Q on polishing alluminum

[Longhorn Man]

I have a rather nice Snap On truck box mounted in the bed of my truck. This sucker is huge, and I love it. Been offered cash for it many times, but I refuse to sell it. However, it looks like ass.



So I removed it from the truck today, and started to scrub it with some super clean, then I hosed it down with some alluminum cleaner, which has taken it to virgin alluminum. I'll be removing the stickers from it, and then wet sand it with some 1000 grit or so wet/dry paper. I'll do the sides, but I think the top, the diamond plate will be fine without the sanding.
Once I do that, I'll hit it with the buffer.... this is where my questions come in.
Do I simply use automotive rubbing compound, or is that too coarse to start off with? Do I just go straight to polish? I have some mothers mag and wheel polish that has done wonders on small pieces, but I don't know if it would quite get the look I am going for here... I want it to look like new, like chrome...or at least, like polished alluminum should look.

After that... how do I keep it looking good? I don't want it to ever look this bad again. Do i simply keep it clean, and wax it like it was a painted piece...every 6 months or so?
Also, do I need to polish it and then put on the new Snap On stickers... or do I need to put the stickers on before the polish? I can't see them sticking to the polished surface very well, but I can see the polish damaging the stickers if I buff over them.


What to do.. what to do.