Has anyone polished an alloy frame?

I’m talking a DIY job.

My raw frame has a rough surface and every time it’s left the house I’ve been covered in mud from head to toe. So the frame already looks brown and shabby with loads of engrained dirt.

So I’m thinking of polishing it and lacquering it, but I know it’ll be hard graft.

Has anyone done it successfully? Did it come out good or crap? Was it worth the hassle? Did you go to a full mirror finish? How well does rattle can lacquer stick to a polished frame?

I’m thinking of getting some drill attachments and metal polish and just going for it.

Should I go full retro, mirror finish? Or just get rid of the dirt and lacquer it? Or maybe send it away for paint…

I think pretty much every ali frame I’ve owned had owned up raw/polished at some point.

How easy it is depends on the frame and how it was prepped before paint. My Nukeproof was difficult as it had been shot peened then acid etched before being painted. Other frames have been easy once nitromors’d- a light going over with 2000grit Emery paper or a green scotchbrite then hours with autosol and a rag. I also used a buffing wheel and wax on one frame – but a bit of care was needed not to ‘burn’ the surface.

Once polished it doesn’t need laquer – just a polish with autosol every few weeks.

It is however a job for winter due to the time needed to do it properly.

I would echo the above reply. I’ve polished a lot of bike stuff for my retro bikes but a whole frame is an endeavour which can take you to the edge of your sanity.

If the frame can be stripped of its paint fairly easily then it’ll be easier but you need power tools to do it and a buffing wheel – maybe on a bench grinder.

Dont lacquer it. Even a professional lacquer only lasts for a couple of years until you get salt and water under the lacquer and it starts to get shabby. It’s surprisingly easy to keep the high gloss polish looking good with Autosol (I prefer Peek as a polish though).

My frame is already raw so the hard work is done. I’ve done loads of paint jobs in the past and stripping the original colour is by far the worst part.

I’m waiting to see if I can have a set of replacement decals. The bike is due for a refresh anyway so don’t mind taking it apart.

Anyone got any pictures of their efforts?

a mate had a trek he polished in the early 90s. We called him “Flashing Blade”.

I remember the glint of it when he went over the bars ahead of me one sunny day.

As above, polish it up with autosol. Brought my old Orange Aluminium Elite up a treat.

It’s a couple of days of finger numbing work by hand.  I polished this last year and it was pretty painful. That was with a “factory” finish not a painted one. I think I’d try power tools next time.

I went through with it and I’ve got some before and after shots.

It was quite easy to do. I got some Autosol off eBay and some polishing mops for my Makita drill which really made it light work. Did the nooks and crannies with an old towel. It came up really bright with very little effort. It’s still a bit black and greasy and needs the hand prints washing off. I’ll get some super fine Scotchbrite which will hopefully keep it shiny.

Now I’m thinking about replacing the graphics with something custom. I want something multi coloured rather than just cut vinyl.

I just can’t find the energy to nail it back together! I don’t want to get it muddy anyway.