So after hearing about it here, I decided to try it on some side trim that I have. My question is how do I tell when the anodizing is off, and how long to let it sit for. When I wiped it off after about 15 min the trim piece looks the same as before.Thanks all info welcome.

 

<TABLE id=post14968393 class=tborder border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" class=alt2><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=6 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD noWrap>rougeriver
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</TD><TD width="100%"></TD><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- / user info --></TD></TR><TR><TD id=td_post_14968393 class=alt1><!-- message, attachments, sig --><!-- message -->These videos show how to remove the cloudy anodized finish so you polish it.

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...+aluminum+trim

These videos show how to polish your trim.

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...+aluminum+trim

I've polished a few pieces of my trim, and really like how it comes out, it's beautiful. But bare polished aluminum is vulnerable. It will discolor and even corrode if it comes in contact with certain cleaning products and solutions that you would have never thought would be harmful to it. Salt is another problem for it.

Once you polish your trim, you have to continue to polish it to maintain the high shine, but it's not very often if you are careful with it. Applying wax on it just as you would on your paint is a good way to get some temporary protection.

David


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Not sure when to stop. I never tried it. there are a couple places that make stuff to remove the anodizing without eating the aluminum but it is pricey and you need to soak the parts in it from what I remember. This would be hard with large trim pieces.

 

The good thing about using Easy-Off or a gel drain cleaner is that it doesn't have to be a one shot thing. You can spray or brush it on the anodized finish, and let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes, and then wash it off. It should be apparent if the anodizing has been removed, but if you are unsure, try polishing the part and see if it shines up. If it is still resistant to polishing, just do another application of Easy-Off. I wouldn't leave it on for longer than 10 to 20 minutes at any one time, perhaps less time on the second pass.

This is a time consuming project, but it does yield good results, and is something productive that can be done indoors during this harsh winter weather.

David

 

Thanks for the videos rougeriver, I watched a bunch off them. Can I do this process to the wide side trim pieces with the plastic insert? I didn,t see anything about how this would effect plastic. thanks.

 

I haven't polished any of that molding yet, just my lower racetrack, but I doubt that the oven or drain cleaner would damage the rubber/plastic parts. Proceed with caution.

David

 

That black insert on the trim is removable. It's not glued or anything. There is a small ridge on either side that just "lock in". To get it back on you just press it back on. Just make sure that little ridge is press under the metal edge

 

Mine had a short screw on each end, put in from the back side. I had mine out for a long time and it shrunk up about an inch. I had to use a heat gun to warm it up so I could get it back in.