Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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How to Polish Scratches Out Of NICRAL

2004

Hello!

I am trying to polish NICRAL (A Nickel, Chromium, Aluminum alloy), but with little success. The alloy appears to be very soft and scratches easily. I have been experimenting with a cotton cloth and polishes such as Flitz, Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish, Novus plastic polish, etc. The mag polish says it will not scratch metals, but it scratches just as bad as the Flitz, which I typically use on Aluminum. The plastic polishes I have tried did so little to the alloy that I only end up with more scratches from the polishing cloth. A rouge cloth does not touch the plating at all. The plated part is an old steel base for an antique clock that I am restoring. Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Nicholas Tillich
hobbyist - Mukwonago, Wisconsin

i've never worked that material but 99% of the polishing I do I finish with a green rouge on a cotton buffing wheel (on a bench grinder) I get a great finish on steels, gold, silver, plastics, aluminums, etc..the harder the material the larger diameter wheel and tighter sewn wheel I use...for example on steel I use a 10" sewn wheel..on acrylics I use a 4-6" loose wheel and light pressure. for hard to reach areas I do the same thing using small wheels/polishing points on a Dremel [on eBay or Amazon], works but not as well as the large wheels

Jason aube
- flint, Michigan
2004