Beyond the Secrets of the Pros...Cleaning Aluminum Diamond Plate

You just found the best web page with information on polishing diamond plate running boards, mud guards, bed rails, diamond plate tool box, and other aluminum metal finishes. There's also some good information on polishing alloy wheels and how to care for them.

Many DIY enthusiasts look for the secrets of the pros. Well, I am going to give you common sense experience from the old timers. (Come to think of it, maybe I am one of the old timers now!) I'll tell you how to make easy work of some down and dirty jobs ... like polishing diamond plate running boards.

I bought a used pickup dressed out with running lights, diamond plate running boards and mud guards. It's ten years old and the aluminum diamond plate looked it's age. So did the interior, but you'll need to go to my upholstery page for all the dirty details.

Anyway, polishing running boards and mud flaps constructed from diamond plate aluminum is a daunting task and not for the faint of heart. Each diamond stands proud and will tear up your polishing cloth (and fingers and knuckles) in no time. I'm sure that's why the running boards on my new old truck were never polished.

I remember something my father told me many years ago, I don't mind work, but I don't want to do work I don't have to do. Good advice. And now is a good time to apply it. In fact, that's the way I approach most every thing I do. (Another tip from an old timer!)

Since the aluminum was so neglected it would take lots of work, time and elbow grease to get a good shine.

So I decided to take the easy way and sprayed the running board with Phosphoric Acid. Before going to work on any aluminum surface always test the product on an area not to be seen. It is normal for the Phosphoric Acid to turn the aluminum white but not to worry because the next step will polish it right up. If you are not comfortable with using Phosphoric Acid then don't use it. Just skip over to the polishing step. And chances are that your aluminum diamond plate is not nearly as bad as the running boards on my truck.

It's a good idea to put on a pair of Nitrile or Latex gloves to protect your fingers.
Did you know that the active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid? Now, don't go and drink the stuff...just use it on the running boards!

You can purchase Phosphoric Acid from your local auto parts store in quart and gallon containers. I use a small pump spray bottle to mist the Phosphoric Acid on the running board surface. Keep the surface wet for 15 to 30 minuets by misting the Phosphoric Acid where it is needed and by lightly rubbing the surface with a scotch-brit pad. Just let the product do the work for you! You'll see the aluminum turning white so make sure you keep it wet evenly with the Phosphoric Acid in order to get an even cleaned and etched surface. Then thoroughly rinse with running water from the garden hose to wash away the etching Phosphoric Acid.

Now you should have a nice clean white surface that looks like new metal and you didn't even break a sweat. No bleeding fingers or knuckles either!

I want to stress again, If you are not comfortable with this process then don't do it! First look at the page on polishing diamond plate running boards then try polishing. If the aluminum needs more help then come back to this step using Phosphoric Acid.

Just a word of advice. Phosphoric Acid is also used as cleaner for concrete. I'd keep the driveway wet. The dripping Phosphoric Acid will etch the concrete as it creates clean spots on the driveway! Water will neutralize Phosphoric Acid... so wash it up right away! Or else you'll soon be etching and cleaning the entire driveway so it matches the clean spots. If the driveway is that bad then don't worry about it...this will give you the motivation you needed to clean the whole thing!

DISCLAIMER

Stuff I need to say but don't want to, so here it is........ The information on this site is from my own personal experiences. I am not perfect so if you take any of my information as absolute truth and do not achieve desired results, it’s your experience and not mine. You must use your own judgement in making any choices concerning the information on this site.

Phosphoric acid leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis. Many car buffs take better care of their cars than their own health. So DON'T DRINK PHOSPHORIC ACID EVEN THROUGH IT'S IN COKE!

Diamond Plate Polishing