Found on everything from gumball machines to engine blocks, cast aluminum is revered for its silvery appearance. Manufacturers and consumers both appreciate that aluminum resists corrosion and weighs less than other metals such as iron. "Cast" refers to the process of pouring aluminum into a mold and allowing it to cool. Time and use can mar the finish on a shiny cast aluminum piece. Employ methods used by automotive professionals to restore a lustrous, chrome-like shine to a dull aluminum surface.
Instructions
1. Place the item in vice, or clamp it to a work surface to stabilize it for polishing.
2. Wash the item with a solution of warm water and dish soap.
3. Rinse the piece with water and, while it is still wet, sand it with 320-grit sandpaper, using a sanding block or an electric sander. Get into hard-to-reach areas using a rotary tool with conical sanding bits. Re-wet the piece as needed. Gradually work up through higher sandpaper grits, sanding thoroughly with each grit. Finish with 1200-grit sandpaper.
4. Rinse the piece with fresh water and pat it dry with a towel.
5. Buff the piece, using polishing compound and buffing tools, such as a rotary tool with a buffing bit, a bench grinder with a buffing wheel or an orbital buffer.
6. Polish the piece by hand with white metal polishing cream and a lint-free cloth.
7. Wipe down all surfaces with a dry, lint-free cloth.
