Aluminium Polish - caravan checkerplate

I have thought about using that Blitz alloy cleaner on my C/T but it is not a polish.. it will probably make it cleaner and worked a treat on my alloy tinnie but it will make the alloy look like it is brushed alloy more so than polished.

I wonder if Shelleys "Sugar Soap" would do the trick. I use the liquid sugar soap (dissolved in water) product for all types of cleaning jobs and find it's brilliant on anything that other products didn't work on.

It might work well on removing the red bull dust, (rinse well) before you then finish off the job with some sort of polish/shine product.

You can get the liquid sugar soap at supermarkets and hardware stores.

Be really interested in knowing what you finally had success with - we'll need to do the same when our lap around is complete.

Back when I was a callow youth, the old engineer at the soft drink plan used Kerosene and Steel wool to polish aluminium.

Now I wouldn't use it on anodised. Come to think of it I wouldn't use it on my aluminium either, but if you try it and it works, I might give it a go.

For polished checker plate I used the Bullbar Polish, you can get from most auto suppliers, or even Bullbar suppliers, for plain Aluminium I use Soapy Steel Wool with water.

Cheers

Hi Carl,

I use Autosol on heavier stains and imperfections and Purple for normal polishing. Always brings the bullbar up a treat, like new. It will be hard work with the chequer plate but it will be with whtever product you use. An interstate truck driver put me onto these two products and I have never considered anything else since.
Happy travels
John

You can get a product called ALIBRITE it is a mild acid easy to use, great results.
just mix up as directed on the bottle using a bucket that you can fit a soft broom into will make the job easy. simply brush onto the checker plate let dwell of a min or so then just rinse of with hose on need to use H/P cleaner.
ALIBRITE is available from most commercial cleaning stores. if you are in Perth (sorry new to this haven't worked out all the bits yet) ABCO Products John street Bentley stock it.

Don't use any of the alu cleaners. They all leave some kind of residue and its even harder to get off. Metal polish, autosol etc and an angle polisher with a soft brush.
I have lots of prop plate (diamond plate) not checker plate and I sprayed it with 2 pack when it was fresh. That conserves it. Once you have it clean use a clear cover like 2 pack for conservation. Most Australian caravan manufacturers give a rats about the finish when it comes to alu. I have seen shocking examples on the dealer yards from various manufacturers. Some have a protective coating (not clear though) most don't .... A soapy water with a rinse agent (dishwashing liquid, Rainex) does a reasonable job. The easiest to clean is my vinyl prop plate .. smooth surface and the emboss effect is done with the print. very effective on rocker panels (where I have it) or on the side of vans as scratch protection. Much easier to clean, but of course not as strong as metal.
have fun
gmd

Thanks everyone for the tips. My heart is sad as the realisation dawns, that 41 years after man first set foot on the moon, elbow grease looks the most effective.

The moral of my polishing finger is even lower, for it is an off road 23 ft van covered in checkerplate. I have found the job to keep me busy for the next week.

Thanks all.

Just so your all aware , Metal polish has the same fine grit they use in Toothpaste....

maybe give this a try on a small section


BB