Can I polish my lighting reflector

[gmate]

I've read in several places (including here) that you can get metal polish and buff those aluminum reflectors by hand to return the shine that they may have lost.

I've also read that the shine is actually a metal laquer, and that any buffing simply 'removes' the coating on the actual dull piece of metal. Thus, you would actually want to 'recoat' the reflector in laquer, or replace it all together.

One end of my reflector is perfectly shiney. The other end is beginning to fade. I purchased the fixture used 'as is' and am cleaning it up. Just spent thirty minutes removing salt-creep out of all the crevasses and ballasts. purchased a new plastic cover-guard that goes over the reflector on aquariumparts.com, now I want to buff the reflector to 110%.

Suggestions? Can I buff it up? And if so, what polish to use that's easily obtainable at Home Depot or Lowes, or online? Thanks in advance,

Glenn

 

[stickboy107]

Glenn

I have used Mothers mag & aluminumon polish on mine it works very well for me and you can pick it up at any walmart or autoparts stores. If theres any ill effect I have not seen any.

Stick

 

[gmate]

Glenn

I have used Mothers mag & aluminumon polish on mine it works very well for me and you can pick it up at any walmart or autoparts stores. If theres any ill effect I have not seen any.

Stick

Exactly the answer I was looking for. Thank you so much Stick, I'll pick some up on my way home from the office tomorrow.

 

[fishflorist]

i used to wax the reflector ....

 

[gmate]

The fixture this guy gave me when I picked it up had salt creep caked onto it...I don't think he ever cleaned it when he owned it. Took me forever to clean it. It would barely come apart (I couldn't get inside the unit to the electronics or ballast) because the creep had solidified into this mass. I had to use a hot screwdriver to pry through. The reflector may be shot, this is my last-ditch effort before just buying a new one.