Reply by paratrooper34

Hey Mike!

Finish the aluminum the same way you would do brass. It will also help the finish if you can get it a little time on a buffer also. You can buff the aluminum and wood at the same time. Just be careful to use a buffing wheel that is pretty clean; not full of buffing compound as it will discolor the wood. Also, before you get it on the buffer, make sure you clean off all aluminum sanding dust so it does not contaminate the wood which would discolor it. Not sure what the finish you want to use is, but I can’t imagine a poly type finish causing any problems. Finishing with a buffer will give the aluminum and wood a great shine.

-- Mike