Metal Trim swirled.

[Nappers]

Gang,

I own a 2000 GMC Yukon with the metal trim on the lower panels and what appears to be chrome letters for the "Yukon". I broke out my Hot Rims Aluminum/Chrome Polish and All Metal Polysh. I gathered up my many times washed and shook out 100% Costco Terry Cloths, Yellow Applicator and Meg's MF towel.

MY first pass was with a TC and HR paste, It left several "holograms" in the trim and so I tried AMP with 100% TC and improved slightly but still "hologramed". I then used Yellow Applicator with above products and same results. THEN! I used Yellow Applicator with DC #1 and still no better results. The applicators used turned black, wiped before drying, only pressure used was to hold against the trim.

Below are pictures. It looks cleaner but then has bad swirls on top of it.


This is what I started with.



Good ol' Hot Rims Polish



Metal Polysh



See! black on the rag, light pressure too. Figured the Costco Terry cloths were too aggressive.



Yellow Applicator, cleaned on the fly



After first pass of HRP



Different view, can see the swirls.



Yikes



It looks good here, but the above shots are same results, different angles.



This did not have black residue results, so I used AMP on it and the results were great.



Oregon University!! LOL. Looks good.



Looks like holograms!



This is the best I got on the drivers back door, using a Meg's MF towel light pressure as the rest and still swirls.


Anyone dealt with the metal trim on these GM SUV's? I used very light if at all pressure, just enough to keep the applicator against it as the can says on HRP and although it cleaned it nice, left swirls. It appears this metal is very sensitive.

Thanks for any input or suggestions. I did use about 3 passes of each product including 2 passes of DC #1 with a yellow applicator.

Aaron

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

Just need to double check here, from the residue on your applicator pad, it makes it look like you're working on some kind of uncoated aluminum?

See the black residue on your terry cloth?





Chrome doesn't give itself up like aluminum, that is chrome doesn't turn your cloth black like this assuming the surface has been washed and is clean.


Question:
If you continue to apply fresh polish to a white rag and rub the same area you've already rubbed, does you terry cloth continue to turn black?

[Nappers]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

Yes, I turn the rag over and apply fresh product from a new part of the rag. It also turned the yellow applicator black. I do that on all metals I work with to make sure I don't use the wrong product. All else fails, I use AMP, but this definately turned the rag black as well as my hands and the product wiped off turned my MF black.

The letters appeared to be a fake chrome type of stuff, no black on rag when applying product.

Aaron

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

Yes, I turn the rag over and apply fresh product from a new part of the rag. It also turned the yellow applicator black.

My guess would be the metal used for your decorative trim is some kind of lesser quality aluminum?

How about seeing if you can contact the dealership and see what they say it's made out of and what they recommend for a process of polishing this particular type of metal without incurring swirls at the same time?

[Nappers]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

I did get a suggestion to try something and I'll get some product and give a "review". Have to wait until payday. I'll try some 80 on it for giggles.

Thanks Mike.

GM using cheap products They wouldn't would they????? LOL.

Aaron

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

I did get a suggestion to try something and I'll get some product and give a "review". Have to wait until payday. I'll try some 80 on it for giggles.

Keep us posted as to your results as this forum is going to be around for a long time and this issue will likely come up again.

Always thinking into the future....

GM using cheap products They wouldn't would they????? LOL.

Aaron

Not in the old days...

[Nappers]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

Not in the old days...

Or Older days...


Good to see some older Big 3 steel still rolling.

Good thing for us car crazy people.

I will keep you posted on my metal. A lot of GM SUV's with these aluminum inserts in them.

L8R

Aaron

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

Update this thread please, Nappers.

Let's see some pics!!!

[Nappers]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

I will, working mass overtime this week but next week will be a full on detail on the old girl, 130,000 miles on the clock.

My test spot with 105 has turned out splendid

Stay tuned.

It's gonna get on like donkey kong

Edit: I'm on nights so maybe tommorow (heck it's already tommorow!) I'll do some updating.

[Nappers]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

Okay, gave the Yukon a good scrubbing and took my NXT AMP and some M105 and some D151.


This is the driver side rear trim.



Used NXT All Metal Polysh: Still turning applicators black!



After NXT AMP: note the hologram looking marring on lower left, throughout the whole piece of trim but camera didn't catch it all.



Right after M105, on a terry cloth light pressure. Different angle.



Same angle, looking good.



Rear driver side door, doesn't look too bad.



Same trim after NXT AMP, note the same looking swirl/hologram looking scuffs, marring?



After M105 light pressure with a terry cloth, same as other trim.



I thought I would try D151 with a yellow applicator, swirled it up! Not as thick of swirling but swirled none the less.



Cleaned back up with M105, this is the best I could get with terry cloth, yellow applicator pads, different pressures etc. Not perfect but I'm happy.




Final wipe with M105 with a yellow applicator very little pressure.



Better though From this


To this .

[Jokeman]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

Looks much better. When I had that molding on my truck I never had good luck keeping it looking good. I ended up peeling it all off.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

Someone needs a 1 week ban!





Just poking fun at you Aaron

[Nappers]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

Looks much better. When I had that molding on my truck I never had good luck keeping it looking good. I ended up peeling it all off.

It is a pain in the rear. I thought of pulling it off, but may have some help coming. I'll keep you updated.

Someone needs a 1 week ban!





Just poking fun at you Aaron

I saw that later on and wiped it off and didn't realize I got a picture of it. As I was wiping it off, I thought boy I would get throttled for that. LMBO!

[RacerX88]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

Someone needs a 1 week ban!

LOL! That was a good catch!

Good results, too!

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Metal Trim swirled.

You've made an obvious and impressive improvement.

Your testing and persistence paid off.

GREAT JOB!