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world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Polishing aluminium truck grill

I have a 1969 ford truck grill and it is made of anodized aluminum. I have tried all kinds of polishes on it to make it shine but it is still dull. Someone told me to clean it with oven cleaner [on eBay or Amazon] and then polish it and this works. I was wondering if that will make it tarnish any faster than if I hadn't cleaned it with the oven cleaner?

Mr. Lawson
- Richmond, Virginia
2002

It will work, but it will also tarnish if you do not keep it waxed or polish it often. The polish has some oils in it that help out.

James McCormick
- Coburg, Oregon
2003

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As to polishing the anodized grill. I have done at least 10 anodized grills on Freightliners. I have found that a product called Aircraft Stripper, or polyurethane stripper remove the anodized coating completely.

Jason M. Laird
aluminum polishing - Lake Park, Georgia
2005

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I find the best that works for that particular thing is wipe off with gunwash then polish with jeweler's rouge (polishing/buffing compound) [affil links] then finish off with a coat of Autosol [on eBay or Amazon] . Use the green bar with the green cutting pad for this ....I have done at least 250 grills a year ...try it may work the best.

Mike Woolsey
- Burlington, Ontario, Canada
2005