| Author | Message | ||
| Roger Baughman (Roger)
Registered Member Username: Roger Post Number: 39 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 69.232.69.94  Rating: N/A |
I would like to put a good shine my aluminum. What polish and type of buffer do I use? I see the 1/2 inch thick cloth wheels and the polishing covers that go over a disk. Any help would be appreciated. Roger | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 694 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 72.146.80.182  Rating: N/A |
The aluminum skin is anodized, and if you buff that off, you can't put it back on. That's the only thing that's kept the aluminum decent for all it's original years. Take it off, and you'll be the "protector". Almost all polishes contain grit to scrub a thin layer of whatever off, along with the wax it puts on.. Try to keep that in mind. So... whatever you end up using, try it out on an inconspicuous spot first, and wait a month or two. | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 883 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.54.29.215 Rating: N/A |
Roger, Looks like your bus is an MCI. All that skin is stainless steel. The bumpers and rub rails are aluminum. Which are you wanting to polish? Jack | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 695 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 72.146.80.182 Rating: |
Jack - Roger's profile says it's a "1864 MCI - 40 FT " I don't think they had Stainless Steel back then! (nice catch, Jack. I didn't pay attention to the picture) (Message edited by john_mc9 on December 04, 2008) | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 71 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160  Rating: N/A |
I have done my share of polishing over the years on big truck wheels/tanks. Don't be scared to polish them and if done so properly the maintence isn't bad either! After trying several different polishes when I first started I finally came across Jewelersh Rouge. Not sure if that is a correct spelling, actually given my spelling it probably isn't. Anyway it is not a liquid. It comes in bars, like a long gold bar. It also comes in different colors, the colors indicating the aggesivnes of the bar. I usually did the 3 step procedure. Black (most aggresive) or Red (not quite as aggresive but still quite aggresive)bar first, this is applied with a yellow or red wheel. The polish wheels are also color coded as to the hardness of the wheel. Then I would use a white bar with a white wheel to actually do the polishing. Then finally use a green bar with a white wheel, this will seal it and make it last. I suggest skipping the first step if it your first time as if you get aggresive with it and are unsure you may damage your aluminium and never get the burn mark out of it. The wheels can be applied to a large side grinder although I do suggest a variable speed grinder so you can slow it down until your use to it. There are more colors than what I have mentioned but I don't believe that every color be used to get a good shine. There usually is a paper that comes along with these bars that indicate the aggresivness of each bar. You can pick them up at most large truck stops or dealers. Once you get onto it you will be able to comb your hair it it, no matter how dull your alumionium is now. If it is pitted quite bad you may need wet sand a little first. Another important tip is never take the buffer and just polish where -ever. This method is designed to go back and forth in a straight line pushing the polish up with each passing. It's really not difficult. Have Fun | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1248 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.110.9 Rating: N/A |
http://www.tptools.com/d/76_Buffing-Detailing.html this site sells buffing products | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 72 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160 Rating: N/A |
I should have mentioned that once your done with this procedure a wipe with MFX, which is a liquid which wipes off easily works well for up-keep. It is also made by the same supplier. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 787 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.208 Rating: N/A |
Roger, As John said, if it is actually Al it is anodized and if you polish through the anodizing it will look like h..... It looks kind of like a clear coat that has been cut through, only it is permanent. Anodized Al will never take a shine like SS. | ||
| Mark Renner (Boomer)
Registered Member Username: Boomer Post Number: 125 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 12.50.9.2  Rating: N/A |
When you polish aluminum there is a cheap trick to remove the black polishing residue. Use corn starch or plain white flour. Works really well. | ||
| Roger Baughman (Roger)
Registered Member Username: Roger Post Number: 40 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 69.232.69.94 Rating: N/A |
Thanks guys, All of the info helps me a lot, I think all of the lower metal is aluminum as it will not stick to a magnet. Roger | ||
| Wayne Ellenburg (Wlnburg)
Registered Member Username: Wlnburg Post Number: 30 Registered: 6-2008 Posted From: 128.158.17.50  Rating: N/A |
Roger Most stainless will not take a magnet either, depending on the alloy. Maybe take a knife on the back side that is hidden and try to cut it. If it is aluminum you will be able to remove a small sliver of metal. It it is stainless it will be difficult if not impossible. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1457 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.166.160 Rating: N/A |
Roger - All of the lower exterior sides of your MCI are stainless steel. The sign or billboard area above the baggage bins is aluminum The rub rails, too, are also aluminum. If you really want them to shine, you could do like this charter coach operator did:  FWIW & HTH. . .  (Message edited by rjlong on December 05, 2008) | ||
| David Lower (Dave_l)
Registered Member Username: Dave_l Post Number: 107 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 67.58.201.10  Rating: N/A |
Roger; RJ has it spot on in discribing the exterior skins. Dave L You will have to be careful polishing SS as it will discolour if you get a spot to hot! (Message edited by dave_l on December 05, 2008) | ||
| Nellie Wilson (Vivianellie)
Registered Member Username: Vivianellie Post Number: 51 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 76.68.203.213  Rating: N/A |
RJ That's a real nice picture. But how did you upload such a big photo? I mean, what method / program did you use? And how did you keep it in the body of your text... instead of (kinda like) a link or attachment. Unless you'd be revealing trade secrets, I'd sure like to know. Thanks, RJ, Nellie Wilson | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1458 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.166.160  Rating: N/A |
Nellie - I've sent you a pm will all the trade secrets! | ||
| Mark Renner (Boomer)
Registered Member Username: Boomer Post Number: 126 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 75.208.49.188 Rating: N/A |
The shiny rub rails in the picture are polished stainless rub rail covers, attached to the aluminum rub rail with Sikaflex. When we had MC-9's we used a lot of them. Can be purchased from International Bus Parts. A nice touch. Can be used on Prevost too. | ||
| Mark Renner (Boomer)
Registered Member Username: Boomer Post Number: 127 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 75.208.49.188 Rating: N/A |
Just looked at the date in the picture. They probably were polished aluminum. Don't think the stainless covers were around then, but they are now. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1459 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.166.160 Rating: N/A |
Mark - Actually, those "polished" rub rails on that Allstate MC-9 are chromed! Yes, chromed! So are the mirrors and the front breastplate. I know, because the coach pictured was assigned to me, as I worked for Allstate when the photo was taken. Another interesting bit of trivia about that particular coach - it was the first MC-9 off the production line! Allstate had a fleet of 12 coaches, all as nice as this one, and all kept busy year-round. Sadly, John Mancebo, the owner, got cancer and quickly passed away, and the fleet was sold off. Here's another pic of one of the fleet, this one an MC-8, which was also the oldest coach at the time:  FWIW & HTH. . . PS: My thanks to Richard Silagi for the photos! | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 888 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.54.29.215 Rating: N/A |
RJ, Are those spotlights on each side just below the windshield? They look like the spotlights we had on our ambulances many years ago. If so, how was the passenger side light controlled by the driver? | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1461 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.166.160 Rating: N/A |
Jack - They were fixed, you couldn't move either side. More decorative than functional, as they were focused on the road about 150 feet in front of the coach. -RJ |
