Anodized Aluminum
 

I have a '69 Olds post car, and I'm currently restoring and modifying the trim on mine. Practically all the trim on these cars are stainless, except for the post trim. I think theyre anodized aluminum, if so, there's no way to polish those, I would have to send them out to get them re anodized. my question is this, can re anodizing give me the same amount of refectivity of my mirror like stainless? I've never seen high refective anodizing. I would like to chrome them, but they were a nightmare getting off, and they'll probably be a nightmare getting them back on, I don't want to risk cracking the chrome. Any suggestions? (Nova's have the same style trim.)

Thanks guys.

Anodize does not have much shine to it, it really matters what the part getting anodized is like, for example if you take a polished peace and have it anodized it will be shiny, if the peace is not then it will not be.

Update
 

Thanks JamesJ for the response. Upon doing a little more research I found that I could in fact sand off the top coat. I have it to my desired reflectivity, now I have to decide how to re protect it if you will.

Should I powder coat them? Will you see the coat?
Should I anodize them? Do you think it will keep the same luster?

It definately needs to be protected, it's soft.
Heres a few pics.

Thanks again.

I'm new to this forum, but i have had this same problem on many gm cars. my solution to this is 1of 2 ways. first if the car stays in the garage i just polish as you have and reinstall. every once in a while i hit them with mothers to bring back the high gloss because the will dull over time. the other way i do it is to polish them and then clear coat them. it makes them a little duller but shinier than original but you don't have to polish them. Ive been satisfied either way.good luck with your choice.steven

to get anodize off, I have had great luck with Easy-Off oven cleaner. it eats the anodize right up. I have had it strip off cheaply anodized aluminum parts in as little as 5 minutes, a bit longer with a good anodize job or on stainless

the only drawback is that it will tarnish the parts pretty good (much worse on aluminim than stainless), but it's a lot easier sanding away a little tarnish than sanding off anodize

I'm new to this site also. I use to work for a company back in the '70s that made automotive trim. We had a anodize department as well as a chrome plater. We chrome plated Stainless steel, and anodized aluminum. I too thought if I polished the aluminum to a shine like chrome it would stay after anodizing. It won't, it will dull it back somewhat. I know companies like Edlebrock powder coat their products (aluminum) in a chrome finish and it really looks good. I don't know much about their process though.
Carl

When I'm stripping the anodizing off fittings etc... I mix up (plastic bucket) some water and DRANO CRYSTALS.... it strips them in SECONDS not minutes... then rise well in water and buff those babies right up.

I'm going to have to try that

I just "hang 'em" off some bent welding rod.... don't get that crap on you!!

If the fitting doesn't start "foaming" etc right away - you didn't put in enough "crystals" -- then I just add some --- and I'm only talking less than a quart of water -- more like a couple of "cups"... so don't start out with a big ol bucket of water -- you're only doing some fittings...

Watch them bubble --- don't leave 'em in there - you'll start eating the aluminum!! When you have the mixture "right" --- we're talking "short time" and she's done -- rinse it - blow it dry -- and start buffing!

after your done polishing your going to want to powdercoat them . if you clear anodize the aluminum will turn kind of whitebut clear powdercoating will retaine the look it has when your done polishing.