Aluminum Polishing

[slabghost]

brianinpa » Wed Feb 05, 2014 5:03 pm[/url]":21r4fcww]

slabghost » Wed Feb 05, 2014 2:06 pm[/url]":21r4fcww]
Just tape the outline close and dab grease or vaseline with a q tip everywhere you don't want paint. Then put a few coats of paint on and let dry. Unmask and wipe off the painted grease.

I was thinking about that also. Just wasn't sure I wanted to smear grease all over a freshly poliched cover. I don't have the nevers of steel to hand paint it like John suggests, so this might have to be it.

My shaky hands make that my method of choice.

 

[KYWinger]

brianinpa » Wed Feb 05, 2014 2:03 pm[/url]":3qbzasrw]
I don't have the nerves of steel to hand paint it like John suggests, so this might have to be it.

Nerves of steel not required.......just lay in the paint, let it dry then use 800 grit wet/dry to sand the logo clean :music: ....works every time. A Senior Chief would never ever lie to a fellow goat.

 

[brianinpa]

I know you wouldn't lie, but I never could stay between the lines.

 

[KYWinger]

That's the beauty of it......you don't HAVE to color between the lines.....just sand off what got outside!

 

[brianinpa]

I know what you're writing John...

 

[brianinpa]

So I finally figured out what I was doing wrong all those times I tried to polish aluminum in the past... I was using the wrong tool oh2:

Seems a vintage grinder with buffing wheels on it just doesn't turn fast enough. A few weeks ago I bought a buffer from my favorite tool toy store (HF) and finally put it to use tonight. A 15 minute test on an extra intake horn, and I think I know what I will be doing with a lot of extra time when I am not working.

IMG 20140226 165852 736

• brianinpa
• Feb 26, 2014

No I didn't do both of them Gerry, it is just a before an after picture! :smilie_happy: Test complete, so now it is on to the fork tubes.

 

[dan filipi]

Looks good.
Did you use any compound on it or dry?

 

[Ansimp]

Very nice Brian :good:

 

[joedrum]

hmmm it is nice for that quick

 

[brianinpa]

I used the brown on the rough wheel and the white on the loose wheel. Seemed to work, so I guess I'll stick with it.

 

[KYWinger]

Yepper Brian, that's what I bought to do all my polishing. Wear a shop apron, 'cause it'll get all over ya.....(and the wall behind)

Keep us posted on your polishing... :clapping:

 

[brianinpa]

Yepper Brian, that's what I bought to do all my polishing. Wear a shop apron, 'cause it'll get all over ya.....(and the wall behind)

Keep us posted on your polishing... :clapping:

It'll get all over, hmmm... I'll say!

Even with all the wood working I have done, I have never been able to wear a shop apron. I just can't get comfortable with the string behind my neck. For me it is just a ratty pair of pants, an old fleece sweatshirt, a watch-cap, some gloves and a face shield. I still got that black dust all over my face.

What does it say when you spend 1 hour cleaning the fork tube of all the clear coat and 30 minutes polishing and end up with this?

IMG 20140226 193830 455

• brianinpa
• Feb 26, 2014

 

[zman]

Looks great Brian, I just use a dollar store plastic tarp, cut a hole in the center to fit my head through and wear it like a poncho, and to be even cheaper I use an old bootlace to tie it. A full face shield is a must for me.
Good to hear the HF buffer is working good for you, did you get the 8 or 6 inch model? I`m thinking of selling my 2 bulky buffers and buying a single dual shaft model like the HF type.

 

[KYWinger]

Keep at it! I did all my polishing on a 6" HF buffer - got the stand also, really helped...

 

[desertrefugee]

I'm using HF's finest tools for all my polishing duties, too. Much easier than the way we used to do it.

The problem is that it gets addictive. Occasionally, one can go too far:

 

[brianinpa]

zman » Wed Feb 26, 2014 8:42 pm[/url]":3qgh3cm1]
Looks great Brian, I just use a dollar store plastic tarp, cut a hole in the center to fit my head through and wear it like a poncho, and to be even cheaper I use an old bootlace to tie it. A full face shield is a must for me.
Good to hear the HF buffer is working good for you, did you get the 8 or 6 inch model? I`m thinking of selling my 2 bulky buffers and buying a single dual shaft model like the HF type.

I am using the 6". I looked at the buffing wheels and thought there was no way they would work well. I guess I was wrong.

Keep at it! I did all my polishing on a 6" HF buffer - got the stand also, really helped...

I didn't get the stand, but I can certainly see where it would be helpful. I already moved the buffer off of my work bench and onto my mobile tool stand, but even that is too big at times.

I'm using HF's finest tools for all my polishing duties, too. Much easier than the way we used to do it.

The problem is that it gets addictive. Occasionally, one can go too far:

That's what I am worried about! :shock: I'm soon going to be pulling the motor and who knows what I might do... Not only that, but I am looking at the 1200 also. :heat:

 

[slabghost]

Let me know when ya run out. :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy:

 

[desertrefugee]

Just so everybody knows, I have now re-routed the drain tubes in my photo above. They looked so ugly in that shot, I kinda freaked out. Dunno whyi hadn't noticed before. Been like that since I put the motor in back in January. Much cleaner when they're inside the final drive...

Makes the polished bits all the more prominent!

 

[brianinpa]

desertrefugee » Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:03 am[/url]":1dgbdl12]
Just so everybody knows, I have now re-routed the drain tubes in my photo above. They looked so ugly in that shot, I kinda freaked out. Dunno whyi hadn't noticed before. Been like that since I put the motor in back in January. Much cleaner when they're inside the final drive...

Makes the polished bits all the more prominent!

I was thinking about doing the same thing. Those drain tubes are ugly as sin and stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[zman]

The tubes wouldnt look so bad in braided stainess.