Topic

I popped to Lidl today to pick up a new Multi-Tool - luckily today they had them for £19.99 and they are rechargeable too!

Anyway got it home and went to take it up the shed with the polishing wheels I also picked up (and the ratchets and extension bars etc as well! LOL). On the bench staring at me was Fleur's old Petrol cap ring from when I broke her up. I thought... 'Hmm wonder if that will clean up?'...

Well about an hour later it looked like this:


Not bad - could do with a tiny bit more polishing, but then a couple of coats of acrylic gloss and I think it will look as good as a chrome one!

I did mine by hand!!

I like 'before and after' pics best Adam. But, even so, it looks like a great result.

Leigh Ping wrote: wrote:

I like 'before and after' pics best Adam. But, even so, it looks like a great result.

Before was just boring silver typical look - so I didn't bother...

Lidl tools are great arnt they, I just picked up a saw the other day at least 50% of the cost anywhere else

Tibs wrote: wrote:

Lidl tools are great arnt they, I just picked up a saw the other day at least 50% of the cost anywhere else

Agreed - I have quite a few. Plus they often have a 3 year guarantee which is handy.

That is a really good job, I'd be happy with that and am tempted to give it a try before buying chrome now...That is, if none of my family has taken the massive hint that I'd like a chrome one for my birthday!

richandpaula wrote: wrote:

That is a really good job, I'd be happy with that and am tempted to give it a try before buying chrome now.

Me too!

QUICK QUICK QUICK GET TO THE ALDI AT ONCE!

Hehe - one great thing about polishing the alloy is that it cant go rusty like the chrome ones can! As long as you put a decent coat of gloss on top and seal it in that is! Now I am going to try polishing her old gear stick ring too, although that aint alloy I dont think!

I wonder what the hood clamps would polish up like?

adamelphick wrote: wrote:

Now I am going to try polishing her old gear stick ring too, although that aint alloy I dont think!

I got a spare one so I can state that BOTH of our gear rings were painted alloy.
I've polished one up by hand with good but not amazing results, It's more of a 'Brushed alloy' finish than polished which suits the gear knob but I think it needs a good going over with Autosol to finish it off.

I'm going with the thinking of the petrol cap might need to be chromed for me though to match in with the deck finishers and door handles. Plus I'd like to keep the original bits if I ever revert to being a purist and putting the car back to being original again.

richandpaula wrote: wrote:

adamelphick wrote: wrote:

Now I am going to try polishing her old gear stick ring too, although that aint alloy I dont think!

I got a spare one so I can state that BOTH of our gear rings were painted alloy.
I've polished one up by hand with good but not amazing results, It's more of a 'Brushed alloy' finish than polished which suits the gear knob but I think it needs a good going over with Autosol to finish it off.

I'm going with the thinking of the petrol cap might need to be chromed for me though to match in with the deck finishers and door handles. Plus I'd like to keep the original bits if I ever revert to being a purist and putting the car back to being original again.

I am of the opinion now it's fitted that there is no discernable difference between polished alloy and chrome, as the polished petrol cap ring matches my deck finishers perfectly - heres a couple of pics of it fitted:




I am very happy with the result and am now a third of the way through polishing the gear stick surround - which is coming up as shiny and 'chromey' as the petrol cap!

Oh forgot to mention - there's an EASY way to get the ring separated from the lock - forget all the dismantling ideas - simply pop the ring face down on a soft towel or blanket and then lift the rubber seal up. Pop a flat drift (I used a screwdriver that you can change the bits on - but without a bit in it!) againt the plastic under the rubber seal and tap it medium hard with a hammer - go round the ring like that and suddenly one of the clips will just pop loose - then follow round some more and the inner section will just release from the outer ring! Voila.