I just picked up some used aluminum reveal moldings and I wanted to polish them. I started hand polishing with MAAS, Simichrome, Meguirs Aluminum mag polish, Mothers Billet polish, even a light chrome cleaner, nothing seems to work. Any suggestions, beside buffing wheel? What type compound works on this aluminum? I expected the cloth to turn black like when you polish aluminum rims, but no dice? What gives??? Larry
Those moldings are either flash chromed or anodized. They have to be stripped before you can polish them.
I really don't want to suggest anything because I'm unsure. I think you can use chemicals or Drano, I just don't really know because I send my stainless out. Front ww moldings for 70-72 'larks are the same. People have said you can use different abrasive things...Scotchbrite or something. On another note...I think 67 GTO mldgs are the same as 'larks, but they are stainless. Maybe somebody else will chime in. You could google "flash" chrome stripping and get some info. Many wheelcovers were like that, too. Once you remove the coating, you can make them shine, but they will have no protection.
The 67 drip rail and upper belt line moldings are aluminum and anodized. Eastwood makes an anodizing remover that does a nice job. For stainless, the best home remedy to remove the flash chrome is to submerge them in muriatic acid, but it has to be closely monitored. They will be eaten away if left unsupervised. Keep in mind with aluminum, once the anodizing is gone, there is no protection. They will scratch easily and will need to be polished by hand occasionally.
Never tried it, but I heard oven cleaner removes the anodizing. I also heard that you have to monitor that closely as well. I had a lot of moldings for a '72 Mercury that needed attention. I took them to Custom Metal Finishing (Proctors) in Muskegon MI. They came out very nice.
