Thread: aluminum polishing

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I have to build a couple fan shrouds, battery box and some other non-structural type parts, curious what grade of aluminum you guys use when you want something that is going to polish up really nice..... Thanks

We used 50-60 series ,i think, on the lola`s, i polished that up real nice, i also made a valve cover brace out of some 70 series, lockeed martin made angle stock, got that shined up with just a buffing wheel on a bench grinder

grade of aluminum?

there are alloys

1XXX higher purity (very soft-electrical conducting)
2XXX copper alloyed -good for threading, usually a cast piece
3XXX silicon with copper and/or magnesium alloyed- cast
4XXX silicon alloyed -cast
5XXX magnesium alloyed
6XXX magnesium and silicon
7XXX zinc -aircraft alloys
8XXX tin or other- depends on wrought or cast
9XXX other
other designations for casting alloys
too much information?

I have seen brilliant 3003 alloys
sometimes they are "brite" dipped
in Hydroflouric acid and rinsed

ASM rated them all about the same for corrosion resistance
except 2XXX alloys

a good clear aluminum sealer would be a good idea

Sure, just whip out some hf and dip away. Thanks for the list of alloys, I'll be saving that.

Thanks for the help guys. Now got to get hold of my materials guy and get some stuff ordered.

t0ol, You mentioned aluminum sealer. Can you give us more information on al. sealers?
Don

6061-T6 is probably the most readily available alloy going. Great general purpose material and will polish up fine too.

Even the casting grades will polish out luxuriously (intake manifolds, water pumps for ex).

Kitz