What is the whole thing about using crumpled aluminum foil to restore AL finish??
 

A couple of times I read in this forum recommendations to use crumpled aluminum foilt to restore finishes. Don't quite understand how it works. Is it used to polish aluminum component parts? Does it result in a smooth polished finish? Is it used to take anodizing off? Please advise.

Chombi

I've used it on chrome, not aluminum. I don't imagine aluminum on aluminum will do you any good.

It polishes or take scratches off chrome then....or maybe IIRC, it takes rust spots off chrome??

Chombi

Yeah, foil and water is one way to get rid of rust. The foil is abrasive enough to get off most surface rust, but I would never try using it on chrome... I feel like that's a recipe for scratches.

Randy Jawa swears by it (maybe the foil is different in Canada), but IMHO it doesn't work.
Try it yourself and decide.

Works with Southern California foil as well but only on chromed parts. Used it extensively on my old Le Tours as well as an old chrome DB MTB.

As you rub the aluminum foil, it's softer and shouldn't scratch, the action results in forming aluminum oxide, which is abrasive and remove surface rust and mild scratches.
Well, that's the theory.

It didn't leave scratches on my chrome. I wish I had before/after shots, but I was happy with the results. I tried it first on an old set of chrome rims and then on a frame. Both look good now.

I have a '62 Schwinn Jaguar IV, A bigger chrome boat you will never see. I used foil on the fenders, frame and rim and she looks great. Almost no bad chrome on the entire bike. A few ( maybe 4 or 5) bad spots half the size of a pinky nail on whole bike.. Ya have to WORK it though.

I used crumpled foil with some light machine oil for lubrication on all the chrome parts on my Raleigh Sports, and it worked like a charm. Rust came off easily, and not a scratch in sight. I experimented with 0000 steel wool on a few parts early in the process, and definitely noticed some fine scratching - so I never used it again. The foil was the answer, for me.

Great! Thanks for the clarification guys! I will use crumpled aluminum foil the next time I have to clean off any rust freckles on my PSV's chromed fork. I wish there is an equvalent material to use on polished aluminum, but finding a softer material than AL in foil form will be a bit hard........unless I'm filthy rich and could afford gold foil in big rolls!:D Mother's or Eagle 1 aluminum wheel polish will have to suffice for now, I guess......

Chombi

Brass wool supposdely works also

I've used aluminum foil with lemon juice on rust and "cloudy" chrome, and it's done me really really well.

I've also used it on alloy components (handlebars, stem, etc) and it's done a fantastic job on them FWIW.

ive used foil on aluminum rims and not only was it difficult to work with, but it scratched the rims. 0000 steel wool lubed up with wd40 works really well for me.

I didn't believe it either, then I tried it on an old seat post just to see. Darned but it didn't shine it up! Give it a try, not like it's gonna cost more than a few cents. Use the leftovers for lining cookie sheets, making Christmas ornaments, grilling vegetables, etc...

I used crumpled aluminum foil and WD40 on a fork with rust "freckles" and it worked well. I ended up grinding the chrome and painting the fork anyway, just because a chrome fork didn't have the look I wanted.

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/46...425x425Q85.jpg

I did it the other way around - we typically use foil to wrap bread before we put it in the oven to warm it up for dinner. For weeks, I was saving the foil from the bread to use on my bike. It's all about the recycling!

I've heard this many times, but I couldn't find brass wool anywhere. I found it online, but it was expensive and I hate to wait for things to be shipped. None of my local hardware or painting stores had it - where should I have looked?

Look for bronze wool. ACE Hardware should carry it, particularly in areas with lots of boaters.

-Kurt

So, I understand now that these all just work for chrome on steel and not aluminum....as I think that the Bronze wool material is harder than AL too.....yes?? I do remember using real fine steel wool to remove rust from a chrome bumper when I was a kid...
I suspect all this stuff, including crumpled aluminum foil, would just end up dulling a polished aluminum surface, as the polishing medium generally needs to be softer than the metal being polished.

Chombi

Friend of mine swears by Al foil and Coca cola for polishing chrome.
Not endorsing, just sharing.

Enjoy