About keeping aluminum polished

[MSG Hall]

I have been seeing that some of you are polishing your aluminum shiny. How do you keep it that way?

I haven’t decided on the outside of my TD yet, but I have an aluminum mod V Jon boat. I thought is would be cool to polish the sides of the boat… but how to keep it shiny, is there a coating to protect it?

[SteveH]

I have no first-hand knowledge mind you, but I've been told automotive paste wax is the best to protect the shine.

[madjack]

...there are a couple of products to put on polished(or not) metals to keep them looking the same...one is called SharkHide(lotssa boat guys use it) and I can't remember the others but they are out there...
madjack

[tonyj]

Halfdome Danny and I have a thread going that covers this since we are both doing the same thing in slightly different manner.

Paste wax will work, but from my reading, the paste wax adds a layer over the polished surface and tends to dull the reflective surface. When it comes time to polish again, the wax has to be removed before polishing again.

Everything I have read makes me believe a shiny, reflective aluminum surface is a fleeting thing, and work to maintain.

Here is the link to the other thread: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=18780&highlight=

[48Rob]

Everything I have read makes me believe a shiny, reflective aluminum surface is a fleeting thing, and work to maintain.

Yep, you're right...lots of work, and expensive...

Been there, enjoyed it, but not going back!

Rob

[mrainey]

I got a kick out of reading this.

http://campadk.com/pjsnoozer/pjpolishing.html