How-To Highly Polish your Metal Parts to a Mirror Finish?

[bradthreee]

I've searched the net and haven't found much of the detailed info I am looking for. I know the basics of it, but would like to hear what other people are doing. I have a dremel and many hours ahead for the long 4th of July weekend and a negleted Hardtail 50.

I have sandpaper grits 180,220,260 for the dremel.

I have 400, 1000, and 1500 sandpaper.

And I have the polishing bits for the dremel including those silver brushes.

Thanks in advance,

Brad

[eliteguy50]

Dremel also sells polish wheels that are a dense material (like a fake cotton). They work well for the finishing touches.

[bradthreee]

So I started messing around with the fork plate on the Z50. I think I am going to turn this into a How-To-DIY-Polish.

Here are my findings so far:

First thing I did was use those silver brushes with the Dremel. They work really well at making the surface metal shiny and removing dirt and grime.

Next I started sanding down areas that had gouges or pits with the sanding drum dremmel bit. This worked really well at removing them. Take care in only using this on the areas that are scratched and not the whole thing. Basically what we are trying to do is making the aluminum scratchless and smooth.

Then I started to use the 260grit sanding disc to remove the scratches left b the sanding drum. This disc also worked well @ removing smaller pits and scratches.

Then I started using my 400 grit wetsand paper by hand. I noticed that some areas were starting to look real shiney and smooth while others were not so much.

I think I need to go pick up a grit between the 260 and the 400 before moving onto the 400.

Pics and more findings to come...

[oldrock]

320 grit is what you are looking for. Also you should get some 600 and 800 or you will end up going thru a ton of 1000 grit to make that jump. Then after 1000 you can break out the rubbing compound and then polish if you really want things to shine.

[Trafficjamz]

Your descriptions are so much better than actual pictures.

Ohh, imagining your smooth metal now. I THINK I know what silver brushes to use now.

TAKE SOME PICS PLEASE!

[bradthreee]

Yeah I plan on taking some pics this weekend so hold your horses

Patience is virtue

[zuphilius]

Sorry I haven't had a chance to look for those leftovers, you still want them? Not much, but there free to you, I'll pay postage also.

[bradthreee]

No pictures of when I started
I'm sure you could imagine what a 39 year old piece of un-refinished aluminum looks like...

But here are some pics of the process so far:





This is not the finished polish, I was trying to find out the process and I think I've got it. I'll be redoing this again with the following steps:

1.
I found that the dremel sander should only be used to remove scrapes, gouges, and pores. The finer grit is used for small scratches and pores while the heavier grit is used for the deeper ones. Try to limit the sanding to the area of damage. If you dont you will need to do lots more sanding by hand.

2.
The dremel brown brillo type pad worked well at giving the whole piece a uniform finish. It seemed like for me it was the step after the sanding.

3.
Then, by hand, I went over it with the the 320 grit wet sandpaper. Focus alot on the areas you sanded with the dremel. Try to get in all the nooks and crannies as much as possible.

4.
Repeat #3 with 400 grit wetsand. From this point you will get a pretty decent shine with the buff.

5.
For a mirror shine almost like chorme, Repeat step 4 with 1000 grit then 1500 grit.

6.
Last step will be the buffing. I used the buffing wheel for the dremel, but ideally use it for tight spaces then a full size buffing wheel for the larger areas.

[elitedio]

Two words Brad
Steel wool.

It comes in several grades works quick start with fine and work your way down to 0000.