Diamond Plate

[Carfire]

Being that I work at the fire department there is LOTS of Diamond Plating. We
Have an older fire truck with extremely and I mean extremely dull diamond plating. So I was wonder what product I should consider using. Thanks for the help and ideas. I am also not sure what kind of metal, but I figure something basic like Aluminum, Chrome or Stainless Steel. By the way the truck is about 30 years old. Once again thanks.

[Ryan L.]

Re: Diamond Plate

Try Hot Rims Mag and Alluminum Polish.

Should work great.

Ryan

[Carfire]

Re: Diamond Plate

Thanks.
I did try it once with little to no improvement, but I am willing to try it again.

[PorscheGuy997]

Re: Diamond Plate

Do you have any M105?



I have had a lot of success using M105 followed up with a metal polish on these aged metals.

Also, you can use some of your old pads and polish up the metal with your G110.

[Carfire]

Re: Diamond Plate

Thanks Chris.
I have just a little bit of M105 left, and almost a full tin of Mag and Aluminum Polish.
I Will try using my G110 with my old M105 Pad, because it is breaking around where the backing plate is.
Pictures Will Come!!

[Tuck91]

Re: Diamond Plate

If you run out of M105, give Ultimate Compound a try!

[Carfire]

Re: Diamond Plate

To give you guys an update.
After 3 passes with M105 and 3 passes with Mag and Aluminum Polish, there was an improvement, but not enough of an improvement to make it worth the time effort and money. I found some website and I want to see what you guys think.

http://forums.firehouse.com/archive/index.php/t-30762.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4500085_polish-diamond-plate.html

http://www.finishing.com/359/71.shtml

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Diamond Plate

Can you post pictures of what you are working on?

[Carfire]

Re: Diamond Plate

Here are some pictures. It has been recommended to me to use Flitz Aluminum Cleaner. So I will get some and try it tomorrow.


Before:










After:



















After on the Right before on the Left.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Diamond Plate

That might be more of a rotary job than a DA job. To be perfectly honest, I haven't done a whole lot of metal polishing.

Maybe Kevin Brown will chime in since he seems to use M105 to polish metal quite often. Did you search for his threads? you might find the answer there too.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Diamond Plate

I used NXT All metal Polysh on my step bars with a wax removal bonnet. It worked a heck of a lot better than by hand. Here is a picture of what it did after one pass.



Maybe if you give it a try with a bonnet?

[Underdawg736]

Re: Diamond Plate

Carfire, I use the Hot Rims Meg and Aluminum Polish on my rigs. I do it by hand, it's rough on your fingers but after 3 full days I was able to bring the shine up quite a bit.

How long are you rubbing it in? I take about 1-2 minutes on each pass with more passion then what I do with UC on paint.
Areas that has alot foot traffic on it is gonna be alot rougher to shine up and I haven't had much success with it....hmmmm maybe UC will help.

Neglected diamond plating takes ALOT and I mean ALOT of patience! Keep at it and you'll be rewarded with SHINE!!!

[b00g2003]

Re: Diamond Plate

I have used a rotary with some old junker wool pads I had laying around with some blue magic metal polish (think I got it from a local pilot station). I tried several different polishes but that blue magic seem to work the best on what i was working on...It was a big Kenworth semi with diamond plate rear fenders. It worked pretty well and didn't require much elbow grease, but it does turn everything black and dust, a respirator is defiantly a must...

http://bluemagicusa.com/index.php/bl...c/products/210



I know this isn't a meguiars product but it was all I had at the time!!

Good Luck!!!

Sorry I know pictures are worth a thousand words but I didn't grab any...

[Tuck91]

Re: Diamond Plate

I have used a rotary with some old junker wool pads I had laying around with some blue magic metal polish (think I got it from a local pilot station). I tried several different polishes but that blue magic seem to work the best on what i was working on...It was a big Kenworth semi with diamond plate rear fenders. It worked pretty well and didn't require much elbow grease, but it does turn everything black and dust, a respirator is defiantly a must...

http://bluemagicusa.com/index.php/blue_magic/products/210

I know this isn't a meguiars product but it was all I had at the time!!

Good Luck!!!

Sorry I know pictures are worth a thousand words but I didn't grab any...

whatever you do, do not smell the Blue magic maetal polish.

[Poneyxpres]

Re: Diamond Plate

Carfire, I have tried many of the products everyone listed here and came out with the same results as you did. My Engine isn't 30 years old but it gets a lot of wear and tear. The tail step is in really bad shape and the diamond plate under the pump panel is the worst.

I found this system, and it pretty much goes along the same lines as paint renewal. The one thing with metal we don't have to worry about is burn through. The system isn't cheap and I would have a hard time doing the work on the engine as it's a first out rig, but one day I may make the plunge and ask my Captain to give me the time during a couple of shifts to see what I can acomplish.

Here is a link to the system. If it gets taken down because I can't link, PM me and I will give it to you. Stay safe you guys.

properautocare.com/blmepopa.html