Raw aluminum

[dtg]

Should I polish my raw aluminum yoyo's frequently or should I let them corrode a little so they grind better?

[mrcnja]

It really is opinion based. Granted some yo-yos look better polished and some look better satined and slightly corroded.

[sicyo]

If you want a raw aluminum yo-yo to grind better, satin it. Take some  200-600 grit sand paper and just rub it around on the surface until you get your desire feel/look. If you want it to be raw and lustrous again, grab some 1000 grit and some #0000 Steel wool, and metal polish. Rub it with the 600 grit, 1000 grit, and then the steel wool, in that order. After you rub it with the steel wool, go nuts with the metal polish

But yeah, it's all up to you how you want your raw yo-yos to look.

[AknAssassin]

if you want that oxy 4 look to last hit it gently with crylon clear.
"say it with crylon"

[mrcnja]

If you do that don't forget to mask the bearing seat and response area and use very light coats.

The best way I have found so far for painting yo-yos without an air-brush setup is to mount the yo-yo on a drill, cover the drill with grocery bag (to keep the paint off), and spin the yo-yo at medium to low speed while spraying the paint. This helps get a nice uniform finish on the yo-yo.

[IV]

I say do nothing. Nothing to me is occasionally wiping the yoyo off with 3-in-1 oil to prevent rusting and just enjoying it as-is. They last a long time if you take care of them... indefinitely if you're good at it.