Fix for cloudy aluminum trim

Last Fall, we had a thread going on how to get the shine back on anodized aluminum trim, and I made a suggestion. I took a product named Birchwood Casey Tru-oil, and rubbed it onto the trim. This is a linseed oil product with hardeners that is used as a gunstock finish, and can be found at most any gun shop. It worked pretty well, I think because the oil penetrated the anodizing film, taking away the cloudy mottled look. But at the time, I wondered how long it would hold up. Well, the car has now been used through a typical Minnesota winter. The results are mixed. The trim still looks much better than before, but some of the cloudiness has returned. I expect another quick wipe with tru-oil will bring the shine back. So, while the fix isn't permanent, a once a year touch up that is easier than a wax job, is a pretty good solution.

[kpb]

where does one find such a product? I have no experience refinishing gunstocks so I dunno if the local hardware folks will even know of this product.

[ARC]

I just tried the Birchwood Casey Tru-oil on the cloudy anodized trim on my 300sdl a few days ago. I had tried other metal polishes etc with no results. So, figuring that it couldn't hurt the trim, I tried the Tru-oil. It is available, BTW, at most Wal-Mart super centers for $3 or $4 in the 'gun' section.

I must say that I am pleasantly surprised - after a week, the trim looks really good, not 'show car' good, but way better than it has in a long time. You have to look close to see any cloudiness. I rebbed it in hard, and it is kind of like a varnish but dries clear and pretty fast.

Today I was using "Scratch-X' polish, and it made the trim shine ever a little better. The pieces of trim that I hadn't tried so many different things on look almost perfect. The ones that I had experimented on are not quite so good.

I don't think that this product will hurt the trim, and can't really see any reason not to use it. Thanks yorkTown5, for the guidance.

[ARC]

Just began detailing the sdl again, and the trim was a little cloudy - not quite as bad as last season, but still not good. I had used the Birchwood Casey gunstock oil last year, and just rubbed it on again.

On the trim that I had not tried to polish last year, the appearance was almost perfect. The pieces that I had steel-wooled, scratch-xd', dremel'd, etc... do not look so hot.

Not show car, but very very much improved. Acceptable to all but the most demanding, and I think that the solution for those is to remove and have trim re-anodized.

[kpb]

I found the Birchwood Casey stuff at WalMart and used it a couple months ago. It goes on sorta weird since it is like tung-oil and is gummy for a bit. I did not do some pieces with it but used various other polishes, etc. on them to compare. The Birchwood Casey treatment held up far better and renews nicely with a quick wipe as well. Thanx again yorktown.