Diamond plate

[drmikeyb]

Ok here's one for the pros. Any recommendations on polishing a diamond plate tool box. Slight swirl marks overall in good shape. What to use, which pads etc... Thank you.

Mike Bradford
Hattiesburg, Ms

[Calendyr]

I remember someone posting pictures about a year or two back about polishing walls of diamond plate in a business of some kind. If you could find that post it might answer all your questions.

From memory, I believe he used metal polish on a DA... or it might have been a rotary buffer. I do not remember him using special tools, so very likelly a microfiber or foam pad.

One thing I do remember is that he was using some kind of hair net to protect his face, and it was not sufficient. Seems that metal polish was throwing off a lot of metal dust, so good lung protection would be recommended if you have to do any large area of the stuff.

As a side note, I have seen people using flitz polishing ball, I believe it is sold here on Autogeek with flitz metal polish. So that would be an option as well.

Do not use Mother's powerball, they disintegrate on diamond plates.

Good luck!

[kkritsilas]

There is a video on either YouTube or on the Flitz site itself that shows Diamond plate being polished. You can look up the video, but from memory, the idea is to wash the Diamond plate first, and then dry it. After it is completely dry, use the Flitz Pre Cleaner, allow to dwell for a short period of time, then wipe off. After that, put a thin layer of Flitz metal polish on the surface, and buff using the Flitz Buff Ball.

The Pre Cleaner removes any chemical contaminants and Aluminum oxides. The Buff Ball stands up to the "Diamonds" that are part of the Diamond plate. The Diamonds have sharp edges that will chew up a foam polishing ball. The Buff Ball is also washable (in a washing machine).

[nrosdal]

search airway buffing wheel if you have a rotary buffer and order a couple of them. Usually i would start with a green wheel and brown bar of compound and move on to a white wheel with a green compound bar. if you want it perfect then you can go to a da polisher with something ultra fine like mothers aluminium polish or other brand similar.

It should be pretty easy if the diamond plate is not heavily scratched or pitted and may only take once over with a white wheel and green bar but if it is a little worse for wear you should go with the 2 step and if it is really bad you will need to either sand or hit it with a medium scotch brite before polishing.

[nrosdal]

a couple pics always help.

[david b]

Here's a 'how-to' article...

https://www.autogeek.net/metal-polishing-how-to.html

Good luck!

[drmikeyb]

Thank you.

Mike Bradford
Hattiesburg, Ms

[drmikeyb]

Problem is I used a rotary buffer like a knucklehead and put some slight swirl marks on it. I could have kicked my myself. I'm a rookie big time but I strive for perfection.

Mike Bradford
Hattiesburg, Ms