1. Preparation and Masking

• Wash: Thoroughly wash the aircraft with aviation-grade soap to remove dirt and bugs.
• Degrease: Wipe down the brightwork with an oil-delete or metal prep solution.
• Masking: Heavily tape off the boundary between the metal and the painted aircraft skin. Polishing compounds can easily stain or permanently damage aviation paint

2. The Cutting Phase (Compounding)

• Equipment: Use a variable-speed rotary buffer (maximum 1500–2000 RPM) paired with a high-quality wool or combo wool/cotton pad.
• Application: Apply dots of a heavy cutting compound (such as Nuvite NuShine F9 or Maverick) every few inches.
• Buffing: Work in small sections (e.g., 18 inches × 18 inches) using medium pressure in a slow, overlapping crosshatch pattern. Buff until the oxidation lifts and the polish turns black.

3. Refinement Phase (Finishing)

• Clean the Pad: Use an air tool or a buffing rake to blow out leftover residue from the wool pad.
• Polish: Switch to a softer fleece bonnet or finishing pad. Apply a fine finishing polish (such as Nuvite G6 or Skai Step 2).
• Refine: Work the polisher at lower speeds to remove buffer swirls and elevate the metal to a brilliant mirror reflection.

4. Cleanup and Sealing

• Residue Removal: Wipe away all black polishing dust using clean, edgeless microfiber towels. Use a gentle aviation detergent to remove lingering wax if needed.
• Sealing: Apply a metal protectant or a ceramic coating to seal the pores of the bare metal. This drastically reduces future oxidation, water spotting, and exhaust staining.