary Polisher Marine 31 Pad Cleaner Marine 31 Polishing Pad Cleaner __________________ Made by boat people for boat people...