Anyone know of a good product or any knowlegde on cleaning the trim around my drivers side and pasenger side windows.Most of my trim is in good shape but these two areas dont look so good I read somewhere it is Nicol plated aluminum? Thanks for any advice Ricky
Ricky The trim is anodized and can't be polished without removing the coating. When you do this the aluminum is now unprotected. I have heard of people trying to clear coat the trim after polishing. I dont know how well this will work.
I sent mine out, the guy removed the anodization, then he polished them like new, then I reinstalled them. It's been at least 2 years and don't see any issue having them un-anodized. Shine like crazy.:bglasses: If it is a garaged car, not a problem. imo.
Thanks Joe can you tell me was it a real pain to remove them Also what kind of shop did that for you ? Thanks Ricky
Use 0000 steel wool to clean them, then put a heavy coat of wax on them. Keep them clean and they'll look good for ever. :TU:
Thanks for the help when you say wax is that just an aluminum cleaner? Or is there a specific kind of wax Thanks Again Ricky
I have had good results buffing them with a wheel on a drill using buffing compound after the steelwool. Be careful not to hit the paint or glass... - Bill
That anodizing coat is a real beeitch to remove. But once it's gone, you can shine the aluminum to a mirror shine pretty easily. It would require removing the trim from the car, though. I would do what I could on with it on the car as the others have suggested with steel wool and compounds, until you want to pull the trim and really polish it.
Thanks i think im going to try just the wax first before the steel wool I think they may have already been steel wooled there seems to be alot of scratchces If they dont get better after buffing i will try steel wool and then buff them Thanks for the advice
Yes, make SURE you use 0000 steel wool. Do NOT use the steel wool soap pads you get at the grocery store. They'll scratch the crap out of the trim.
Thanks your right i do not want to pull the trim Im sure to screw it up somehow if i had to do that I will try my best first with it on the car Thanks
Ok thanks and thats what i think may have already been done As i see a bunch of scratches The rest of the aluminum looks great But the trim near the pass/drivers windows is all scratched
Well on my 65 post sedan 2 door I just had to kinda peel the trim off carefully, not to bend or kink it. On my car there were 2 spring clips and then just gently pry it off. No tools, just my fingers. I found a guy that claimed to be a metal polisher and restorer. I googled within 100 miles from where I live and he came up. I called him and he knew the exact trim I was calling about and he told me "not to worry" and he was right. Best trim on my car.
Thanks for the advise the one piece that was really bad had a ton a scratches and looked awful. I tried the 0000 steel wool and didnt have any luck it wouldnt take the scratches or dullness away. So i tried a drywall sanding pad it took a ton of elbow grease but i believe i got all the anodized stuff off the Scratches are all gone. I polished it with the Mothers Aluminum stuff it it shines great. Im gonna do it all now the one peice with the scratches and dullness is now the best piece Thanks Again for the advise :TU:
