How to make aluminum Shine again?

[phibob808]

I need some help. I bought an aluminum dog trailer off of here on friday, and i was wanting to make it shine again. Whats the easiest way to do it without making your arm fall off from rubbing it with compound? Im all ears, and open to all suggestions.




Thanks,
Spencer

[Rockpit TX]

There is no easy way. Just compound and muscle

[rubydog]

Go to a truck and trailer shop and buy a gallon of Alumabrite. Works like a champ but will kill your grass.

[locoengineer]

take it to a truck wash or horse trailer dealer they can acid wash it make it look new my 3 horse slant with living quaters is 8' wide 27' long cost $125

[Mike Murphey]

Mothers paste wax and elbow grease....

[BRALEYOUTDOORS]

Go to a truck and trailer shop and buy a gallon of Alumabrite. Works like a champ but will kill your grass.

X2

or ask at a boat dealer for toonbright. Same stuff

[SneakyPhil]

The shine won't last to long because AL will oxidize after a short while.

[Geezy Rider]

take it to a truck wash or horse trailer dealer they can acid wash it make it look new my 3 horse slant with living quaters is 8' wide 27' long cost $125

X3. That's where I take my aluminum horse trailer. Blue Beacon truck wash.

[Tubby]

We used to use a polish product called "Ouator" (pronounced "water"). It's not on the market anymore but has been replaced by another product. I have not used this one and do not know of anyone who has. If it is 1/2 the product Ouator was, it's good stuff!

http://www.g-4rce.com/ouator.htm

[El Arquero Rey]

Acid wash

[low_tec]

I would try some spray on aluminum wheel cleaner from almost any auto parts store

[phibob808]

Thanks for all the tips! Im gonna try some out before i look into the acid wash cause there isn't one close in my part that i know of!

[Thundervee]

The acid wash will not make it a mirror shine, You can make your own polish to shine it with and it will have a mirror shine, you can use a buffer with it also, here's what you need,
Green Jeweler's rouge <---sp?
Charcoal lighter fluid

Break a chunk of JR off and crush it up in a bowl to where you have little chunks, put it in 12 coke bottle , fill the bottle about a 1/4 of the way up with it, then fill the rest of the way up with the lighter fluid and run it under hot water shaking it up every now and then till all the chunk's disolve, then your done, you can test it out on a small area with a rag to see how good it works, it will look like chrome. rub it till it turn's black wait a min. and wipe it off, I have found the green jeweler's rouge work's the best. Have fun

[OPC Patrick]

for the airstreams we used acid wash to remove clear coat. So you can skip this step.
next buff with aluminum polish compound. Ours was for aircraft. When I started I had to use our hands with special cotton rags. Now we have special orbital buffers. Buff out compound. Then clean with rag and mineral spirits. then paint with clear coat if you want.

[Tilladaddy]

There is a product called never dull, we used it in the navy on everything from Brightworks to belt buckles.

http://www.nevrdull.com/wpimages/wpefd43e35.jpg