The Old Flour Trick

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:12 pm

Next time you need to polish up some aluminum, try using plain white flour to remove the polish. The very fine particles "fit" into the tiny grains of the metal and help dig out all the oxidized polish/metal dust. 90% of the time spent polishing is actually just trying to remove the oxidized polish.

Had the wheel off the other day while putting on a new chain. The sprocket side was filthy from chain lube etc. At the same time, I don't want to spend hours polishing a wheel that will be dirty again in 50 miles. Degrease and wash left the aluminum kind of dull.

I didn't follow normal instructions, just covered the entire surface asap.

I use a damp sponge to rub in the polish (I use Autosol) idea is to keep the polish wet and working.

Let dry and cover with flour.

The black comes off with very little effort, which is good for my bum elbow.

Took about 10-15 minutes to do both sides.

Notice that I taped over my bearings to keep the flour out. My motor-mentor Wally
showed me this trick when I first got the PM's: "Oh yeah just do the Autosol and flour
and those things will look like chrome!"

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:21 pm

That sure is a pretty wheel Chris, good work. Cool

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:41 pm

I have been told by an old autobody man that cornstarch works great also. never got around to trying it, but all of his other suggestions work

Travis