Polishing Aluminum - "How To Guide"

[tom_k/mo]

Thanks for the tip. That was one of my big questions.....how do you keep it looking good. I wondered if the Johnson's Paste Wax was the way to go or if there was other products made especially for the aluminum oxidation.


Not a problem Mike, as you can see, something like this has a lot of brass and german silver to keep from tarnishing, and the Nevr-Dull does an excellent job, even in the grooves of the engraved brass without harming the wood finish at all. Speaking of wood and finish, that's a P+++ Tiger-striped maple stock with 8 coats of hand-rubbed Tung Oil finish.

[mickyd]

Not a problem Mike, as you can see, something like this has a lot of brass and german silver to keep from tarnishing, and the Nevr-Dull does an excellent job, even in the grooves of the engraved brass without harming the wood finish at all.
How often do you have to reapply?

[tom_k/mo]

How often do you have to reapply?

Mike, I don't. I only polish after shooting to remove the tarnish, and that's normally it. I've got one longrifle on my mantle over one of my fireplaces that's not been touched for at least 3 years, and still shiny. I'm sure if your surface was exposed to corrosives (water, sweat, etc...) on a normal basis, it would tarnish/oxidize but my Pennsylvania Longrifle's brass hasn't been touched in at least 3 years and it's still looking good. FYI, I normally wouldn't recommend actually keeping a rifle like that over a mantle, but I don't use the fireplace and there's no heat involved to dry the stock out (and it just looks cool).

[mickyd]

Here's (http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showpost.htm?p=33988&postcount=42) some examples of some more aluminum polishing before and afters.