In this article, we will discuss the best way to polish aluminum. It is funny to ask that does you have any piece of aluminum dish or dinnerware that you want to polish. The thing is we all have the aluminum item in our home as it is the most abundant metal on earth. There is an insane number of aluminum items so it depends on you what you’re trying to polish? It may be a piece of sheet metal on a car, truck, or semi. To know the best method to polish aluminum, follow this article till the end.
Top Method to Polish Aluminum:
1.) Dish Soap and Water to Polish Aluminum
Clean off any grime, food, dirt or debris that has attached them to the aluminum piece over the years since it was last polished. You should clean aluminum with a soft-bristled toothbrush or any scrubber to get into the cracks. Then, rinse off any left-over soap and debris with clean water.
2.) Cream of Tartar and Water to Polish Aluminum
Cream of tartar which is also known as potassium bitartrate is a by-product and has many household applications as a cleaner. If polishing an aluminum pot or pan, simply boil water and one tablespoon of cream of tartar in the pan. Do this for ten minutes and then dump out the cream of tartar mixture.
After that rinse the pot or pan well when it cools down. Now, repeat if it is necessary. You should use circular motions to completely clean the aluminum with the cream of tartar paste. Use a cloth to fawn the cream of tartar onto the surface of the aluminum. Finally, rinse with water and dry with a cloth.
3.) Apply Aluminum Polish to Select Areas of the Aluminum
While polishing aluminum you should use a soft cloth and work in small circular motions. Remove the previous polish with another soft cloth. Then, buff to finish. Avoid polishing inside of aluminum pots or pans using metallic polish. Aluminum polish can be hazardous to human and should never be ingested in any case.
Remember, you should not polish any area that comes into contact with the burner or gas flame. Thoroughly, clean the sheet metal with any liquid detergent and water to remove grit and dirt. You need the aluminum to be clean completely when you sand it. Wash off any left-over soap with clean water and dry with a towel.
4.) Apply Protective Eyewear and Masks in Case of Emergency
It is always a good idea to protect your eyes and face before sanding and applying the compound. Sand the aluminum sheet, starting with medium grit sandpaper to finer sandpaper. In order to get a shiny mirror finish on your boat, car, or aluminum panels, you need to do some sanding. Instead of using sandpaper by hands you can also employ a sanding machine this will make your job incredibly easier.
5.) Sand Metal Sheet
For a quick polish, you need to start with 400-grit sandpaper and provide the entire area a good sanding. After that, use 800-grit sandpaper to give the aluminum piece a good once-over. For the best outcome, you should start with 120 grit and move up to 240, 320, 400, and so on till 600-grit. Now, for very fine polishing you can use up to a 1600 grit paper and wet sand for the final sanding.
6.) Rotating Cotton Buffing Tool to Polish Aluminum
Remember, you should apply a rouge or brown cutting compound to the buffing tool before proceeding. The circular motion is best to buff the sheet metal. It also depends on upon the buffing tool, straight lines.
