Sonex Nuvite Polishing Instructions - Manual

Polishing Sonex Non-Clad Aluminum Sheet Metal
Thanks for using Nuvite! The following method using Nuvite NuShine II Metal
Polishes will polish non-clad aluminum sheet stock, -as used on Sonex aircraft,
giving you an outstanding finish and a show-quality shine. Sonex aluminum as
supplied in the kit is 6061 non-clad aluminum sheet stock. However, with this
kind of metal sheet, almost by definition, it is “mill finish”, and to get a good final
finish, it requires some special, -but not hard work vs. the process used for “clad”
aluminum sheet (100% aluminum “clad” over the surface of the alloy). This is
because, when you polish the actual alloy, you are working with a much harder
surface than would be the case if you were polishing clad material, which is soft.
The good news is that once polished, the non-clad stock will resist dulling from
atmospheric oxidation much longer than does clad material! Our experience with
non-clad material polished as follows has been excellent.
Nuvite NuShine II metal polishes are manufactured in various grades to match
the needs of the original metal condition in the compounding phase of polishing.
This system makes it ideal to deal with non-clad, mill-finish aluminum sheet
stock. Following the use of a compounding grade of NuShine II polish, the final
finish is always done with NuShine II Grade S that gives you that really bright,
fine and deep image, with no machine swirl marks.
The mill finish usually means that there are fine surface lines over the whole
surface from the rollers that formed the sheet. Because Nuvite NuShine II is a
"burnishing" type of polish (does not grind away the rough spots as other kinds of
polishes do), the compounding phase is meant to merely roll the microscopic
high spots and low spots together into a smoother and more reflective surface.
We call it "healing the surface". Once this compounding phase is complete, the
lines, or “grain” will be minimized or smoothed altogether, and the surface is
ready to take a high and deeply transparent shine with an excellent, mirror-like
image reflectivity.
Polishing Procedure
Compounding Phase:
- Assure that the surface to be buffed is clean, dry and free from oils &
water.
- Using Nuvite NuShine II Grade F9, put wet “fingerprints” of polish every 3”
over a 2’ X 1 _’ area to be compounded. Compound buff using 2000-2500
rpm rotary buffer and 100 % wool “compounding” pad. (Nuvite EQ-140 or
3M #05711). “Compounding” pads can be identified by the tufted pad face
that is “twilled” into tufts, similar to a cut-pile carpet. Do not use standard
“loose wool” pads.
- Move the buffer back and forth over the area with sweeping passes.
About 2 to 3 seconds per foot seems to work well as a starting suggestion.
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