How to bring that shine back in the metal?

After awhile, parts start to degrade, scratches appear and the shinyness starts to wear off.

Does anyone have any recommendations on how to bring back that shiny look at home?

I was specifically looking for ways to shine up some aluminium.

[_paralyzed_]

you gotta sand and sand and sand. (that was really fun to type) First with the coarsest grit necessary to remove the deepest scratches, but not too coarse so as to cause any even deeper scratches. Then switch to finer and finer grades of sandpaper until you're glass smooth. Wet sanding helps as aluminum loads up easily on sandpaper.

Then start polishing. Find a polishing compound and use a dremel with a buffing wheel and polish the crap out of it.

If you want it to stay shiny clearcoat it, otherwise it will oxidize.

[E-Revonut]

Mothers Aluminum polish, available anywhere automotive cleaning supplies are sold

Clearcoat tends not to stick to polished stuff though. Not enough "tooth" for it to stick... I polished the machined wheel lips on my Harley rims because they were starting to look nasty. I keep up on them. I use Meguires quick detailer on the whole thing before and after a ride too.

[lincpimp]

Clear anodising is the only way to get a durable clear coating on AL. Other wise use mothers or some other type of metal polish.

Keep in mind that if you are polishing an rc you have way too much time on your hands and you likely need to take up a more involved hobby such as learing to read aribic, or sea monkeys.

Originally Posted by lincpimp

Clear anodising is the only way to get a durable clear coating on AL. Other wise use mothers or some other type of metal polish.

Keep in mind that if you are polishing an rc you have way too much time on your hands and you likely need to take up a more involved hobby such as learing to read aribic, or sea monkeys.

Well, I haven't been getting to drive them a lot latey. It was a long winter here in Norway, but now it's summertime so I'll start driving more often.

Reason I asked for some tips on this was because I have a DBX chassis that's totally messed up (It seems like the previous owner painted it, and now it's chipping off.), so I was going to try and make it look somewhat decent atleast. Guess I'll just buy a new one eventually.

[swiftneed]

HEY for that mirror shine go to your local auto parts store and head to the area for waxes they have a blue can i believe they still carry it the name is NEVER DULL its awesome stuff some work but I used to polish aluminium rims with the stuff now that I remembered going to go get a can LOL