Polishing aluminum. - Page 2

1996Silverado · 10-23-2009, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94_c/1500

I have to say buy this. It works extremely well. It is amazing. It makes a powerball look like nothing (in my book it is).

http://www.eastwood.com/catalog/prod.../category/135/

YOur not the first to mention this kit.

1996Silverado · 10-26-2009, 01:03 PM

Well, it arrived today. Even though I plan to polish it up, I was expecting something that could be installed as is. I don't think it's a "One off" as they described.....

Here's a close up of it.

Guess, it will have to be worked on before it can be used....

CKTA · 10-26-2009, 01:33 PM

Are you talking about the writing or is that a scratch?

1996Silverado · 10-26-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CKTA

Are you talking about the writing or is that a scratch?

The writing is from end to end, it should sand off fairly easy. Some light scratches, but nothing really felt. Just the photo of the piece does not quite look like what I got. It's a solid piece, just gonna need some work.

At least it will be hard to damage.....

CKTA · 10-26-2009, 01:58 PM

Brake clean will take the writing right off. Spray it on a rag and wipe it off. The scratches......with out feeling them.....sanding, sanding and more sanding.

1996Silverado · 10-26-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CKTA

Brake clean will take the writing right off. Spray it on a rag and wipe it off. The scratches......with out feeling them.....sanding, sanding and more sanding.

Kinda what I figured.....

DjLunchbox · 10-26-2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94_c/1500

I have to say buy this. It works extremely well. It is amazing. It makes a powerball look like nothing (in my book it is).

http://www.eastwood.com/catalog/prod.../category/135/

i second this. but do both. use the sandpaper and wetsand like ckta said, and then ue the eastwoods buffing kit. you will get better results if you have a stand mounted buffer/ grinder setup. it's a pain to use a die grinder. i've used that kit before

DjLunchbox · 10-26-2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94_c/1500

I have to say buy this. It works extremely well. It is amazing. It makes a powerball look like nothing (in my book it is).

http://www.eastwood.com/catalog/prod.../category/135/

i second this. but do both. use the sandpaper and wetsand like ckta said, and then use the eastwoods buffing kit. you will get better results if you have a stand mounted buffer/ grinder setup. it's a pain to use a die grinder. i've used that kit before

1996Silverado · 10-27-2009, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DjLunchbox

you will get better results if you have a stand mounted buffer/ grinder setup. it's a pain to use a die grinder.

I have a work bench I can secure it to, but that's all.

08blackWT · 10-27-2009, 10:34 AM

I used to use a DA sander with it switched to the orbital setting to do polishing. Using water starting from 800 moving up. Using the sander by the time you get to 1500 it will already look polished. Sometime depending on the part I was polishing (if it was flat) I just cleaned it up with some mothers polish by hand and it was done.

1996Silverado · 10-27-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 08blackWT

I used to use a DA sander with it switched to the orbital setting to do polishing. Using water starting from 800 moving up. Using the sander by the time you get to 1500 it will already look polished. Sometime depending on the part I was polishing (if it was flat) I just cleaned it up with some mothers polish by hand and it was done.

Oh it's flat. I laid it on the bumper last night to take a look at it and wondering how I'm gonna get it curved just right....

This is what is currently on it.

This is the billet piece.

It's 1/4" thick.

94_c/1500 · 10-27-2009, 11:16 AM

I just used a Makita corded drill. As long as you control the speed, it works well.

1996Silverado · 11-12-2009, 05:41 PM

I started on it today. Finally found some free time with no rain....

Started wetsanding. Got this far this afternoon.

This was the result of using some 800 grit. Had some black hands after all this.

After a few sheets, it was extremely smooth. So I went to 1000 grit.

Then jumped to 2000 grit and it definately coming along.

Still got to polish it up good. But it definately looks better than it did.

CKTA · 11-13-2009, 05:41 AM

1996Silverado · 11-13-2009, 07:11 AM

I'll have to pick up some metal polish, I must have left it at the old house when I moved.

If I wanted to clear coat this, what would I need to do to get a good finish out of this. Or would it be better to just put a good polish on it a couple times a year?

CKTA · 11-13-2009, 08:13 AM

Don't clear it. Just keep it up w/ polish then wax when needed.

FastBlak · 11-13-2009, 10:07 AM

nice! looks much better

1996Silverado · 11-15-2009, 02:50 PM

Time to put mother to work......

This is after only 5 minutes with the powerball. Once finished, I'll finish it off with my 6" buffer.

DjLunchbox · 11-17-2009, 09:43 PM

excellent job! very nice work. no clear coat, just repolish like CKTA stated. i cleared my polished work on my intake, and it looks worse. i have to redo it all now.