Strip and polishing a tub

[Johnboy72]

Ok, so I've seen the threads stating on using Oven Cleaner to strip the anodizing off the tubs. However, I'm wondering about stripping the tub and polishing it up. I have some Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish and it's doing wonderful things to the nose and wing tubes. Now I'm really wanting a "chrome" or shiny tub. The question I have is will I have to polish it often to keep it from tarnishing or something worse? I've seen some say that if you leave it raw it is not good. So thoughts on that? Can someone post up pics if they've done the same?

[shodog]

Ives used other metal polishes, Flitz, wenol and simichrome but Mother mag polish has some more in it that allows the shine to last longer. In the end though you will have to repolish often to keep that shiny luster. Clear coating after polishing is a mess because unless you perfectly seal, the metal will start to oxidize under the clear coat

[Johnboy72]

Well I guess a re polish would be a good excuse to pull a car off the shelf to tear down.

[vsefiream]

Blue Magic polish is one I have used that works great and has an additive to slow oxidation as well

[Johnboy72]

So it will oxide over time of not polished.

[marlo]

Aluminum- polished or not, over time will look bad. If you leave it raw, you will need re-polish every now and then.

[Johnboy72]

Ok, so the wife is stating it's Friday and she has to go grocery shopping so I think I'll take a chance. I have a really nice early 6 gear CE that came in and it's complete. It was never one of the cars I had as a kid so it doesn't hold special interest to me. But it's really complete and all original. So I think I'll go for the chrome on white parts look. Wish me luck. Can anyone post up pics of their results to continue to motivate me to "ruin" a perfectly good RC10?

[marlo]

Best example that I know of
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=33059

[Johnboy72]

Yes, this is beautiful and I want the same thing but only on the Gold aluminum parts with the white plastics. I saw someone mention clear anodizing. Is this an option? Or maybe send it out to get chrome plated so it'll be protected?

[marlo]

If you do get it chrome plated, it will still need to have a mirror polish. Clear anno is another option, but again, a high luster polish is needed. If you leave it polished, and raw, it would take sometime before you start to see any type of oxidation, the acid in your hands will be the enemy!

[Lowgear]

This is my take on polishing aluminum R/C parts. If you're going to do it, make sure you do a hell of a good job. In my opinion the results always look bad otherwise. Also I wouldn't recommend having aluminum chromed as that never looks good (to me anyway) either. Polishing always looks the best and is more sought after, but is the most labor intensive as it takes work to keep it looking that way.

[Johnboy72]

Well I guess worse case scenario if I get down...I can have it re ano'd purple. lol

[marlo]

This is my take on polishing aluminum R/C parts. If you're going to do it, make sure you do a hell of a good job. In my opinion the results always look bad otherwise. Also I wouldn't recommend having aluminum chromed as that never looks good (to me anyway) either. Polishing always looks the best and is more sought after, but is the most labor intensive as it takes work to keep it looking that way.

I agree!..... Look at a chrome bumper on a car, then look at a high polished rim. The aluminum has a deeper classier look to it.

[myfordcnc]

I have been gathering materials to attempt nickle plating on some aluminum parts. In the next few weeks I be giving it a go. There is a place you can send it to to have it done. But I like to try things out for myself before I realize the value of having a specialist do it.

[Johnboy72]

Well get on it. Would love to see the nickel plated. I really would like to see polished with the metal finish like the old hot rod style. But think I'll start by stripping and then sand the few spots that are scratched. Then I'll polish and possibly send to Gomachv to have anno'd another color. But for now I'll rock the polished look if I get it right. Will the Mothers mag polish be good enough?