How to clean a Nitto stem (or other aluminum parts)?

[Jared Volpe]

I got my hands on some used Nitto stems that I want to try out and a couple are a bit dirty. I want to bring them back to their prior glory.  Any suggestions out there?

[Aaron Young]

Simichrome works pretty well.

http://www.amazon.com/Simichrome-Polish-50-Gram-1-76/dp/B000BGOC0W

-Aaron Young

Vancouver, WA

On Friday, December 28, 2012, Jared Volpe wrote:

I got my hands on some used Nitto stems that I want to try out and a couple are a bit dirty. I want to bring them back to their prior glory.  Any suggestions out there?

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[Bruce Herbitter]

And Meguiars mag wheel polish too.

http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g13508-hot-rimsreg-mag-aluminum-polish/

[Ron Mc]

all good suggestions, something in between on the abrasive scale would be the lemon oil miracle polishing cloths they sell on ebay and elsewhere.  http://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Knife-Care-Storage-P115C59.aspx?gclid=CL_q3Nzwv7QCFUqoPAod8AYAXw

On Friday, December 28, 2012 10:22:38 PM UTC-6, Jared Volpe wrote:

[Garth]

They won't look at good as new again .  As these are anodized . there isn't really any "polishing" you can do, because the surface of anodized aluminum is satin finish via chemical process .. like a skin so to speak.  So if you try to polish it like unanodized aluminum , you'll remove the satin finish. The key is to just remove what's attached to the satin finish, without removing the satin finish !  That takes finesse and trial as you go. 

[Ron Mc]

That's why I suggested light polishing.  Soaking in warm dilute vinegar is a very good way to remove dirt/waxed grease.  3 parts warm water to 1 part vinegar.  You should be able to safely soak up to 3 hours (aluminum "likes" mild acid).  Take a toothbrush to the dirt every 15 minutes or so.  

[PATRICK MOORE]

I have thought of doing this to a stem from which I inadvertently polished off some of the anodizing, to complete the job. But how do you keep it shiny for the future?

Patrick Moore, capitalizing and punctuating in cold, bright, ABQ, NM.

On Sat, Dec 29, 2012 at 2:17 AM, sebseb <sebasti...@googlemail.com> wrote:

you could polish them with a polishing-paste an a polishing wheel on a drilling machine, though originally they were anodized, it will be more brilliant afterwards than it ever was...if you ever part with one (you said there more a couple..) please let me know...regards  -seb.

[Garth]

On Saturday, December 29, 2012 1:10:11 PM UTC-5, Patrick Moore wrote:

I have thought of doing this to a stem from which I inadvertently polished off some of the anodizing, to complete the job. But how do you keep it shiny for the future?

Patrick Moore, capitalizing and punctuating in cold, bright, ABQ, NM.

Once some of the anodizing is removed .... periodic manual polishing is the only way to keep those portions shiny .    I have a couple of vintage Campy Seatposts that I have to do that with ...... and boy .. do they SHINE !!!!!!!!  Sparkly :)

[Bill Gibson]

Constant use, and/or wax. Al goes from polish to oxide finish (that chalky grey) over a long time. Not beeswax, but car wax, carnauba wax, even "Pledge" spray wax. "Barn Find" bikes have a universal grey frosty finish on the aluminium bits

Bill Gibson, hoping his hacking and coughing isn't contagious over the internet.

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Bill Gibson
Tempe, Arizona, USA

[Garth]

Tempe sounds nice right now Bill ..... it'd be balmy for me :)  ...... as I shovel my way out of another 8 inches of snow .... lol .

[ascpgh]

Bar Keeper's Friend: Make a paste with the powder (no intended to be an abrasive) and work it with perhaps a blue, "scratch free", Scotchbrite pad. Patience and don't leave it to soak. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh, PA

[Evan]

For a full rundown on various aluminum polishing practices, see this thread from Bike Forums. These people take shine seriously!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/697520-KHatfull-s-Aluminum-Polishing-Thread

[Ron Mc]

again, to back up a little, for the waxed once-grease on that part, a vinegar soak is the best way to remove it.  But also again, for realistic light polishing, the "miracle" lemon oil polishing cloths are excellent - I have satin finish 40-year-old parts (anodizing was really thin then) that still have their satin finish after a dozen years of light polishing with these cloths.  

On Saturday, December 29, 2012 10:23:58 AM UTC-6, Garth wrote: