How to maintain the finish?
If we are talking polished aluminum, it can be very easy to maintain the look you have when you receive your part from PolishMyParts, but make a couple of serious mistakes and you can have a dingy and dull part. Granted, we do reshape most parts that come through PolishMyParts, so even part that is dull from oxidation can look very nice if shaped by us.
How to keep the finish as long as possible? There are two problems with aluminum oxidation and scratches. Oxidation occurs from excess oxygen getting to the surface, duh right? But we can do several things to limit this from happening. Sitting out in the sun and water are the two main factors in oxidation. It’s okay to ride in the sun and it’s okay to get a polished part wet, it’s just less is better.
How to prevent scratches? This seems obvious, but most scratches come from impatience. When we get a part wet or dusty, we tend to wipe it off quickly with something readably available. We often do this when the part is both wet and dusty. Whatever is on the part, get’s on the rag and turns it into sand paper. How to prevent scratches? Don’t rub your parts with sand paper is the place to start.
We recommend, for instance with a sand machine, like a quad or sand rail, to pressure wash the vehicle upon returning from a trip. Be sure to distance the pressure washer from the part, but to be sure to remove all abrasive material. Then use a brand new, never used, clean micro fiber rag to dry the parts. It helps to wipe in straight lines if possible and to not wipe in circles. When done, this rag is a shop rag and don’t ever use it on a polished part again.
Depending on the abuse a part takes, it can look good for a week or for several years.
If your part is Stainless, the same approach applies. Stainless is just a little more forgiving.