Your opinions please for....

[DB6]

FOR THE BEST POLISH FOR ALUM BONNETS ETC..?

 

 

have used Eagle One pink rags, it was ok, Mothers Mag Alloy polish, not too bad, and Autosol from Germany, maybe the best so far, but a lot depends on the cloths and the action,. some say side to side means no swirls, my car is driven a lot and not a trailer Queen, just looking input

.I saw in another site a mention of use "Resin Wax" after final polish to protect the finish, as I live on the Oregon Coast I have just about the worst enviroment for metals, partic alum,any one know of a clear seal wax that looks natural

 

Next is wheels,I want to get a set of Minilite style wheels and the main 3 appear to be

 

"Minilite" now made by KN, who supplied the original "jupiters" on my 1982 (not that impressed by the wheel or the company to be frank),

or Superlite or Panasport, I am sticking with 6 by 13 on the original Ital/Triumph 3 & 3/4 lug.

Any pros and cons, they all look the same hey?:7rain:

 

PS, Can any recco a good waterproof car cover for outdoor use, (as opposed to the indoor use ones for when it rains in yout garage, dear me David, wake up ,lol)

[andrew7]

Hi Db,

 

I went through this a couple of years ago. My aluminum sheets were slowly polished to mirror. I went to Eastman's polishing kit for wheels and intakes but it would only take the body to a foggy finish. I finally went to an Aircraft polish, Rolite and it works great. Save yourself time and money and go here.

 

http://www.topoftheline.com/metal-aluminum-polish.html

 

I bought the polish and two wool pads. It will last me many more years, a little dab will do ya.

[manik]

Second on the Rolite.

 

Also here - no affiliation:

http://www.aircraftpolish.com/specrolite.html

 

 

tm

 

[southwind25]

after trying various methods...but being too cheap to be able to buy the proper buffing machinery..

 

Mothers aluminum and mag polish...for the final shine. using a foam applicator, using water with the polish..spraying off with water,,,and wiping off with my magic terry towel....mike rohaley is the polish king around these parts though.

[DB6]

Hi Guys,

 

Yeah I have used that, the problem is keeping the shine, every time I lift the bonnet it gets marked up,have you heard of these wax resins to maintain the shine?

I guess I will try the Rolite, there has to be some kind of clear sealer wax that lengthens the time of the shine .

It really is a pain when you have to polish off your finger prints after lifting the bonnet.There are a lot of places a buffing machine just wont work on these cars, the hand method suits me ( yup,still single ) .

 

Regards

 

David

 

PSAnybody have any input on the wheels????

[sparecr]

I have found that anytime you wax over polished alluminum it will dull the shine some. On the otherhand it will not show as many fingerprints and you can handle the part. This is something I do when restoring cars around work. That is to wax the new or refurbished alloy panels to protect them. People cannot keep their hands off anything. When the car is done a simple wipe with wax/degreaser and I have a panel that requires little attention before displaying.

 

I run Panasports on my Cat same size you refer to and love them. They are the orginal wheel in that style making them the most expensive but I am not diappointed in them.

[Ian7]

"sticking with 6 by 13 on the original Ital/Triumph 3 & 3/4 lug."

 

these Panasports are exactly what you mention above,

set of 5 cost $790 with nuts and centers back in 2002,

from K-Speed in pennsylvannia

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/757677904_BN rightrear.JPG

[DB6]

Yes they do look good, frankly all 3 brands look the same to me, what emblems are in the wheel caps?

[11Budlite]

"what emblems are in the wheel caps?" - Those look to be the stock Panasport caps.

 

I also use the Rolite kit and find if I use my Porter Cable random orbital buffer it's a manageable job. The kit I bought came with a polymer sealant as a final step, but I haven't tried it yet. That should help with the fingerprint issue....either that or get some cotton gloves. Jim F also recommended Metal Armor in a previous post. I probably won't try it until I run out of the Rolite, but it might be worth checking into. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=2322&p=1

 

Bruce :7drive:

[Ian7]

yes, stock Panasport caps.

 

much as I'd like Lotus logo centers, having recently been "relieved" of my Lotus valve stem caps by some low-life, I figure these'll do for now...

[DB6]

Ian,

I just noticed your car has a UK tag on it???

[DeanG]

My main problem is getting the swirls and cloudyness out of the finish. Does anyone have any words of wisdom?

 

How do:

 

Mothers Mag Alloy polish

Autosol from Germany

Nuvite

Rolite

 

compare? For the final polish I like Mothers better than the finest grade of Nuvite

 

I have used both a Porter Cable random orbatal buffer and a Black & Decker polisher. Both are a bit big for working on the 7. That is the primary reason I haven't tried a Cyclo Orbital Polisher. It seems too big to get into many of the places you need to get to on a 7. Does anyone have any experience with the Cyclo Orbital Polisher?

 

I have used both the Porter Cable and B&D machines with synthetic, foam and wool pads. Does anyone know where to find coton pads for either machine. If I could find a cotton pad for the B&D polisher I think I that might be the best option other than a Cyclo Orbital Polisher.

 

 

 

[DB6]

it's often easier and cheaper to make your own polish

mops,my Dad to cut up circles of all kinds of materials from lambs wool to soft towel, (some one has a sewing machine, buy the old gal down the street a box of chocs and a bottle of wine, I did plus she waters my plants when I am away and keeps a set of Autocross wheels in her garage for me)

 

With a shoe lace draw sting it can fit any polish head

, but i still think that the soft alum on a 7

still needs the hand touch for the final gloss.

 

The one ture thing about polishing alum is pulling out the black residue, try a damp piece of muslin cloth, dampened. then a dry piece,often just the paste left after a "clean " [polish can mirror up,but the ppl that mentioned the water sponge deal on here know what they are talking about.I like the Autosol over the Mothers Mag /Alloy, but a gentle touch by hand beats any power polisher for the final touch, then again, now you have the mirror finish bullet you think twice before using the washer jets,lol

Happy Motoring,

 

Oh. PS I like the Auto Sol from Germany, its good for the final touch, but as I said the fabrics used and the pressure are sensitive too.

I have found a distributor from Portland OR that will sell the stuff for $6.00 per tube which is a very good deal.

 

[spotcheck]

I have used both a Porter Cable random orbatal buffer and a Black & Decker polisher. Both are a bit big for working on the 7.

 

I have used both the Porter Cable and B&D machines with synthetic, foam and wool pads. Does anyone know where to find coton pads for either machine.

 

Economy pulled the plug on my seven purchase - for now - but I already had at least one example of every saw-dust-making machine known to mankind. If I had gotten the seven bug 10 years ago, would have been MUCH less costly. I kid you not.

 

Anyway - back on point - I have 5 inch and 6 inch P-C RO sanders. They have accessory hook+loop semi-flexible "contour" pads that replace the rigid OEM sanding pad. I use these for waxing furniture. They have wool polishing pads for both, but never seen cotton. However, I have jury-rigged soft cotton rags over the wool, with OK results. Buy the cotton rags at Lowe's - better quality product than HD. Couple wash+dry cycles before use.

 

The 5-inch RO sander might be exactly the thing you are looking for in terms of size.

 

I always get this type of stuff from amazon. There are also many other reputable dedicated woodworking sites that I deal with, but - again - never saw cotton.

[Jim F.]

A few years ago it was suggested to go to thrift stores and find worn, washed many times over and over, old baby diapers (w/o the thick center pad) for polish application, removal of the black haze and the subsequent final buffing/polishing. I use the application pads that come w/ the Metal Armor kit but forego the microfiber cloth in favor of the diapers. Guaranteed to save you a lot of time w/ gorgeous results! Hope this helps and best of results to all of you!!!!!

[DB6]

Good point Jim,

as someone else on here said, its all too easy to get a swirl mark with a regular terry rag, nothing softer than a baby bum rag hey.