Metal polishing by hand

We like shiny things!

We like shiny things, especially when it's bare polishable metal and I know it's something we share with a whole heap of you reading this article.  

Our main reason for looking into making our two metal polishes was for the hundreds of alloy and magnesium wheels that are fitted to most of our older race/sports cars. It has taken nearly two decades of testing and development to get to where we are now with the two Aussie made custom metal polishes, that we find fill our different needs over a variety of polishing jobs and metals we have on our cars. One is a fine grade paste for softer alloys, metals and chrome and the other is a medium grade liquid polish when you need a little bit more polishing oomph.

Shiny Stuff - fine grade polish

For softer metals like aluminium and brass, or to give that final shine to harder metals, use our Shiny Stuff polishing paste. Shiny Stuff is a super-fine metal polishing paste that has been formulated for more delicate chrome, alloy, billet wheels, glass, mirrors, stainless steel, brass and other polishable metals. It quickly cleans off light oxidation, rust stains, water spots, light chrome pitting and built up haze. Shiny Stuff also contains a sealant, which seals and protects the polished area, so the shine lasts longer.  

• Easy work to get a mirror shine by hand, or machine using our Blue Balls or Quick Cone.
• Formulated specifically for more delicate surfaces like chrome, alloy, glass, brass and other polishable metals.
• Quickly cleans off light oxidation and light chrome pitting.
• Seals and protects the polished areas, so the shine lasts longer.

Metal Polish - medium grade polish

Our Metal Polish brings up a brilliant, mirror shine to all dull, tarnished, polishable metals. It's incredibly easy to use and has a shine that will last for months, not weeks! This long term shine is due to the unique protective qualities we have built into the formulation; something all others deliberately fall very short on (so you use more of their product). The metals we find it really excels on are alloy, magnesium and stainless steel. The amount of positive feedback we are getting from people with bikes, trucks and boats is pretty cool; all loving how easy it is to use, and the longevity of the shine. Another bonus is we make it pretty concentrated, so you don't have to use much product to get a great result.

• Fast-acting liquid polish to restore shine to dull metal.
• Use by hand or machine with our Blue Balls and Quick Cone polishing tools.
• Ideal for alloy, stainless steel, billet and harder metals.
• Seals and protects the polished area.
• Residue washes off with just water. Yep, thats right! 

For more information on using Metal Polish and Shiny Stuff with polishing tools like our Quick Cone or Blue Balls, have a look at our guide linked below.

Dirty Deeds

The Dirty Deeds cloth is a strong and purpose made cloth that works great for Metal Polishing. It will make the job quicker over using normal rags and with a 2nd cloth for the final clean buff, makes sure you get the best possible finish. The different texture and weave is its biggest trick for polishing metals, along with being a dark grey colour, so the inevitable staining is less pronounced from both polishing and many other "dirty deeds" around the car.

It also helps to pump up AC/DC as some great motivational music while doing these jobs as well.

Step 1

Using the Metal Polish

Firstly make sure that the metal surface you are using is suitable for this polish. Don't use it on lacquered metals, fine silver, zinc plating or anodised aluminum. It will remove these coatings from the metal.

For chrome surfaces, use our finer abrasive paste, Shiny Stuff.

Less is best - don't use too much product or it will not work as well. 

For the best results, you have to make sure the metal surface is clean and dry. Shake the bottle well, and apply a small, pea sized dollop to one of our Dirty Deeds microfibre cloths. 

Step 2

Small sections at a time

Do small sections at a time, wiping the polish all over the surface. Then buff into the metal until the cloth feels smooth to run back and forth over the surface. We find its usually about 10 to 20 seconds for lightly tarnished, dull metals. You will hear the polishes working away on the tarnished surface as you rub it in. When it stops making that noise, the abrasives have broken down and the area should now be nicely polished.

For really badly affected surfaces, repeat the process to get better effect (if needed) as opposed to slathering on too much product all at once.

If you have really soft and flat faced alumimium, apply in one direction, in a gentle side to side motion to avoid leaving light polishing marks in the material. 

Step 3

It's shiny

If you're only polishing a small area, turn the Dirty Deeds cloth over to a clean side and buff the black residue from the metal to reveal a stunningly shiny surface. If it's a larger area, use two Dirty Deeds cloths, one for polishing and the other for the final buff off. 

If you have some black residue left in hard to reach spots, be aware you can wash this away with water if it suits you as well now too. Just apply water and wipe it away with a wet cloth.  

You will now have that beautiful Bowden's Own shine. So smile at yourself in the reflection! 

Multiple Uses

There is an endless list of things you can use our metal polish on - we seem to find something new every day. Try it in the home on things like the sink and taps; however make sure the missus doesn't claim the bottle and cloths! It can even be used on things like the old baileys ladders (for those who are that way inclined), as it brings these up to a beautiful, mirror finish. Boats, planes, trucks and bikes; basically anything with a polishable metal area will benefit from our polish. Try it out and see why we simply regard it as one of the best in the world.

Due to the jewelers type rouge in it, you can even use it as a glass polish! You can read more about this in another one of our car care guides. 

Round bits technique

On alloy bars, exhaust tips, even dancing poles, we have this cool technique to make the job easier. 

Fold the Dirty Deeds in half long ways, and apply the Metal Polish in the middle of one side of the cloth. Then, wrap it around the round section and grab each end of the cloth and pull back on it. Then work the cloth back and forth in a sawing motion to polish all around the area. Go back and forth till you're happy the job is done. Then grab a 2nd, clean Dirty Deeds cloth and buff the residue away. We find this little technique makes this job a lot easier! 

Lightly pitted chrome

For lightly pitted chrome, use Shiny Stuff by hand with a Dirty Deeds cloth. If you have sensitive skin, wear some gloves for this.

Fold your cloth into quarters and get some Shiny Stuff paste out of the jar. Now gently apply the product to the pitted areas in the chrome, being careful not to get any on any surrounding plastics or other surfaces – if you do happen to get some on these surfaces, simply use a couple sprays of Orange Agent and a gentle brush to remove it.

Gently work the product into the chrome until you see the pitting begin to disappear. Now use a separate dry and clean cloth to remove any remaining residue and reveal that amazing shine.

For heavier pitted chrome or rust spots, it can be easier to start with some 0000 Steel Wool. First, put on some gloves. Spray some Clean Detail into the steel wool, then gently go over the rust spots. The steel wool is effective at removing these spots, without marking the chrome. If the chrome needs polishing after that, use the same method as mentioned above, or if it needs more, you may need to use some foam polishing tools, which we have a guide for in the Exterior Guides section of our website.

Cleaning up

For an easy clean up afterwards, we have made the new Tru Blu formula of Metal Polish so it washes off with just water. Yes that's right, just water. Feel free to use a gentle soap as well if you really want. This is something you will appreciate if you have used other polishes that seem to have the black residue stay in your hands for days after using them.

If you've got Shiny Stuff on your hands, a gentle soap will be enough to remove it.

The Dirty Deeds microfibre cloths will need to be pre soaked in a bucket with warm water and 50mLs of our Microfibre Wash. Give them some agitation and then rinse in fresh water before machine washing them. Make sure to wash them separately from everything else as the black residue from the polishing will leach into the other cloths they are washed with!

Get polishing

The Metal Polish has had many upgrades over the years to keep it being the best out there. The new Tru Blu version is keeping with that tradition as it's an important product for us and something we really take great pride in; especially whilst polishing the Shelby Cobra or Brock A9X's original magnesium rims. I know you will like what we have created to appease that deep desire to keep the polishable metal parts of our cars looking as fine as possible.

You can find our Metal Polish in our numerous supporting retailers. The closest to you is located on the stockist list linked here.

Shiny Stuff is our super fine metal polishing paste that can be used on softer alloys and metals, and can also be used as a final step to get a super shine. It can be found in store at Repco, autObarn, Supercheap Auto or Auto One. The product code is BOSSTUFF.

If you have any questions please email info@bowdensown.com.au or call our office on 1800 351 308.  

Happy polishing,

Dan Bowden