how to clean & shine aluminum diamond plate

WELDERJEFFO · 09-09-2005, 11:13 PM

I have a lot of aluminum diamond plate on my boat trailer, it was shiny like chrome but now is dull and pitted from corrosion.....not really bad, just enough to piss me off.
Is there a quick & easy way to clean it up and polish it so it shines like chrome again?
I have a dewalt vsr buffer, 1000-3500 rpm, I've tried a few different cleaners/polishes and brightened the finish, but the results are not the best.
I've also tried a few different grits of scotchbrite pads by hand, prior to polishing with the buffer, and the scotchbrite areas look dull.
How the hell do them truckers get so much aluminum so shiny??? I only have about 32 square feet on the trailer, but I can't even get one small area to shine.
I also have aluminum diamond plate running boards on both my dimes that are dull and look like poo. For years, I've been cleaning them with aluma-bright, which is a combination of several acids,(basically the same as battery acid), it cleans all the crap off, but leaves the finish looking like flat white paint. I'd really like to shine up them running boards, but I'll save the experimentation for the boat trailer, since it's all flat and easy to work on....I just need some suggestions.
Any help?
Thanx.

lilredxtreme · 09-09-2005, 11:47 PM

you could try some egale 1 never dull. It is a wadding polish. If that dont work then try some mothers aluminum polish along with that buffer.....

black4.3 · 09-09-2005, 11:51 PM

Try a wool pad on your DeWalt, Damn good buffer I might add I have 2, with some good quality metal polish like Megs All metal restorer or Mothers and run it at about 1800-2200 rpms. Its gonna sling so be prepared. The only way I have found to keep it looking good it to polish it atleast once a month or so not necessarily with the buffer but would make it quicker. Be sure to keep the pad clean because the oxidation will dirty it in a hurry. If you dont have a spur, use a flat headed screwdriver and run it from the outer edge into the center a couple of times. Hope this helps.

WELDERJEFFO · 09-10-2005, 01:50 PM

thanx guys....I picked up some mothers and buffed most of the spots away.....looks almost new again.

JPowell · 09-13-2005, 11:38 AM

Try getting a clear coat/paint sealer over top of your surfaces once you get them back to like-new. I hear good things about the Zaino line of sealers that will keep UV rays, dirt, chemicals, etc. "on top" of the protective barrier, keeping your finish like-new longer.

09-09-2005, 11:13 PM	#1
WELDERJEFFO Registered User Age: 50 Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,728 Location: erie,pa User is: OffLine	how to clean & shine aluminum diamond plate I have a lot of aluminum diamond plate on my boat trailer, it was shiny like chrome but now is dull and pitted from corrosion.....not really bad, just enough to piss me off. Is there a quick & easy way to clean it up and polish it so it shines like chrome again? I have a dewalt vsr buffer, 1000-3500 rpm, I've tried a few different cleaners/polishes and brightened the finish, but the results are not the best. I've also tried a few different grits of scotchbrite pads by hand, prior to polishing with the buffer, and the scotchbrite areas look dull. How the hell do them truckers get so much aluminum so shiny??? I only have about 32 square feet on the trailer, but I can't even get one small area to shine. I also have aluminum diamond plate running boards on both my dimes that are dull and look like poo. For years, I've been cleaning them with aluma-bright, which is a combination of several acids,(basically the same as battery acid), it cleans all the crap off, but leaves the finish looking like flat white paint. I'd really like to shine up them running boards, but I'll save the experimentation for the boat trailer, since it's all flat and easy to work on....I just need some suggestions. Any help? Thanx.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-09-2005, 11:47 PM	#2
lilredxtreme Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,035 Location: Corning NY User is: OffLine	Re: how to clean & shine aluminum diamond plate you could try some egale 1 never dull. It is a wadding polish. If that dont work then try some mothers aluminum polish along with that buffer.....
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-09-2005, 11:51 PM	#3
black4.3 Registered User Age: 31 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 39 Location: where s10s where made User is: OffLine	Re: how to clean & shine aluminum diamond plate Try a wool pad on your DeWalt, Damn good buffer I might add I have 2, with some good quality metal polish like Megs All metal restorer or Mothers and run it at about 1800-2200 rpms. Its gonna sling so be prepared. The only way I have found to keep it looking good it to polish it atleast once a month or so not necessarily with the buffer but would make it quicker. Be sure to keep the pad clean because the oxidation will dirty it in a hurry. If you dont have a spur, use a flat headed screwdriver and run it from the outer edge into the center a couple of times. Hope this helps.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-10-2005, 01:50 PM	#4
WELDERJEFFO Registered User Age: 50 Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,728 Location: erie,pa User is: OffLine	Re: how to clean & shine aluminum diamond plate thanx guys....I picked up some mothers and buffed most of the spots away.....looks almost new again.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-13-2005, 11:38 AM	#5
JPowell Dime Dreamer Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 202 Location: Ohio User is: OffLine	Re: how to clean & shine aluminum diamond plate Try getting a clear coat/paint sealer over top of your surfaces once you get them back to like-new. I hear good things about the Zaino line of sealers that will keep UV rays, dirt, chemicals, etc. "on top" of the protective barrier, keeping your finish like-new longer.
	[Reply w/Quote]