Bicycle Mechanics - stripping and polishing an aluminum frame...

so i'm in the process of stripping the paint from my 7 year old mtb frame, and i'd like to have the finished product be polished aluminum. i've already used chemical stripper to get most of the paint off, and i'm now going at it with coarse steel wool to get it down to bare aluminum.

my question is, after i have bare aluminum, what is the best way to polish up the frame so that it will stay that way? should i just use some aluminum polish? do i need to spray the frame with a clear coat after that, or will the aluminum polish keep the frame protected? i'd like to not have to go at the frame with steel wool for another couple years, at least...

any help would be much appreciated. thanks!

steve

so i'm in the process of stripping the paint from my 7 year old mtb frame, and i'd like to have the finished product be polished aluminum. i've already used chemical stripper to get most of the paint off, and i'm now going at it with coarse steel wool to get it down to bare aluminum.

my question is, after i have bare aluminum, what is the best way to polish up the frame so that it will stay that way? should i just use some aluminum polish? do i need to spray the frame with a clear coat after that, or will the aluminum polish keep the frame protected? i'd like to not have to go at the frame with steel wool for another couple years, at least...

any help would be much appreciated. thanks!

steve


I have seen some motorcycles done with these products, and they som e out very nice.

http://www.englishcustompolishing.com/usca/index.html

Over the Winter I stripped and polished my aluminum seatpost to get rid of all of the scratches from previous insertions into the seat tube.

I used fine sandpaper, followed by very fine sandpaper, followed by very very fine. Sorry, I don't remember the grades but I can figure it out once I get home if it would help. The stripping took about 30 minutes.

Once I had the seatpost stripped I used an aluminum polish that I bought at a car parts place. I think it was Mother's.

I was very happy with the results.

Airstream Travel Trailer renovators use a regular car paste wax after they polish. These are aluminum if you are unfamiliar with them.

I have a bare Al MTB. Polished from the factory. You will just need to hit it with the Al polish now and then. I use Mothers. I would not clear coat.

I also have a bare Ti bike............maybe I just don't like paint.

i picked up some mother's aluminum polish on monday and polished up the frame. it looks pretty sweet. i actually brushed up the frame in a cool spiral pattern with my friend's rotary tool before i polished it and converted it to a singlespeed - it looks awesome, and *rides* even better.

happy riding!

-steve

i picked up some mother's aluminum polish on monday and polished up the frame. it looks pretty sweet. i actually brushed up the frame in a cool spiral pattern with my friend's rotary tool before i polished it and converted it to a singlespeed - it looks awesome, and *rides* even better.

happy riding!

-steve


It aounds pretty neat.

Can you post a picture?

stripping and polishing an aluminum frame...

Why do I have to strip before polishing an aluminum frame? Can't I just do it with my clothes ON? :-)

JFYI, if you want to keep the polished surface looking as slick as when you finished, you could either powdercoat or anodize clear the frame...I've not heard much about clear powdercoating (but I know it's out)...I know clear anodizing works...it will kinda 'milk' or 'cloud' the finish, but you won't have to polish it year after year...and done properly, will protect the aluminum to a degree...

Shouldn't cost more than $30-$50...and will last for years...

(BTW, I don't work for any of these guys, but I've been studying it for years, esp. when I was into m/cycles..)