Re: Super-light trials unicycle - How I became a function first weight weenie.

> >
> > The polished aluminum looks great! How will it hold up against
> > oxidation and corrosion? *

I'm a retired ME with a metal finishing background, and as you'll
notice below, I have way too much time on my hands.

For your particular application, you might try "Boeshield T-9." It's a
product orginally developed by Boeing Labs (the same as the aircraft
folks) under a military specification for inhibiting oxidation and
corrosion on both aluminum and ferrous alloys. It's now licensed to a
3rd party chemical processor/distributor. It has the same orginal
Boeing formulation and reminds you of the new, "wet-look" you get when
spraying WD-40 on something. However, as it's a penetrant, the shiny,
wet-look mysteriously hangs in there for months. It's a spray on/wipe
off product, so to reapply it a 6-9 months later (depending on inland
vs coastal use), only takes a few seconds. You can get the stuff at:

http://www.boeshield.com/index.htm

Also, I've heard it's available at Yamaha dealers and marine
dealerships, so you might try one of those for a local source.

To get a mirror luster or mirror luster extreme on aluminum to start
with, you might try:

http://shorterlink.com/?UZQS3Q

Although the above addresses motorcycle applications, aluminum is
aluminum when it comes to polishing/buffing any aluminum plate, sheet
stock, extrusion, or casting alloy. It contains about every buff and
compound imagineable, the local retail sources for getting supplies,
as well as the guarded secrets of professional polishing shops. As DIY
poop like this is virtually non-existant, it's worth its weight in
gold if you're after a true mirror luster passing for the brightest
chrome plate. However, to keep it that way, you have to use a sealant.

Hope this helps,

Greybeard