crankcase polishing

[A10 JWO]

We have all had our Autosol out over the years. In a curious moment I looked on Youtube at modern methods. They are nearly all using screwed up domestic kitchen foil to rub in the compound prior to polishing. Anyone tried it before I continue my restoration, sounds scratchy to me 

[RoyC]

you could always try it on a piece of scrap aluminium and let us know what the result is.

[A10 JWO]

Scrap aluminium, you must mean my SX 200 Lambretta ?

[Black Sheep]

You don't want the crankcases to be too shiny - they weren't like that when they came out of the factory. Off to count some rivets...

[A10 JWO]

Don't want them too shiny, just want to do it quick. Thanks anyway.

[LynnLegend]

I used kitchen foil to get some rust spots off the handlebars. Dip it in water then rub VERY GENTLY across the item. Make sure it stays wet.

Apparently it's something to do with the chemical reaction betweeen the water, aluminium foil and the surface.

If you're not rusty I probably wouldn't bother though, for the risk of scratching it.

[RogerSB]

For years on the classic cars I've owned and all my bikes I've always found Brillo Pad excellent for cleaning chrome. It doesn't scratch it no matter how hard you rub and it will easily clean off all those little rust specs. I haven't tried it on alloy cases though because, as Black Sheep, I leave my cases in their dull alloy colour. If I polished them they would stand out like a sore thumb against the bikes 58 years of unrestored patina.

[RoyC]

If I polished them they would stand out like a sore thumb against the bikes 58 years of unrestored patina.

Or in other words. you don't clean it. 

[RogerSB]

Err . . . No Roy!  My wife does!