6061 Cleaning Polish

Raymond_B

Hobbyist
Hey all, I have a 6061 aluminum intake elbow. When I first got it, it was awesome, but now that I've run it a few years it's pretty dull and dirty. I do not want a mirror finish just want to clean it and buff/polish back to its original. Below is what it looked like new and what I am looking for. What should I use?

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This one?

 
Any of the metal polishes will start to shine it more toward the mirror look. To get it looking like the photo try phosphoric acid and a fine grey scotch brite pad, rinse well with clean water. I like Henkle Bonderite aluminum prep but even the green stuff from Home Depot will work.
Run the scotch brite in the same direction as the original grain in the metal.
You will loose the frosty edges next to the welds but there is no avoiding that.
 
Also I have a whole box of white scotchbrite that was left over from another project. Is that too fine to use?
I never used a white scotchbrite pad. Finer than grey? If yes, probably would work OK, the acid does most of the work. Not going to hurt anything to try it.
 
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