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Keeping Eugene looking good - without a lot of cleaning/polishing.

 
Author Eugene

Hotel de France
Male
#1 | Posted: 22 Jan 2022 17:47 
The Banker has just asked what the cleaning regime is with Eugene, as it does tend to look ok, without a lot of time spent cleaning/polishing... I am not a 'polisher'.

There are a few random posts within the forum on what I do/use, but it kinda makes sense to collate the info into a single post.

First, today Eugene is bare Aluminium and Carbon.
(There have been a few different iterations of Eugene...)

Eugene

And a lot of people seem to think keeping bare aluminium and carbon clean is difficult, and takes a lot of work...
As I prefer to be driving, not polishing, that's something I wanted to avoid.
So after a few different approaches I now have a really simple regime for keeping Eugene looking good, without lot of work.
(Be aware I do not want shiny aluminium...)

So to the cleaning approach:

Carbon
It is worth noting that the Carbon is not lacquered, as all the research I did before going carbon (and the carbon 7s I have seen with lacquered finishes) tend to suffer white contamination from water/sunlight/UV, especially as the lacquer chips. So I have pre-preg, with no top finish.

VonHaus Random Orbital Polisher Kit
Polisher

EASYGLOSS Carbon Fibre Polish & Protect & TOPFINISH 2 Black Nano Polishing Compound

Easygloss Topfinish

The polish is used on Carbon racing yachts, so the level of protection it provides is excellent - both against water/salt and sunlight/UV.
(It is sunlight UV that interacts with moisture within the carbon weave that causes the white contamination, so good UV protection is really needed!)

Aluminium
With the Aluminium I prefer a 'brushed' look, rather than mirror shiny look (I did try that first... didn't like it.)
And I've found the brushed look really easy to maintain.

Scotch-Brite™ Hand Pad 7447 & Scotch-Brite™ Hand Pad 7441

Red Pad White Pad

The Red is the one I prefer, but the White is softer.
And all 'strokes' are in the same direction across the whole car - keeping the 'brushed look' consistent.

After the required finish is attained, any good wax type polish can be used to prevent water marks.
(Presently I use a 'black' wax polish, as I prefer the look compared to plain aluminium.)
(The above piccy of Eugene is a good example - the finish was original done months before, with just the occasional wash and rinse with a snow-foam to get the muck off...)

I am also about to test the products from https://www.everbritecoatingsuk.com/, as a possible alternative finish - but as yet am uncertain, as you can't add 'polish' on-top, or underneath, unless it is water based... but I am trying within the engine bay...
Everbright

And when first cleaning any Aluminium, this is a good general purpose cleaner, in conjunction with the 3M hand pads: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MMHXGI2/ref=pe_27063361_485629781_TE_item
Vistal

Hope that helps
Eugene
Le Presidente

Author Eugene

Hotel de France
Male
#2 | Posted: 27 Feb 2022 20:25 
Next update...
I ordered a new box of Scotch-Brite 7447 Red hand pads, but got sent a box of 7448 Grey pads.
They are a grey Ultrafine pad, and give a lighter brushed finish look.

7448

I'm kinda liking to look they give, as it's less aggressive.

Also, I've found TurtleWax Hybrid Ceramic polish.

TurtleWax

Works amazingly well on the brushed aluminium and carbon fibre. And is really easy to apply...

Eugene
Le Presidente

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