How do they do it?

[Top1371]

You know K9Aniv I feel the same way about Chrome. If your Chrome was done right and not done cheaply its a beautiful thing, until a darn rock hops up and knicks it but then thats another issue. If I get something nasty on it I will use Mothers Chrome Cleaner first but generally I just use my waterless cleaner. And I agree with you "Touch it as little as possible" because despite how durable and tough it is it will start to show scratches over time.
I have ordered some BugSlide. Just how well does this stuff really work. For example if I have some bug crap on my paint and I spray BugSlide on it and let it sit for a minute will it just wipe right up or am I still going to have to rub a little? I ask because I use micro fibers with my waterless cleaner, just for this reason because I have to rub too hard with a diaper to get it to come off and we all know what excess pressure leads to when trying to polish something no matter what wiping medium your using, which I hate doing buttt.
As far as aluminum goes I have spent a GD fortune on aluminum polishes, mostly because I made the mistake of listening to every Snake Oil salesman I came across at these darn rallies, and I have yet to find anything that Finishes the aluminum off like Mother's Billet. And again I am like you, although it is not wizards, I use Bomb's Away for fast cutting if I screwed around to long and let something get to far gone.
Recently though I bought a bench grinder, polisher and discovered the sticks that professional polishers use on aluminum and I got to say that the sticks do a much better job of getting you close to that mirror shine faster than anything else. I think mostly because you can use the sticks with buffing wheels so the shine comes up way faster. Have you ever tried using the liquid and paste polishes with buffing equipment. What a mess it gets everywhere. But I am sold on Mother's and 100% cotton diapers for finishing the aluminum. Of course just like the paint business its all in how much pressure you use. Too hard and your right back to scratches.
As for sealing the aluminum I have been using a product from Master Formula called Sealer Gloss. I saw it at a ralliy once and have been using it ever since. The only thing I don't like about it is it does dull the mirror shine ever so slightly but the shine holds for four to six months, they claim a year but I have yet to see it do that on my rides, which I have not been able to find with anything else. Now they say you can use it on your paint e.t.c but I tried it on my paint and did not like it and of course we already know about the chrome.
You can find it here:
Products

My bottle is a good five years old, yes 5 it only takes a little bit to seal the metal, so they may have made some improvements to the formula since.

One note, I have recently discovered a new Aluminum sealer that was created in 2004, somewhere right around there, that supposedly does not yellow, crack, or fade. It was created for tractor trailers and liquid carriers and while the sealer is mainly sold in large containers because of the volume to coat a tractor trailer rig they do sell it in spray cans for touch up. I have been looking at the Zupes but it just seems like a hell of alot of work. So I am going to buy one can and test it on a couple of parts on the ride to see how well it works. If I get good results I will do a write up on it and give you guys the source. Hell maybe we can even put together a Group Buy if it works out.

I'm currently using Master Formula's Metal Gloss and Sealer...Good stuff.

 

[KaptinAmerika]

Hey Gunny are you just using it on your aluminum or other areas as well?

 

[knucklehead]

Liquid Glass on the paint and chrome. I also use it on the back rim after its polished to seal it. Works great for me.

 

[KaptinAmerika]

Liquid Glass on the paint and chrome. I also use it on the back rim after its polished to seal it. Works great for me.

How long on the Chromee and Alum?

 

[onaprwl]

Just like CaptinAmerica said but more direct to the point, Don't ride it. Trailer it to all the shows, keep it in a climate controled garage and you'll have the look you want! Or, just ride it, do the best you can to keep it up and enjoy.:2thumbs:

 

[K9Anniv]

Liquid Glass on the paint and chrome. I also use it on the back rim after its polished to seal it. Works great for me.

From my own bad experience, I'd avoid using Liquid Glass on show chrome. But..to each, his own. Good luck!

 

[Top1371]

Hey Gunny are you just using it on your aluminum or other areas as well?

I'm using it on my aluminum and chrome. Honestly I think for the aluminum I liked mothers better, will probably go back to that or see what all the hubub is about with wizards, since so many folks here seem to like it. The master polish works great on the chrome. The sealer works awesome on both and I will continue to use it.

Thanks for the tips on the liquid glass, gonna try that on my paint. Also gonna switch back to cloth diapers versus micro-fiber towels. :2thumbs:

 

[OrangeSkullz]

Skullz, now that the air's been cleared , I gotta say that paint job & seat on your AIH TX Chopper is KILLER...one of a kind, for sure!:2thumbs:
I always liked the wild AIH paint schemes...but preferred how the Big Dogs feel when riding.
Anyway, as you said...it's ALL good!
ENJOY THE RIDE!!!

THX man......

It's a rather "loud" paint job to say the least, but just the way I ordered it. Took about 4 1/2 months for me to get the bike and I couldn't have been happier.

Not to many folks were into Orange 6 years ago, the color is showing up on more stuff everyday.

My old High School colors were Orange & Black so I'm kinda partial to it. Nothing like riding around on a "Easter Egg". :lol:

 

[KaptinAmerika]

THX man......

It's a rather "loud" paint job to say the least, but just the way I ordered it. Took about 4 1/2 months for me to get the bike and I couldn't have been happier.

Not to many folks were into Orange 6 years ago, the color is showing up on more stuff everyday.

My old High School colors were Orange & Black so I'm kinda partial to it. Nothing like riding around on a "Easter Egg". :lol:

A Halloween Easter Egg to boot.......

You got photos in the gallery? That is if we will ever be able to get into it again.

 

[K9Anniv]

..Not to many folks were into Orange 6 years ago, the color is showing up on more stuff everyday...

I'm a big fan of orange. My college colors were orange & blue (Fighting Illini, baby!). My 2005 Chopper was orange & silver...loved the paint scheme but hated all the aluminum to polish! Here's a pic. I've also always liked the Eddie Trotta custom orange chopper from a couple years ago in the 2nd pic.

Anyway, congrats and ENJOY THE RIDE!!!

 

[KaptinAmerika]

I'm a big fan of orange. My college colors were orange & blue (Fighting Illini, baby!). My 2005 Chopper was orange & silver...loved the paint scheme but hated all the aluminum to polish! Here's a pic. I've also always liked the Eddie Trotta custom orange chopper from a couple years ago in the 2nd pic.

Anyway, congrats and ENJOY THE RIDE!!!

Man that Trotta builds some wicked chit.
Thanks for the pics

 

[2004BC]

FYI I polish my aluminum with a 10,000 rpm die grinder, mini buffing wheel, and white or red rouge depending on the oxidization. This actually burnishes the metal closing up the surface so that the aluminum stays shiney a lot longer. If the part can come off then it gets polished on the bench wheel. Just lasts a lot longer then by hand.

For the paint it's the Porter Cable variable speed buffer, clean pads, and mild polishing compound.

However, now I'm definately going to go get some of that liquid polish and give it a try for a top coat sealent after polishing. Thank you KaptinAmerika for sharing your knowledge.:2thumbs:

 

[OrangeSkullz]

A Halloween Easter Egg to boot.......

You got photos in the gallery? That is if we will ever be able to get into it again.

yeah, I think I posted some of the bike in there.......

 

[OrangeSkullz]

I'm a big fan of orange. My college colors were orange & blue (Fighting Illini, baby!). My 2005 Chopper was orange & silver...loved the paint scheme but hated all the aluminum to polish! Here's a pic. I've also always liked the Eddie Trotta custom orange chopper from a couple years ago in the 2nd pic.

Anyway, congrats and ENJOY THE RIDE!!!

You have yourself a nice looking ride there!

LOL! I have some pics of that Trotta bike from Daytona Beach a few years back. That bike looked AMAZING in person.

I actually had the chance to sit on the bike for a bit, and hit Trotta up to sign a t-shirt for me (which I have stored away somewhere ). If I remember right, he was asking in the neighborhood of $65g for that scooter.

 

[knucklehead]

From my own bad experience, I'd avoid using Liquid Glass on show chrome. But..to each, his own. Good luck!

Thanks for the heads up.I had the same problem with Wizards metal polish. It left hair lines in my chrome due to the abrasives in it:bang: But there are no abrasives in Liquid glass, so I would look at what type of cloth you're using to polish? I only use CLEAN 100% cotton cloth to polish, and use light pressure on chrome and paint.

 

[K9Anniv]

Thanks for the heads up.I had the same problem with Wizards metal polish. It left hair lines in my chrome due to the abrasives in it:bang: But there are no abrasives in Liquid glass, so I would look at what type of cloth you're using to polish? I only use CLEAN 100% cotton cloth to polish, and use light pressure on chrome and paint.

It was awhile ago, a couple Harleys ago, and it was probably a clean micro-fiber cloth or Harley 'Softcloth' (spun cotton). At any rate, once that happened I've steered clear of Liquid Glass.
Lots of people like it, though. To each, his own...won't be on my shelf again, that's all I can say....

 

[KaptinAmerika]

It was awhile ago, a couple Harleys ago, and it was probably a clean micro-fiber cloth or Harley 'Softcloth' (spun cotton). At any rate, once that happened I've steered clear of Liquid Glass.
Lots of people like it, though. To each, his own...won't be on my shelf again, that's all I can say....

I used Liquid Glass on some Aluminum wheels I had once. Thats when I discovered that it really does leave a hard protective layer because the only way to get back to the Aluminum to polish it correctly was to sand them down to get the Liquid Glass off. Of course it might have turned out better if I had polished the wheels right in the first place before the Liquid Glass but I was young and stupid. Since that experience I keep the Liquid Glass on my paint only. Hhhmmm it might be time to do some experimenting though, on some old parts of course.

 

[K9Anniv]

..I have some pics of that Trotta bike from Daytona Beach a few years back. That bike looked AMAZING in person.

I actually had the chance to sit on the bike for a bit, and hit Trotta up to sign a t-shirt for me (which I have stored away somewhere ). If I remember right, he was asking in the neighborhood of $65g for that scooter.

He does make some wicked looking bikes. Wish I could afford one!
If you go to his website, he's got many of his custom bikes in his photo gallery...awesome stuff!:2thumbs:

ThunderCycle.com Gallery - Home

Anyway, sorry dudes for this 'side bar', getting off the original subject, but Eddie Trotta's custom bikes are just too cool to let go without more comment.

 

[BFB]

For quick dust off, try Swiiffer dry pads. Very soft and charged to attract dust on all surfaces. Real quick, and easy to store a couple in your tool bag. 1 small pad will dust the entire bike. Causes very little scratching if any and certainly nothing that can't be taken care of on the next waxing.

 

[K9Anniv]

... Causes very little scratching if any and certainly nothing that can't be taken care of on the next waxing.

Hmmm...I hope you're joking, right?
I'm not sure what brand you're using, but the ones in our laundry room are stiff and coarse and wouldn't be allowed within 10 feet of my bike's finish!anic2: