Summary for aluminum finishing Discussion
Aluminum finishing is not achieved by wire brushing with an angle grinder if the goal is a chrome-like look. Dave asked whether that simple method could make aluminum look like chrome, and James Watts replied bluntly that it would not; instead, it would leave a brushed finish and, over time, create thousands of tiny red rust spots. A second answer clarified that aluminum can be polished and buffed to a very bright, white, silver-like appearance, but not truly equal to chrome in the eyes of a trained observer. The key point is that the process is not quick or simple: it requires patient work with progressively finer abrasives, followed by polishing and buffing. The discussion suggests searching the archive for more detailed guidance rather than relying on a wire brush shortcut.
Q. I have heard that if you use a wire brush on an angle grinder
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link]
, you can polish aluminum so that it looks like chrome. Is this true, is there a simple way of doing this? Anyone know if it can be done? Any help is appreciated.
Thank You,
Dave
– Pl. Grove, Utah
2003
No way. What you will get is a brushed aluminum finish that will generate thousands of tiny red rust spots over time.
James Watts
– Navarre, Florida
2003
It is possible to polish and buff aluminum to a very bright finish (although not really the equal of chrome plating to a trained eye), and much ‘whiter’ (like silver) than chrome plating. But it’s not a matter of wire bushing, it’s laborious application of ever finer abrasives. Patient application of the search engine will lead to many highly informative responses like letters
800,
1831, and
10917 . Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
2006