Aluminum Polishing

[BlueZero]

Where does the black come from when you polish aluminum? Is it a chemical reaction of some sort? The surface is not that dirty. Just curious.

For those of you that have never polished aluminum before... When you use a product like Hot Rims or any other brand of aluminum polish. You end up with a black film on what you are polishing the more you work it. If wipes right off. It is just part of the process.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Aluminum Polishing

In simple terms, the black residue is oxidized and deteriorated aluminum, there could be some chemical reaction taking place with the cleaners and the aluminum but we doubt that is the case as all metal polishes do this and in most cases there comes a point when you get aluminum so polished that to continue rubbing it with fresh metal polish doesn't generate as much black residue as when you first begin.

By the way, we've polished a lot of aluminum by hand in our history.

[BlueZero]

Re: Aluminum Polishing

Cool! Thanks much for the answer.

I was running around the apartment trying to find aluminum to polish this weekend. I bet I have some of the best looking bathroom towel holders on the block.