My aluminium (British spelling) vase has been in use outside on a grave for some weeks and has become stained by weather and whatever comes from cut flowers as they start to die off. I have tried abrasive pan cleaner pads and the soap-filled steel wool ones, also silver polish, without success.

How can I restore the clean shiny surface to the vase's outside? I'm in the UK, so please give general descriptions, not US trade names as they are likely to be different over here. And thank you in advance.

There is nothing that can be easily used to bring back that mirror shine. Once the surface has become weathered, oxidized and dull, you must buff the surface bright.

This requires a high speed cotton buffing wheel and jewelers rouge, This is really not as hard as it sounds. If you have a bench grinder, you can remove the grinding wheel and tool rest and replace it with a buffing wheel.

Before you start, be sure you have your safety glasses on.

Turn on the wheel and "load" the rouge on the wheel by lightly holding it against the spinning wheel. Now with a little pressure, hold the aluminum part against the wheel moving it back and forth as you buff. Don't let the peice set in place for long, keep it moving. Ware gloves as the item will get hot from buffing. Re-apply rouge as needed.

For small intricate designs, you can use a high speed hand tools, such as a "Dremmil" (SP) with a small buffing wheel.

After the item is done, hand buff the excess rouge off. A coat of clear lacquer may help protect it.

Hope this has been of help.

Many thanks, W-on-W. I have the necessary kit. Just need the rouge. I thought of a coat of clear lacquer when it was too late!

The standard chemical remedy for aluminum oxide is hydrofluoric acid. If you're not careful with it, it will de-oxidize you instead. It might be worth a try if you can buy it at a chemist's in small quantities -- just enough to do the job, so you won't have to dispose of the surplus of this hideously toxic chemical.

Thanks, Bab. I'll bear that in mind for future reference, but at the moment the problem is actual staining, rather than oxidization. The smooth surface is still there if I can only shift the marks from it.

I would just leave the vase the way it is. It makes it special and is beautiful in its own right.