3310vette

About 15 months ago, i had a brilliant idea that I would polish the aluminum kick panel insert. I used 3,000 grit sandpaper and water. That removed the shine and now the kick panel is dull.

I have tried every type of polish and wax that I own and nothing makes the dull kick panel shine. I used Flitz cream, plexiglass polish, deep scratch formula and minor scratch formula, liquid wax, and jeweler's rouge on a buffing wheel. None of those products polished the dull aluminum.

I polished my air cleaner lid until it had a mirror finish on it using the Flitz cream (then I had to dull it down as it was too shiny).

Does anyone have another recommendation besides buying a repro kick panel insert?

mike coletta

You have to get the anodizing off. Do a seach on removing anodizing or anodize remover, then polish away. You'll be able to make it look better than new.

Mike Coletta

3310vette

Mike, didn't the sandpaper remove the anodized layer? I did a little research on the web regarding the anodizing process and it appears to produce a thin coating that alters the aluminum, but I don't understand it enough to know what I did with the sandpaper.

mike coletta

It can be done, but it's pretty hard stuff. You would actually be able to "see" it coming off. It will leave a line when you break through to the aluminum. Also, anodizing will produce a white dust, and the aluminum will produce a black dust. You'll know when you cut through as everything will become black. It also takes a pretty strong grit to cut it off. I usually use 220 or 180 to cut it, and then 330/400 to clean it up. If you're trying to sand it by hand, you'll never get it off. I use a DA sander, and it still takes a lot of work. Anodizing remover is the easiest way to get it off........and that's a mess too!!!

Mike Coletta

3310vette

I just spoke with a man that was very knowledgeable about the anodizing process and he said that the stripping chemicals used to remove the anodized layer would probably eat away too much of the thin insert. He said my best option would be to purchase a repro.

mike coletta

I've done a million of them (or it seems that way). Never had an issue with them being too thin. I've also done rocker moldings (when we couldn't get new). Frankly, for the amount of work involved, a set of reproductions is the way to go......but it can be done.


Mike Coletta

3310vette

What have you found to be the best stripper chemical? A quick search of the Internet turned up everything from phosphoric acid to oven cleaner to Red Devil lye.

mike coletta

I've used this with good results

http://www.caswellplating.com/electr...-solution.html

b_pappy

Oven cleaner works well for removing the anodzing, although I bet the wet sanding removed it already. You will need to do some serious polishing though. Think wool pads and heavy polishing compounds, stepping up to finer compounds.
Then you will need to bright anodize, or polish to keep them looking nice.
Bruce