Polishing Diamond Plate?

Bryce Frazier · Jan 21, 2017

I've got full length running boards for the new dually, but they are REALLY corroded / water stained, and that **** they put on the roads!

What is a good way to bring them back to life? I thought about it, and decided to try an SOS pad. It worked OK, but tore up the pad really fast, not feasible to use that many pads.

Read online to use white vinegar and a stiff brush?

Anyone have any tips? Thanks! Bryce

504 · Jan 21, 2017

The best is OOOO steel wool. I would try a polishing wheel on a drill from Harbor Freight,and some Mothers cream. You are going to tear up the wheels, but that is what I would try.

Janicholson · Jan 21, 2017

Fine strand wire wheel on a 6" grinder. Keep moving and travel in multiple directions. Clear coat can help stave off corrosion to some degree. Rubber grip pads glued to the stepping points can make a big difference. Jim

gidtex · Jan 21, 2017

California custom aluminum polishing utube video. Dne my diamond plate toolbox with this stuff look like new

ericlb · Jan 21, 2017

if there aluminum, and they feel like 80 grit sandpaper, and some do after that solution they spray on the roads, there going to be very hard to bring back, it can be done, and ive brought semi truck tanks and wheels back that were in that condition, but you have to decide if its worth it, first you will have to start with some sandpaper, probably 180 or so, you have to sand the boards down until you get the surface smooth, then progress to finer paper like 360, then 800 ect, after you get them to that point get some mothers aluminum polish and a buffing pad for a drill, if you dont have a right angle buffer, do NOT use a right angle grinder !the 2 spin at vastly different speeds, a grinder with a pad, will burn up your boards and ruin all your work, when your done you can finish up by hand and end up with a chrome like appearance, expect to spend several days on each one

jeffcat · Jan 21, 2017

You have the advice for cleaning. You now need the how to. Go to a rental store and rent a floor buffer. They have all kinds of pads. If you unbolt thos plates and mount them on a board you can buff your little heart out. The pads go from 0000 wire wool to red, green, white, and cotton mat buff wheels. Do fantastic job. Very big version of what car detaikers use but thus machine lets you do BIG stuff with little trouble.

newhollandnut · Jan 21, 2017

Look around and see if you can find a pretty good clay bar polish and a grinder type buffer

pms · Jan 21, 2017

Take em off It'll look better without them.

Paul

Lyndon - AB · Jan 21, 2017

A buffing wheel on a drill or die grinder, and a block of white rouge. With a little time, you'll get a mirror finish.

I have a big 3000 rpm polisher that I want to try out on my Western Star in the spring. That big brute Herd Super Road Train is waaaay too much bumper to polish by hand.

showcrop · Jan 22, 2017

There are many different polishing compounds that work well, and it can help a lot to start off with a mild acid to remove the oxidation chemically. But, it is still diamond plate, which is going to tear up a buffing wheel pretty quickly. A fine wire wheel may be helpful if it is really bad. A micro fiber pad on a DA is the best way to go because you get the needed movement but it is such a short movement that it does not tear the pad up.

GordoSD · Jan 22, 2017

Forget it. Take from old guy who has ruined wheels, pads, and brushes. Buff with scotchbright pads and paint with epoxy.

Polishing Diamond Plate?

Bryce Frazier

Well-known Member

504

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Janicholson

Well-known Member

gidtex

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ericlb

Well-known Member

jeffcat

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newhollandnut

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pms

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Lyndon - AB

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showcrop

Well-known Member

GordoSD

Well-known Member

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