Help with Billet Aluminum

[secchildhood]

I hope someone can help me out. The following pictures are of my catch can and abs brake module cover. I have done everything I can think of to get rid of the watermarks and nothing has worked.
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd484/wanatow/catchcan2.jpg
http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd484/wanatow/catchcan3.jpg



http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd484/wanatow/catchcan1.jpg

[Kaban]

Metal polish?

Or a fine grade steel wool if metal polish with a soft pad doesnt do the trick.

[DaveT435]

There used to be a product that would clean that up with not much labor...they quit making it...this looks like it is close because of the way they talk about the black being produced as you polish...I haven't tried it...but have done a lot of research trying to find the old extreme wheel polish. Long story but anyway this stuff sounds like it is close.
3M Mag and Aluminum Polish, mag wheel polish, aluminum metal polish, polish metals (http://www.autogeek.net/3m-aluminum-polish.html)

[rider9195]

What have you tried?

[Finemess]

I'd try this, this stuff really works.

Rolite Metal Polish (http://www.autogeek.net/rolite-metal-polish.html)

[Talvanos]

Back in the day when I had uncoated aluminum slots on my 1970 Torino GT I used Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish. It takes work, but it should clean that up as long as it isn't etched in and started corroding. You can find this in almost any auto store or even Wally World.

Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish 10 oz. (http://www.autogeek.net/mo5101.html)

Put a little on a cloth and rub it in, when it turns the cloth black its time to wipe the spot and switch to a different place on the towel. Then top it with some Wheel wax or some other sealant type stuff.

If the water marks are etched into the aluminum(beginning stages of corrosion) the ONLY to remove them by sanding/polishing compound. After that you are going to have use a rouge and a buffing wheel that is normally on a bench grinder type of machine. They also have the buffing wheels and rouge for dremel tools.

Hope this helps.

[BobbyG]

Flitz
Mothers
Wolfgang

Place a dab on a cloth and start scrubbing..... Once your satisfied with the results you might want to apply some sealant or other protective coating to minimize water spots int he future...:props:

[car nut]

I have had great results with Flitz .Good luck

[secchildhood]

What have you tried?

I tried an apc with no luck.
I tried wheel and mag cleaner with no luck.
I used a buffing wheel on a dremel with no luck.

I am now buying some of the recommended metal polishing compounds and try to hand buff it out.

Thanks everyone for your help.

[forrest@mothers]

I'd wet sand with 2,000 and then 3,000.

Follow that with a metal polish. Follow that with a billet polish, which has a finer media. With the metal polish use a microfiber. With the billet use a nitrile glove to do the polishing, and a clean, quality microfiber to lightly wipe away the residue.

Don't let either polish dry.

[DaveT435]

Let me know if one of these works for you. I've been looking for a good aluminum polish.