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Bumper metal needs buffing. Ideas?


JohnHutch

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Hello Reattites.  In the cleanup process on my red 91, I've noticed the metal on both bumpers' upper surfaces could use some love, especially the rear one on the drivers side, above where the exhaust pipes are.  Anybody with a good surefire way to spiff these up without ruining them?  Are these plated parts or solid?  I'd be ticked if I tried to buff them and had the silver finish come off.  Thank you!!  Peace, John

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No, they are solid aluminum and can be buffed. The top layer is anodized and really should be stripped and then buffed. When you are finished you have bare aluminum. I took mine off and stripped them, then I took them to a fellow I know and he polished them, only the part that shows.  To keep them shiny I polish them with a product the polisher recommends. It's called " White Diamond."

Edited by jon L
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  • 2 weeks later...
On 8/16/2024 at 10:26 PM, jon L said:

No, they are solid aluminum and can be buffed. The top layer is anodized and really should be stripped and then buffed. When you are finished you have bare aluminum. I took mine off and stripped them, then I took them to a fellow I know and he polished them, only the part that shows.  To keep them shiny I polish them with a product the polisher recommends. It's called " White Diamond."

Hi Jon, how much of a job is it to get those aluminum pieces off the car?  I think the back piece is gonna be a bear to buff out without having that anodized coating come off or thin it out in splotches.  Thanks much!!  John

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Your in for a big job.  But if your up to it... tape off the painted and rubber parts of the bumper. (three layers is better then one.

A product called "Flitz" is good to polish.  After it's shinny, a product called "ShankHide is good to protect the shine. 

Again a few coats is better then one.  This stuff was designed for the boating market so it's pretty good. (Even if you drive your car

into the surf at the beach.  The bumper will still look great.....)  Do a Google on the words "Aluminum". ...........

Edited by Samakijoe
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Four bolts hold the bumper on. Remove those and the whole front comes off.  The bumper is quite large, but not too heavy. You can strip the plastic parts off to get to the entire bumper.  Get some aviation stripper and the top layer can be removed. I took mine to a polisher and they polished them. I only had the part that shows polished because the plastic covers the rest. Like I said before, I use "Whiter Diamond' polish to keep them shiny.  Keep your and everyone else's hands off, as the oil from your fingers leaves marks on the bare metal.

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