How to keep aluminum from tarnishing?

Zach Chastain · Post by **Zach Chastain** » 25 Jan 2017 12:12 pm

I gave my shobud a good cleaning and polishing when I bought it because it was pretty rough looking and had a few spots that had some corrosion. Now those tarnish spots are starting to come back. Is there anyway to keep it from coming back or do you just have to polish it every so often. I used Mothers all metal polish.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Jan 2017 12:21 pm

You can clear coat it after polishing.

Zach Chastain · Post by **Zach Chastain** » 25 Jan 2017 12:32 pm

like auto clear coat? I dont think I would do that.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 25 Jan 2017 12:45 pm

A thin coat of wax.
Clear coat or clear lacquer will be more durable. But you'll have to coat it with something or Polish it regularly

Zach Chastain · Post by **Zach Chastain** » 25 Jan 2017 1:07 pm

Ok thanks.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Jan 2017 2:08 pm

Clear coat is how the car companies keep your aluminum rims from tarnishing.
If you clear coat it, there's no need for polishing.

Rick Kreuziger · Post by **Rick Kreuziger** » 27 Jan 2017 8:30 am

As Lane mentioned, wax may be used.

Another product from my website that works well for this:
http://www.restorick.com/proddetail.asp?prod=AMMO

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 27 Jan 2017 8:48 am

Old thread on the subject here: http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... clear+coat

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 27 Jan 2017 9:10 am

MinWax finishing paste wax: and it also works great as a protective coating on your firearms, stock, barrel, receiver etc.

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 27 Jan 2017 9:23 am

I think auto wax lasts longer, it seems to setup a bit harder than furniture products, IMO...I use Turtlewax..Stormy

Brad Higgins · Post by **Brad Higgins** » 28 Jan 2017 4:58 am

The best thing that I've ever found for polishing aluminum is something called SIMICHROME POLISH, you can buy at almost any motorcycle shop. Motorcyclists have been using it for decades to polish aluminum engine cases, side covers, etc. and bike parts are under extreme abuse, especially off-road bikes. DO NOT let it of it get on any of the Formica, or wood finish, it's powerful chit!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 28 Jan 2017 7:09 am

To correct Brad's post above, the product he refers to is SIMICHROME, and steel players have been using it for years. It's a good product. Lately I've been using the "higher priced spread," California Custom Purple metal polish, which seems to require less elbow grease than Simichrome or Mother's.

But the tarnishing problem is due to oxidation, the reaction of the metal to exposure to air, is it not? I think the clear coat solution would eventually wear not look that great either, so I think the wax treatment is probably the best suggestion so far. Or just keep up the polishing regimen.

But that's just MHO. YMMV.

Bear in mind that some Sho~Buds used castings made from very impure mixtures of metal and may not ever take a high gloss. Paul Sr. once told me that on some 'Buds you could polish it until the metal was gone and it'd never shine up.

Brad Higgins · Post by **Brad Higgins** » 28 Jan 2017 9:46 am

Herb Steiner wrote:To correct Brad's post above, the product he refers to is SIMICHROME, and steel players have been using it for years.

Thanks for proof reading my post for me Herb, I never was much of a speller!

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 28 Jan 2017 11:21 am

The Harley shops around here no longer sell Simichrome, but they sell Harley branded polish that is exactly the same.

Brad Higgins · Post by **Brad Higgins** » 28 Jan 2017 3:05 pm

Jack Stoner wrote:The Harley shops around here no longer sell Simichrome, but they sell Harley branded polish that is exactly the same.

Thanks Jack, that's great to know!

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 28 Jan 2017 3:06 pm

Good quality clear coat, no more problems.... Unless the clear coat yellows and cracks.. The only possible way to stop that nice shine from getting dull is to slow down the natural process of oxidation.. that means sealing the metal away from the air... Clear coat is the long range solution.. If you don't want to do that, wax it several times a year... bob

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 28 Jan 2017 3:17 pm

This is my favorite. Great on lacquer bodies to. Very, very shiny!
http://www.californiacustom.com/mron_glass.html

Hi Lane! You had to know I'd chime in!
JB

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 28 Jan 2017 6:13 pm

Is polish, not wax. Or does it leave a wax-type coating behind?
The OP was, essentially, "OK, it's polished now; how do I prevent future oxidation?"
There are two ways I know of: waxes and clearcoats.
Unless you want to throw some more money at it, in which case you give it a mirror polish, and immediately take ithe endplates to be chromed. Chromium is far less likely to oxidize (I think it takes a chemical attack)

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 28 Jan 2017 6:15 pm

" Pure #1 Carnauba wax that seals and protects with a CRYSTAL CLEAR SHINE."

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 28 Jan 2017 6:22 pm

Well that answers that question.

Zach Chastain · Post by **Zach Chastain** » 30 Jan 2017 5:38 am

Thanks guys. I have a lot to go off of now.