Metal rails and fittings have to be polished and protected to keep them looking good. Salt water and salt air will eventually corrode boat metal. Even if your boat only ventures into fresh water, metal surfaces still need protection to prevent corrosion and mineral etching.
Marine 31 Finish Cut Metal Restoring Polish is one of the best marine meta polishes and protectants around. Use it on chrome, aluminum, copper, brass, and stainless steel. Marine 31 Finish Cut Metal Restoring Polish removes salt and mineral deposits and rust while depositing a clear, protective coating that stands up to salt water! If you prefer a liquid metal polish, consider Marine 31 Stainless Steel Liquid Polish. This medium-cut polish is designed to restore the shine and luster to uncoated aluminum, stainless steel and chrome with very little effort. Marine 31 Stainless Steel Liquid Polish creates a highly reflective finish that can be seen from a distance.
To clean, polish and protect metal that is in good condition, use Marine 31 Stainless Steek & Aluminum Brightening Soap.Consisting of silicate-free polishing clay and all-natural soap flakes, Marine 31 Stainless Steel & Aluminum Brightening Soap forgoes the nasty, caustic ingredients found in a conventional metal polish and relies on eco-friendly ingredients.
A metal polish can be applied by hand or with a polisher. If you're working on railings and small metal fittings, hand application will likely be easiest. Use a towel or foam applicator. When applying a metal polish, fast rubbing - not hard rubbing - is best to remove oxidation and restore the shine.
Choosing a Metal Polish
Metals are not all the same. If you're polishing a metal surface with an aluminum polish and no black residue appears, it is not aluminum. Immediately stop polishing and remove the polish. A polish made for bare aluminum cannot be used on coated or painted metals. Switch to a metal polish designed for coated metals.
If you are polishing an aluminum boat, trailer, or pontoon, a polisher will speed up the process. A wool pad on a rotary polisher will eliminate heavy oxidation on aluminum. Just be sure to wear eye protection since wool does lint. Polishing aluminum produces a black residue. Have plenty of towels on hand for buffing and a pad spur to remove excess residue from your wool pad. Your boat's trailer could be the least appreciated part of your boating routine. When the time comes to clean it up, Marine 31 has everything you need to get the job done.Cleaning and prepping the surface could potentially be the most important step in the cleaning and polishing process.Marine 31 Port to Starboard All Purpose Cleaner is a biodegradable marine cleaner that encapsulates dirt and grime, leaving marine surfaces clean and fresh. Safe for virtually any surface, Marine 31 Port to Starboard All Purpose Cleaner can be used to remove black streaks, mildew, and other common stains that are found in the marine environment. An Industial High Flow Fireman's Nozzle is ideal for rinsing wheels and tires throughout the process. Use your favorite wheel brush to agitate, then rinse and proceed to polishing. After polishing the appropriate areas, apply Marine 31 Stainless Steel Liquid Sealant for long lasting protection.
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