Cloudy Aluminum Solution

Clark Connell · Post by **Clark Connell** » 27 Mar 2020 5:27 am

Does anyone have any suggestions on metal polish that will clean/polish cloudy aluminum on steel guitars?? I have a guitar that the brightwork is cloudy in some places and I have tried Blue Magic, White Diamond, Semichrome, etc. and nothing really gets the cloudyness out completely. And suggestions welcome! Thank You in advance.

Clark Connell
515-556-7052

Norman Evans · Post by **Norman Evans** » 27 Mar 2020 5:58 am

I've had good luck with this.
https://www.amazon.com/Mothers-05101-Ma ... 389&sr=8-2

Jim Goins · Post by **Jim Goins** » 27 Mar 2020 6:14 am

Semi Chrome polish, works great. J.G.

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 27 Mar 2020 6:16 am

Takes time and elbow grease.
Much easier to maintain than fix.

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 27 Mar 2020 6:40 am

Flitz, if you can find it.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 27 Mar 2020 6:45 am

If the things you've tried didn't work it's probably not going to get better. Most likely in the material itself. Those products you mention should have cleaned it up at least substantially.

I've tried to do the same on a couple end plates and it's sometimes just the way the material is made and finished to start with.

The other suggestion would be to try a buffer with some polishing compound if that's at all available or possible for you, otherwise I feel you'd just be spending more money of other products that will give you the same results you already got. JMO.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 27 Mar 2020 7:08 am

I agree with Jerry.
If all else fails you need one of these:

Earl Terry · Post by **Earl Terry** » 1 Apr 2020 4:22 am

I use this, www.californiacustom.com

Clark Connell · Post by **Clark Connell** » 4 Apr 2020 4:41 pm

Thanks Earl Terry!!! The California Custom 2-step system worked! Finally!!!

John Palumbo · Post by **John Palumbo** » 7 Apr 2020 9:32 am

Just a relative question:
Does this not happen or less obvious on chrome plated end plates?

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 7 Apr 2020 10:08 am

I use simi chrome mostly these days, it's easy to keep in a tube, it' does take elbow work, i think chrome is much easier to keep vs alloy with oxidization. I really like what Mullen does with the powder coating on the Discovery model, i have played one now about 7 years and never had to touch the end plates, probaly not as dressy looking but very durable indeed, i'm ok without the lipstick for road work, i used to clean the old bud one's every 6 months - 1 year or so.

Clark Connell · Post by **Clark Connell** » 7 Apr 2020 12:01 pm

John Palumbo wrote:Just a relative question:
Does this not happen or less obvious on chrome plated end plates?

Chrome, as Larry B. said is much easier to keep polished and shiny than some kinds of aluminum...because it starts out quite shiny to begin with and is also easier to bring back after it has been neglected. California Custom's two-step system is the best I have ever used and I used them all, for hard to polish aluminum.

Loren Morehouse · Post by **Loren Morehouse** » 7 Apr 2020 12:53 pm

I hope I can find that stuff in my neck of the woods!

Joe Naylor · Post by **Joe Naylor** » 7 Apr 2020 1:52 pm

Mothers Aluminum polish works best for me

Joe

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 7 Apr 2020 3:14 pm

A cloudy or foggy appearance is either contaminants left on the surface, or very fine scratches. The surface can be cleaned of contaminants with either alcohol or (preferably) naptha and a soft cloth. Fine scratches can be polished out by hand with many of the products mentioned, but a buffing wheel is faster and better. When you use a wheel, there is a "smearing" process caused by the friction's heat, and that fills microscopic scratches and yields a shinier surface. Even if the surface is not glass-smooth, a wheel will make it shine up very nicely.

I see many steels (even new ones) with endplates that aren't that smooth, but they're still look shiny.

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