1962 natural aluminum bezel surround restoration

[Dino L.]

Can you share how you restore the luster back on the lighter, headlight ,and wiper bezel

[Ed S.]

Re: 1962 natural aluminum bezel surround restoration

Dino,
I "restore the luster" to stainless steel parts with a 3/4 hp electric motor that has a 6 inch buffing wheel on it. These machines are available from a lot of sources, Harbor Freight, Sears, Lowe's etc. Most have a threaded shaft on both ends so you can mount 2 different types of wheels, i.e., wire, stone, cotton (for buffing). I use the cotton wheel with jeweler's rouge - the red stuff, it will make dull stainless steel glisten. If there are scratches in the stainless you can use a more aggressive buffing compound to get the scratches out - then you have to do a second polish with a softer compound (jeweler's rouge). If you work at it enough you can make any stainless steel item look like a Marine belt buckle. There are different grades of cotton wheel, just as there are different grades or coarseness of sharpening stones and wire brushes. The most common size buffing machine is 6 inches (diameter) - but I wish I had an 8 inch model - better for buffing / polishing metals. If you need more info I can dig through some of my electronic files, I think I have a PDF file or two on buffing techniques.

[Dino L.]

Re: 1962 natural aluminum bezel surround restoration

Thanks Ed for the reply, these parts are aluminum and they do not look like they are polished nor anodized , but I think they have a brite finish which I have no idea to replicate

[Ed S.]

Re: 1962 natural aluminum bezel surround restoration

Dino,
I have also polished aluminum parts - with essentially the same results. It glistens - probably in some cases too much for judging. You can polish just about any metal to a very high luster - of course they will all oxidize and tarnish - at different rates. The shine on aluminum will last almost as long as SS; copper and brass not so long. If you don't have a grinding machine like I described I would suggest you consider getting one - they are great, I use the soft wire brush for cleaning steel - it knocks off rust fast - great for cleaning surface rust off of bolt threads.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1962 natural aluminum bezel surround restoration

If you're sure it is aluminum, I bought this to use on my Austin-Healey:

http://www.californiacustom.com/purple_metal_polish.html

[John D.]

Re: 1962 natural aluminum bezel surround restoration

My vendor trailer has aluminum fenders. For years I used Semi-chrome. Hard labor so it was.
Then I switched to Mother's Aluminum polish and can d polish the tandem trailer aluminum fender in a few minutes. Looks like chrome.
If the aluminum has scratches then it must be sanded out with various grades of paper. JD

If you are not an expert at polishing parts with a buffing wheel on an motor then I would sub the job out. Doesn't take much for the part to go flying across the shop at a 100 mph. Been there.