Cleaning & Bringing Back To Life Old, Dull Aluminum Trim: How To Do?

Just bought some rocker panel mouldings for my 1970 Mercury Cougar. These are a one year only item and they are DULL! After 40 years of being exposed to the elements and close to the road these babies are in need of some restoration.

So what is the best way? I don't have a buffing wheel or a bench grinder. Jeweler's rouge? Some type of aluminum cleaner? I imagine it will entail lots of elbow grease at a minimum.

Best products? Best methods? Help?

Thanks,

Steve  
Member of COUGAR CLUB OF NEW ENGLAND (#25) www.necougarclub.com
Member of DODGE TRUCK WORLD (Maine Chapter) http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines....ry.asp?id=4871

2006 Ford Mustang
1970 Mercury Cougar (19,300 miles )
2003 Dodge Ram 4x4 Quadcab
1994 S-10 Blazer Tahoe
1968 Mercury Cougar DGS (Parting Out)

Retired Navy (Submarine Service) E-7 MMC(SS)
USS Simon Bolivar SSBN-641 (B)
USS Henry M. Jackson SSBN-730 (B)
USS Gurnard SSN-662

Shipfitter @ Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Building Aegis class destroye

I have used this process on aluminum trim, but the following works on aluminum angle. I built a mobile command center trailer for the company I work for. In it I used 1x1 aluminum angle for much of the trim.

First I sprayed coil cleaner on and let it set for 10-15 min. After rinsing the cleaner, I rubbed on Never Dull(from Eagle One) and buffed with a foam type buffing ball in my drill. Wipe it down with a clean cloth.

The last step is the best....Rub all purpose flour on the aluminum. Thats correct, get some flour out of the kitchen. Rub it in by hand and then just wipe it off. The flour "grains" are small enough to get into the remaining pores in the metal and remove buffing debris. It works awesome on any polished aluminum that I have polished so far.

Perhaps someone else has had more experience with automotive trim. It works great on diamond plate aluminum as well. The coil cleaner will remove everything from the surface of the metal-including paint. But, it gets the surface good and clean.
Be prepared to do some detail painting if you use the coil cleaner.  
1967 Fairlane 289-4v auto...for now
2007 Mustang
1997 HD F-250
2006 Taurus

WHAT IS COIL CLEANER?

Thanks,

Steve  
Member of COUGAR CLUB OF NEW ENGLAND (#25) www.necougarclub.com
Member of DODGE TRUCK WORLD (Maine Chapter) http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines....ry.asp?id=4871

2006 Ford Mustang
1970 Mercury Cougar (19,300 miles )
2003 Dodge Ram 4x4 Quadcab
1994 S-10 Blazer Tahoe
1968 Mercury Cougar DGS (Parting Out)

Retired Navy (Submarine Service) E-7 MMC(SS)
USS Simon Bolivar SSBN-641 (B)
USS Henry M. Jackson SSBN-730 (B)
USS Gurnard SSN-662

Shipfitter @ Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Building Aegis class destroye

I think he means the cleaner used to clean the coils of a refrigeration unit/A/C system, etc. Strong, but safe for aluminum. Maybe a hardware store or appliance repair center?

HTH...
Mark  
Mark Houlahan
Editor
Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

1965 FFR Roadster 427W/TKO-600
1966 Mustang 289-4V/C4
1968 Mustang 4.6L Three-Valve/5R55S auto
1990 Mustang 347/AOD
1998 Escort 2.0L SOHC/F4E-111 Auto
2002 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L V-6/5R55 Auto

That is correct. The cleaner for AC and refrigeration units. Again, it will remove just about everything from the aluminum. So you may have to do some painting. Definetly try the flour trick-you will like it.  
1967 Fairlane 289-4v auto...for now
2007 Mustang
1997 HD F-250
2006 Taurus

I got my coil cleaner from a local electrical supply company, but you may find it at a boat dealership. Sometimes they use it clean pontoon boats.  
1967 Fairlane 289-4v auto...for now
2007 Mustang
1997 HD F-250
2006 Taurus

I found some online. I will have to look at Lowe's or at a hardware store to see if I can find some locally. That should work good, the description of the coil cleaner sounds just right. I will try your method. It sounds tried and true! Even the flour...stuff has got to be good for something! I would have to repaint the black painted area, but that is alright.

Thanks!

Steve  
Member of COUGAR CLUB OF NEW ENGLAND (#25) www.necougarclub.com
Member of DODGE TRUCK WORLD (Maine Chapter) http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines....ry.asp?id=4871

2006 Ford Mustang
1970 Mercury Cougar (19,300 miles )
2003 Dodge Ram 4x4 Quadcab
1994 S-10 Blazer Tahoe
1968 Mercury Cougar DGS (Parting Out)

Retired Navy (Submarine Service) E-7 MMC(SS)
USS Simon Bolivar SSBN-641 (B)
USS Henry M. Jackson SSBN-730 (B)
USS Gurnard SSN-662

Shipfitter @ Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Building Aegis class destroye

otherwise you can always use some coca cola and good ole elbow grease. mythbusters helped show that does a little good. its not expensive cleaner that you can buy, but right outa the fridge in your house. lol =D  
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1981 Mustang Cobra \ 1971 5.0L 302 V8 bored 30"