Polished tailgate band

[cntryboy88]

Been reading this site a lot since I got this truck. I am new to the GM stuff, been a 5.0 Mustang nut forever. Got a new camera and forgive me if the pics are sized crazy, I'm still trying to figure all that out. Anyway I finally figured out how to get the tailgate cleaned up. Only thing now is all the little dings show up but it still looks better than it did.

[Square84]

Howd You Clean Up The Band. Man I Have Alot Of Family In Cullman.

[raiders3581]

yes please tell howd you shine it up

[68GMC454]

looks good..

[cntryboy88]

I used Easy Off oven cleaner. Layed it flat so the cleaner wouldn't run off. Then I sprayed the oven cleaner until the surface was real latherered up. Let it soak about 5 minutes then rinse off. After it dries it will be kind of crusty, rub that off with 00 steel wool. I did that process twice, then polished it out with Mothers brand mag and aluminum polish. You have to remove the anodized coating before you can polish it, that's what the Easy Off does. There may be a better way but I already had the all the supplies. I used black pinstriping for the edges, the cleaner eats the paint off

[johnboyon20s]

did u have swirl marks and scrathches after u polished it?
i tried this today on my 96 gate and i think i may have scrubed it too hard, i made my finger bleed using the steel wool lol, and i polished by hand and theres swirls and scratches and looks like some dull spots, im thinking about tryin a small buffing pad and polish it again tommorrow.

[Prong]

When I did mine, I used some 000 steel wool. The key is to buff *with* the grain (horizontally) and not use any up/down or circular motion.

[cntryboy88]

I have a few swirl marks. The key is to go the same way as the original brushed lines. I really didn't have to do much with the steel wool, it was mainly to removed the residue left over by the oven clean. When the oven cleaner eats off the anodized coating it leaves some dry powdery residue. The buffing with the mothers polish is what brings out the shine. WalMart also sells a product I think is called Never Dull that works almost as well.

[mercman1951]

Originally Posted by cntryboy88

I have a few swirl marks. The key is to go the same way as the original brushed lines. I really didn't have to do much with the steel wool, it was mainly to removed the residue left over by the oven clean. When the oven cleaner eats off the anodized coating it leaves some dry powdery residue. The buffing with the mothers polish is what brings out the shine. WalMart also sells a product I think is called Never Dull that works almost as well.

Okay, so I will correct myself...you're trying to get a shiny finish on that flat piece of aluminum instead of the factory anodized and "brushed" finish?

I guess I need to go look more closely at my truck, because I don't see much of a difference.

Not trying to be a dick, just trying to understand what you did.

BTW, Wally World is not the only place that sells Never-Dull-- I've bought some at Murray's or Advance Auto parts. It doesn't work miracles like some folks claim it does...it's like cotton soaked in kerosene...it looks good for a couple days, then...well...

[andresco50]

The best way to clean that aluminium finish is using a paint polish i did this with my cab trim and now looks like new

[cntryboy88]

I agree on a good panel they are already shined up good from the factory, but mine was weathered to a whitish-grey streaked mess. I was just trying to make it look better and figured if I screwed it up I would just cut a piece of diamond plate aluminum and attach it somehow. I don't know if the 96 trucks had as much of a heavy brushed look as the older trucks, but I was agreeing with what Prong said that you need to scrub with the grain. Sorry if I was confusing, my wife would agree communication is not one of my strong points.

[ChaseDale3and8]

I used my Mothers Powerball on Bobbos tailgate band when he still had his 82 Silverado. I used some of my Wenol metal polish to buff it with and it turned out pretty good. ...Joe

[mercman1951]

Originally Posted by cntryboy88

I agree on a good panel they are already shined up good from the factory, but mine was weathered to a whitish-grey streaked mess. I was just trying to make it look better and figured if I screwed it up I would just cut a piece of diamond plate aluminum and attach it somehow. I don't know if the 96 trucks had as much of a heavy brushed look as the older trucks, but I was agreeing with what Prong said that you need to scrub with the grain. Sorry if I was confusing, my wife would agree communication is not one of my strong points.

Okay, I get you now...makes sense...chalky white streaks? Ugh! I got them on my GMC too.

I've got issues on another one of my rides like that. The "stainless" trim is weathering all over the car, and I haven't found anything yet that will restore it. White "splotches".

Nevr-Dull didn't do anything. I think I will hit it with some 3M 5990 (Is that right? The white polishing compound?) by hand first, and see if that works. If not, I may have to try wet-sanding with 2000 grit and hitting it with rubbing compound on the wheel...

[Richard D]

Be careful with the oven cleaner, it will eat the aluminum if left on too long. Don't ask how I know!