Polishing OEM aluminum valve covers

[waterboy1976]

I just got a pair of original finned valve covers...there is some overspray on them and they need to be polished afterward....Is there anything I should do or anything I SHOULDNT do on them? thanks...

 

[wishuwerehere82]

You can remove the overspray by using some acetone based nail polish remover. As long as they are not too badly oxidized you can polish them with some Mothers, Wizards, or Semichrome polish. If they are oxidized, sand them with 1000-1500 grit wet-or-dry then polish them.

 

[ruby76]

I've started a post on this exact subject over on corvetteforum.com. Seems the best results folks have had was sanding (yes with sandpaper) to about 1200 grit, then use the "jewlers Rouge" (the white "bar") and polishing till like chrome. I've started the process with regular wheel polish and they are already 100% better than before. Some of the pics some have posted with using the sandpaper and then the white polishing compound are amazing.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Ruby76,

I read your post on Corvetteforum. That's the way to do them if you have a buffing wheel and motor. White jewelers rouge is good for a chrome like surface, but it has a grease binder that has to be removed with Goop hand cleaner after your finished buffing. The commercial polishes like wizards and Nevrdull have a cotton batting that will remove that grease, but you have to do it by hand to get that final gleeming finish. If you put a coat of wax on it afterward it will make the finish seem duller, but will provide some protection. Polished Aluminum oxidizes very quickly.