How do you polish satin aluminum to a mirror finish? For Example: The Intake, Altenator, maybe even a supercharger? Just save a few dollars and do it my self. Thanks Andrew.
How do you Polish Aluminum?
- Thread starter helluvasnake
- Start date
Anyone???
found a couple really good sites here they are
http://www.ffcobra.com/magazine/polishing101.html
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/buffman.htm
I assume that is what you are refering too
in a nut shell get some 80, 120, and 220 grit sand paper and go over the piece ALOT getting all the little imperfections out with the 80 grit working your way down to 220 then get the polishing compount black first then blue then white. It works VERY well Im doing a set of rims once I get the compounds.
http://www.ffcobra.com/magazine/polishing101.html
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/buffman.htm
I assume that is what you are refering too
in a nut shell get some 80, 120, and 220 grit sand paper and go over the piece ALOT getting all the little imperfections out with the 80 grit working your way down to 220 then get the polishing compount black first then blue then white. It works VERY well Im doing a set of rims once I get the compounds.
Thanks!!!
I polished bike frames for some of my friends and for the best results you need to sand with 80, 120, 180, 220, 320, 400, 800, 1500. Only start with 80 if it is very course. I used fiber sanding disks on a die grinder with the bike frames to remove the anodizing and get the casting smooth. With 400, 800 and 1500 you can wet sand for best results. The key to the high shine is in the sanding not the polishing. Once I had it all sanded properly I could have a high polish in seconds with the buffer. If you only sand to 220 or 320 the polished surface will still have micro sanding lines which make it look grainy and take away from the shine. If what you are polshing is small it is best to use a bench grinder with the sewn buffing wheel, but for large objects you can use a high speed drill (1500 to 2000rpms)with the buff. It is a very dirty job and takes time and practice for it to look perfect. My fist bike was mine and it took about 40 hrs, but most people ask me if I had it chromed. I will post a pic when I get to my computer.
HAVE FUN!
HAVE FUN!
I polish all of my billet aluminum with 2 different products with spectacular results every time:
-Mothers incredible billet polish (available at any auto parts store - about 12.00)
-Boyd Coddington polish (17.00 through Boyd Coddinton)
The Boyd stuff is made by Heavy Metal and is awesome for quick polish jobs. The Mothers is by far the best stuff ive ever tried.
Blue Magic is good as well, although harder to apply and take off.
-Mothers incredible billet polish (available at any auto parts store - about 12.00)
-Boyd Coddington polish (17.00 through Boyd Coddinton)
The Boyd stuff is made by Heavy Metal and is awesome for quick polish jobs. The Mothers is by far the best stuff ive ever tried.
Blue Magic is good as well, although harder to apply and take off.
I was thinking of polishing my supercharger myself when I get it ( save money). Has anyone ever done this themselves?
shouldn't be any big deal, especially if you could get the right wheels, I would suggest a truck shop, to find the wheels used on doing the small holes in aluminum wheels, it makes things go such easier. I use california customs purple metal polish.
helluvasnake said:
Yep, I have. I wish I had a before pic to show the roughness of the casting of the Kenne Bell supercharger before. But here are some during and after pics. (the sheet metal upper plenum was bought already polished)
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funny this was posted
i was thinking of doing my lower intake and the mount for the supercharger while i have the motor out, maybe even the front cover
i was thinking of doing my lower intake and the mount for the supercharger while i have the motor out, maybe even the front cover
What do you guys suggest to seal the aluminum? I have been doing some pieces in my car with aluminum, and putting a satin (brushed) finish on them. The problem is when ever I get done if I even touch it before clearcoating without clean gloves the aluminum sucks up the oil in my fingers, and I have to start over. I have been clearcoating them when I get done, but would like to use a sealer instead if there is one to give it a more natural brushed aluminum look, and avoid the clearcoating all together.
TIA :beer:
TIA :beer:
Do they make a clear anodizing? The problem with polishing something is maintenance
so just to bring this back from hte dead a little bit, is there a specific sand paper to use for alu? or is sand paper sand paper? aside from wetsandpaper that is
I used aluminum oxide sand paper it sais for metal and wood so thats what I used. it worked great. Im now having hell trying to get in the little corners.
What about a dremmel for those little corners?
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