Weber Kettle Club Forums
Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: Dale Benson on February 04, 2014, 04:56:02 PM
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I've been reading through many older posts in my effort to learn about cleaning/restoring an old kettle. Lots of terrific (and much appreciated!) information shared by very generous members. Maybe I've overlooked information that is already here someplace, and if so, my apologies. I'm looking for input about cleaning/polishing aluminum parts. What grit paper should I start with? Any liquids or compounds used? I remember someone mentioning using Mother's brand. How do you best apply this? I've seen a few awesome photos here of older kettles with ash catchers and pans, etc. that look nearly new. What must be done to get results like that? Thanks much.
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I've had great luck with SOS pads on legs, then using 0000 steel wool. After I polish with a rag using mothers mag and aluminum polish. Just wipe it on and then rub until the black color comes off. Same procedure for vents and ash pans. Some have great luck with powered polishers.
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AZ_MIKEY does a great job for mirror polish. He goes into more detail on this thread:
http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/polished-ash-ring/
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/11/u8ugu7u5.jpg)
Landgraftj's methods also works well to get that oxidation off and deepen the sheen.
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I'm a big believer in Simichrome. A little dab on a pad of 0000 steel wool, then buff with a cotton rag and you'll get a mirror-like shine with just a little effort. Seems to last a long time too - must add a layer of something protective.
(http://www.edroehrsafety.com/UMSS/graphics/CHE/SimichromePolishLarge.jpg)
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Oh, man! Thanks guys. This is exactly the kind of stuff I was hoping to find. AZ_MIKEY's pictures are awesome. Something to shoot for.
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I've had good luck with Mother's Mag polish and 0000 wool for the legs. I need to try that Simichrome this year. The shine it puts on Marty's vents is amazing!
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Okay, I just realized that I could have saved myself (and all of you, too) a bit of time by using the Forum's 'Search' feature. Sorry about that. I'm using Search now and discovering even more great pictures and info in here. I can't seem to get enough! It's like an addiction.
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I just picked up a polishing wheel and some compound for my bench grinder. I'll report back once I give it a shot. I need to try the mother's mag stuff for the vents though.
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The shine it puts on Marty's vents is amazing!
Shine? What shine?
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8628197820_8656c2a693_n.jpg)
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Thanks for the new to me Simichrome. Is this what you used on the on your Red SS Performer to get the mirror like finish?
Or was it a combination of this and lots of elbow grease?
I'm a big believer in Simichrome. A little dab on a pad of 0000 steel wool, then buff with a cotton rag and you'll get a mirror-like shine with just a little effort. Seems to last a long time too - must add a layer of something protective.
(http://www.edroehrsafety.com/UMSS/graphics/CHE/SimichromePolishLarge.jpg)
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It's like an addiction.
Dale, it's not *like* an addiction, it is precisely and exactly an addiction. Welcome to the club! ;-)
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Yep - it's my go-to-goo for chrome and 'luminum. I've even used it to polish lacquered wood - like the Koa barrette I made for my wife below. I use mostly Bar-keepers friend on stainless, (the powder) with the same 0000 wool and a little H2O, and that's what I used on the Performer. I was lucky with the table on the SS, it was pretty clean to begin with. The right lighting and camera angle helps too.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3721/12135479973_5aa037c78d_n.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8246/8474619802_e61827a049_n.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8420438713_5154a483a1_n.jpg)
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Thanks Marty! I have two and one in the wings. I really like the shine! Mine seem to be grainy, but yours is like a mirror. I need to give my Red a good cleaning this spring. Cooking on it for on it three nights a week on average, it needs to be taken apart and of course replace the 7409... It is so locked in for temp management, it scares me to...
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Where can one obtain the Simichrome? Marty, that koa barrette came out really nice.
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Amazon has it…some auto parts stores, but not many - Mothers has them wrapped up. You can order direct here:
http://www.simichrome-polish.com
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Had to search myself, stuff looks to do amazing stuff, I'm about the ease.
This place has options too. Looks like this is a do all product...
http://www.winterbrookfarmantiques.com/index.php?cPath=68
Go here to for other ideas.
http://thepolishguy.com/category/simichrome/
Amazon has it…some auto parts stores, but not many - Mothers has them wrapped up. You can order direct here:
http://www.simichrome-polish.com
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What grit paper should I start with? Any liquids or compounds used?
While I'm happy with my results, AZ_Mikey takes it to another level... He begins polishing where I end. lol
I'm a fan of the sandpaper method. 100 > 150 > 220 > 320/400 > 0000 steel wool followed with Mothers Polish
Blue SS - playing around 'cleaning up' the ash catcher ring
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/Back%20Yard%20Grillin/09FD06EC-31F0-4DD6-95AA-D147DE7C47F0-945-0000005A43CCAF3B.jpg)
Red SS - before & after (1 hour of sanding/polishing)
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/Red%20Webers/EE2AD28E-BCA8-4A95-98AF-65C98D438D7C-550-000000359F99B26F.jpg)
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/Red%20Webers/B0F828AA-D542-43D7-936C-803C1E996AC8-550-00000035BFE9251A.jpg)
Kettle legs also
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/Red%20Webers/E5638963-9BC2-4E3F-BBF9-4F9B0DA97F43-945-0000013FED9F9350.jpg)
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Bman, all by hand and no power tools? They look great.
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The absolute best stuff I have ever used, (and I have used all the simichrome and mothers and flitz out there) I'd stuff called Rolite supra 90. You can find it online, at aircraft supply places. My neighbor is an airline mechanic and he gave me an old can. They use it to polish the airplanes. I polish aluminum to a chrome finish for a living and nothing even compares to supra 90. It's in a class all by itself. The other stuff is decent but it's a distant second place. Just Google it and you'll find it. It's amazing. Also if you can find something called Sunshine polishing cloths those are equally amazing. They are available from Rio Grande. It's a jewelry supply place. It's a bit of a pain in the ass to get the cloths but if you do you will be amazed by the results. Combined with rolite, you better get a fresh pair of underoos, because when you're done polishing you'll throw it in your own net.....
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Simichrome is great stuff. A friend gave me some to try on aluminum engine parts that come up to a mirror finish. If you happen to have a high speed straight air grinder you can bring that mirror finish up very quickly.
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Bman, all by hand and no power tools? They look great.
The legs are done by hand, but I 'cheat' on the ring/pan by using a 1/4 sheet palm sander for the bulk of it.
I finish up by hand with the steel wool and the Mothers (if I use it)
(http://www.house-painting-info.com/images/palm-sander.jpg)