Chrome plating or aluminium polishing Gen3 intake ?

[Schulmann]

I have a winter project for my 06 Coupe. I want to polish my intake. I have done some testing on an aluminium plate at home. The result is very nice but not 100% perfect for my taste. Infact I have some very fine scratches on the mirror finish du to my metal compound. I will need a very fine compoung (4000 grit) to obtain a better quality mirror finish. The problem is to find such a compound.

Question can we obtain a "scratchless" mirror finish with aluminium polishing ?

How long lasts the bare metal aluminium polish ?

Is it better to go with chrome plating ?

 

[big-n-italian]

I have a winter project for my 06 Coupe. I want to polish my intake. I have done some testing on an aluminium plate at home. The result is very nice but not 100% perfect for my taste. Infact I have some very fine scratches on the mirror finish du to my metal compound. I will need a very fine compoung (4000 grit) to obtain a better quality mirror finish. The problem is to find such a compound.

Question can we obtain a "scratchless" mirror finish with aluminium polishing ?

How long lasts the bare metal aluminium polish ?

Is it better to go with chrome plating ?

i have quite a few aluminum pieces on my race car that are polished because i didnt want the "bling" of chrome. i too worried about scratching and i didnt want to spend the rest of my life polishing all of it. so, i had all my polished pieces coated with clear powdercoat. the finish isnt as polished looking, but i think it still looks great, is resistant to scratches, and i dont ever need to polish it.

 

[RedEnuf93]

PM me your telephone number, I'll call you.
I have polished most items you can pick off a car or a motorcycle. Steel and aluminum.

Question can we obtain a "scratchless" mirror finish with aluminium polishing ?

Yes, with proper prepwork. LOTS of prepwork, polishing usually takes only few minutes, everything else is prepwork, just like chroming.

How long lasts the bare metal aluminium polish ?

Few months at the best, on a car.

Is it better to go with chrome plating ?

Depending on a part, maybe. Or polish and clearcoat.

Chech these for now, Menzerna pastes are great for steel or luminum (or even precious metals) I'll talk to you more later:
menzerna | Grizzly

This is a fantastic tool, I ported my Harley (old shovelhead) heads with it, cleaned Chevy SB intake runners with it and polished most little items or you can polish/cut/grind anything thats small diameter, such as intake bolt areas, etc...
FLEX SHAFT Foredom Industrial Kit -- FOREDOM Model No. fTXH440 at Delta One Lapidary Supplies

You should have a good 2 speed standing buffer (1700RPM/3400RPM) with 10" wheels, if you want to handle larger parts

 

[Schulmann]

I was looking for something like the Menzerna product line ... Those chrome rouges are the product that I needed. I can't find very light compounds here. Even the finest glazes scratches my mirror finish.

 

[steponz]

I have a ported Gen 3 intake if you need an extra one....

Joe

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

I have yet to see a chrome intake that I would have paid for. The polished tops and tubes are great and even just the top section polished and the rest powdered silver looks great and cost very little.