Hi guys,

What is the best way to restore the finish on the ali roof bars?
It looks like they have become stained and opaque looking over time. How can I best go about restoring them and then protecting them? Can I use SN wax on them once they are done? I'm not sure if they have any clear coat on them but I guess they do.

Thanks

P

I would give it a go with Dodo class cleaner Clearly Menthol, due to the IPA like ingredients it contains. Afterwards a hit with lime prime to make use of the light abbrassives. Next go would be SN metal polish.

Nomatter which product you use, test it first at a small area.

Sound advise. it may be worth considering using a clear coat lacquer type spray on them once you've got them cleaned up. aluminum does tend to oxidize quite readily, so it may be better to use a more permanent final finish. B&Q carry a fairly decent range of spray lacquers/coatings

If they're clear-coated, use your LPL or SRP to clean them up, and follow up with SN wax. If they aren't, use something like Dodo-Juice Supernatural Metal Polish (Start with Fine-Grade), and follow up with regular application of a synthetic sealant to protect them from corrosion (Dodo-Juice SNH or Red Mist work well enough if you want to stay with the Dodo-Juice line.). Clear coating aluminum is a much more involved operation than many believe (I should know; I specialize in classic car restoration.), so unless you want to go to the necessary extremes of doing it properly, I would simply advise regular maintenance with the products I recommended. Hopefully this helps...

Steampunk

What sort of problems have you had clear coating ali? I've spent most of my working life in the metalworking industry and as long as its cleaned properly and the correct clear coat is applied it should present major problems, particularly on something like roof-bars which don't have 'fine detail'.

I did not say that it was impossible, simply more involved than what most people are willing to attempt. There are countless variables involved (The grade of of the aluminum alloy, the makeup of the coating, the kind of surface prep required, the kind of finishing you are trying to obtain, etc.) that separate obtaining a long-lasting finish on aluminum, and having the coating fail prematurely. The prep and finishing system has to be carefully matched to the alloy for best results, and without knowing more about what kind of substrate the OP is dealing with, it would be virtually impossible for me to recommend a 'permanent' finishing system that would be universally applicable. In a different context (I.E. A refinishing forum.), where I knew that the individual wanted a semi-permanent solution for a well specified application, I would have gone into it to greater depth. This, however, is a detailing forum, and the OP did not strike me as the kind of person who was looking for a 'coating system' that could withstand years of weathering without maintenance.

If you want more information, please feel free to ask, and I will do my best to answer your questions .

Steampunk

you're overcomplicating things bud, a suitable spray lacquer will work perfectly well in this instance and will probably out last the roof bars


Plasti-kote do an aluminum primer in a spray can that is very easy to apply, just make sure that you get all the oxidization off before applying it and then top with a clear coat, they'll last you for years.

Have we not strayed a little of topic fellas, the bars need refining first before he can think about any sort of protection be it lacquer or otherwise.
I've done loads of these where the stealership has used a fairly harsh caustic TFR which for these Audi roof bars and window trims is like supermans kryptonite, they stain pretty much after the first hit. Audi themselves replaced so many of these which must have cost a fortune but as far as I know they are no longer willing to do this.

This is what can be done after a mild polish via rotary.
By memory I used 3M finesse and a yellow 3M pad on the Festie

Before (do yours look like this)


After


I don't see any reason why a dedicated metal polish wouldn't do as good as job in fact it would probably have been a better way to go really and as for protection the SN will be just dandy

I was thinking detachable roof bars (the kind you attach a roof box to) rather than permanent, in which case spraying is possibly not the best option.

Yes they look exactly like that!
Right, i'll give it a go as soon as poss and post some pics.

Thanks for all the tips everyone!

P