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Empire Aircraft Detailing

Brightwork & Metal Polishing in San Jose and the Bay Area

Specialized metal polishing for exposed aluminum, exhaust stacks, and prop assemblies using the Nuvite F7/S/G6 system — the industry standard for aviation brightwork. Restores mirror-level shine and removes oxidation. On-site at San Jose International (SJC) and Bay Area airports.

Our Process

How We Work

01

The Nuvite System

Brightwork polishing is a craft, and the Nuvite metal polish system is the aviation industry standard. We work through the appropriate grades — from F7 for heavier cutting to S and G6 for refining and final finishing — to progressively remove oxidation and refine bare aluminum to a deep, mirror-level shine without damaging the metal.

02

What We Polish

Our brightwork service covers exposed aluminum panels, spinners, exhaust stacks, prop assemblies, leading-edge trim, and polished accents. Each surface is assessed individually because exhaust residue, heat discoloration, and oxidation each require a different starting grade and technique.

03

Oxidation & Exhaust Removal

Bare and polished aluminum oxidizes and dulls over time, and exhaust stacks accumulate baked-on carbon and heat staining. Our staged polishing removes this buildup and restores clarity, then finishes with a protective pass to slow re-oxidation between services.

04

Maintaining the Finish

Polished brightwork needs periodic upkeep to stay bright. We build recurring polishing intervals into fleet and maintenance plans so spinners, stacks, and trim stay presentation-ready rather than being restored from scratch each time.

Service Tiers

Choose Your Level

Brightwork Refresh

Maintenance-level polishing of spinners, exhaust stacks, and trim to restore shine between full services. Keeps polished surfaces bright on a recurring schedule.

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Full Metal Restoration

Complete multi-grade Nuvite polishing of oxidized or neglected aluminum to bring bare metal back to a mirror finish. Recommended for aircraft that have not been polished in some time or are being prepared for sale.

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For Operators

Charter Operator Benefits

Consistent, bright spinners and stacks across the fleet.

Recurring brightwork intervals that prevent heavy oxidation buildup.

Presentation-grade metal for passenger-facing aircraft.

Scheduled alongside exterior details to minimize downtime.

Brightwork and metal polishing is available for aircraft with exposed aluminum, polished accents, spinners, and exhaust stacks. Timeline depends on the amount of metal and its condition. Heavily oxidized surfaces require full multi-grade restoration.

Questions

Frequently Asked

We use the Nuvite F7/S/G6 system, the aviation industry standard for brightwork, working through the appropriate grades to cut oxidation and refine to a mirror finish safely.

Yes. Full metal restoration uses multiple Nuvite grades to remove heavy oxidation and bring neglected bare aluminum back to a bright, mirror-level finish.

Polished aluminum naturally re-oxidizes over time. With a recurring brightwork refresh, typically scheduled with your regular details, spinners and stacks stay bright continuously rather than needing full restoration each time.

Yes. Exhaust stacks accumulate carbon and heat discoloration that require specific technique. We remove this buildup and restore clarity as part of our brightwork service.

Ready to Book Brightwork & Metal Polishing?

Build your service package online or call us to discuss your aircraft's specific needs.