Polishing raised Aluminum Letters on valve covers?

[1999GTS800ITLLFLY]

My raised letters on my valve covers are beginning to dull due to oxidation.

I plan to polish with a Dremel type high speed unit with a polishing tip and polishing compound. Time consuming ,but probably effective.

Any other suggestions?

Long Live American Muscle

[Randy]

I beleive I've heard a sanding block with your favorite 1000 to 1500 grit paper, followed by polishing works well. I need to try it myself.

[Jack B]

Mask around the letters to protect the the painted area. Use one of the 3M abrasive flexible sanding blocks. I found some 2" X 2" blocks they are perfect.

[1999GTS800ITLLFLY]

Thanks ,guys

I like the idea of blocks . TIwas concerned about a slip of the hand with my idea a messing up the Red.

[big-n-italian]

just be sure to take it slow. there isnt much distance between the polished surface and the painted surface.

[Newport Viper]

I blocked with 2000. Lot's of water. Fold paper over on itself around the edges. ( Won't catch.)


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[PhoenixGTS]

was concerned about a slip of the hand with my idea a messing up the Red.

Like mentioned above bury the red all around the logo in masking tape. That will give you time to stop sanding if you see you have tilted or otherwise gone wrong before you mow into the red.

[DrumrBoy]

When sanding, I'd recommend 1500+ and sanding in one direction. If you go longitudinally with the letters, they'll catch light differently and look goofy. There's a post on this a few days back with more info....do a search for "powder coated valve covers".

[2000gtsgsxr1000]

I just use comet and a wet towel with one finger touching the raised area only.It works great and won't harm paint.

[LETHAL GTS]

Posers......the lot of ya! LOL

[Hisserman]

Guys --

There's no need to use sand paper and keep knocking the level of material down! Just get some good wadding polish (at any hardware store), use a little elbow grease and they will shine up bright as new. You don't need to worry about slipping off onto the red part of the cover, because the wadding polish won't hurt the paint (it just washes right off).

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Touch it up once a month or so and you're good to go!

[Randy]

There's no need to use sand paper and keep knocking the level of material down! Just get some good wadding polish (at any hardware store), use a little elbow grease and they will shine up bright as new.

I've tried that, no dice. I don't know what the corrosion is on mine (it was there when I bought it used), but its very deep, and no amount of polishing seems to affect it. Hence, at least in my case, I'm going to try the sandpaper thing someday when I care enough to work again on how the engine looks.

[Daddy Long Stroke]

Wadding polish? Like "Neverdull" ?

[joe117]

Am I wrong or are the valve covers made of magnesium?
I think I remember that the magnesium won’t stay bright for long.

[Matt M, PA]

I do mine about once a year....it comes back.