Scotchbright and alclad

[Darkspeed]

I am planning to polish, will a scotchbright ruin the alclad if I use it to remove filform?

Thanks

[Becky B.]

No, it won't. I used automotive sandpaper & it was fine.

[InsideOut]

IMO, you would be better off trying milder "compound" abrasives first. In the long run, the more scratches you put in your trailer with scotchbrite, sandpaper or emery cloths the more you will have to remove in the later phases of polishing to acheive that mirror shine you will be striving for. The Alclad layer is very thin - if you go through it with harsh abrasives or compounds, you will have a splotchy "grey shadow" effect when you are done where the Alclad was burned through. It'll still polish, but it will oxidize much more quickly than the areas that you didn't burn through - it's not pretty and the only way to "fix it" iis to replace the affected panels.

Shari

[AIR-Quarius]

Google 'Gravel in a bottle' by 3M ...it is a creamy 14 oz bottle, and you can hand do it.
Cost about fourteen to fifteen dollars to ship...I got mine through R&S automotive online. Mind you, the title is aggressive sounding but they are featuring the grit in it to last longer than most compounds. whicjh is true.

[Darkspeed]

Ok just ordered a gallon

Any good source for a 5/8 mandrel to mount cloth wheels to a variable speed grinder?

Are the hook loop pads better ?

[altnbndr]

I got mine from jestco.

[Darkspeed]

Originally Posted by altnbndr

I got mine from jestco.

Thanks just got one ordered and some 8" cloth wheels as well

[Darkspeed]

So I'm using the 3m and a 10" wheel but I am getting highly polished filform .

What am I doing wrong do I need a more aggressive polish medium?

[wkerfoot]

Did you remove the clearcoat first?

Bill

Originally Posted by Darkspeed

So I'm using the 3m and a 10" wheel but I am getting highly polished filform .

What am I doing wrong do I need a more aggressive polish medium?

[Darkspeed]

Yes did two passes with stripper.

I'm just wondering what is SOP for removing filform during polishing.

The 3m stuff is good but it does not seem very aggressive

[ROBERT CROSS]

My understanding of Alclad, aluminum clad alloy.

Is there not a concern of polishing thru the clad?

Filiform can be pretty deep.

[Darkspeed]

I could be more aggressive with it I just have this phobia of burning through or warping with heat. Am I being a wus?

[Becky B.]

I'd like to know how many people actually have "burned through" their alclad. I've polished two AS's--one 27 ft, one 31 ft. and had no issues. I used varying degrees of automotive sandpaper on the endcaps of my '86 to achieve a mirror finish & had no problems. After sandpaper, I went to rouge bars & then to Nuvite C & S for final finish. Yes, filiform can be removed with sandpaper. Start with 2000 & see what it does. After using it, use steps back down to get rid of the scratches your sandpaper puts in the aluminum. Are you being a "wus"? I dunno! How about a survey of how many people have actually burned through the alclad & that might help you decide what to do!

[Darkspeed]

Originally Posted by beckybillrae

I'd like to know how many people actually have "burned through" their alclad. I've polished two AS's--one 27 ft, one 31 ft. and had no issues. I used varying degrees of automotive sandpaper on the endcaps of my '86 to achieve a mirror finish & had no problems. After sandpaper, I went to rouge bars & then to Nuvite C & S for final finish. Yes, filiform can be removed with sandpaper. Start with 2000 & see what it does. After using it, use steps back down to get rid of the scratches your sandpaper puts in the aluminum. Are you being a "wus"? I dunno! How about a survey of how many people have actually burned through the alclad & that might help you decide what to do!

Thank you! That's what I needed to hear I will try some 2000 and see what the results are.