Aluminium : High polish finish ?
Discussion
Good day,
I wish to polish up my aluminium engine parts to a high gloss finish.
I have autosol and plenty of rags etc, but if I use a fine wire wool, is it possible to get a high quality finish without scratches.
Any pics you can show me of your results ?? Whats you advice ??
Answers on a post card......
I wish to polish up my aluminium engine parts to a high gloss finish.
I have autosol and plenty of rags etc, but if I use a fine wire wool, is it possible to get a high quality finish without scratches.
Any pics you can show me of your results ?? Whats you advice ??
Answers on a post card......
Hi there,
I actually do metal polishing and plating as a side line. I wouldn't advise using wire wool etc as it will show in direct sunlight and won't help to get a high mirror shine. Thats gained by high speed 'buffing'. It will increase shine initially but to get a lasting mirror shine I use a 3 step polish and buff process using various compounds and polishing mops.
Check out some of my stuff on here. Reclaimed Memories check out the site but also the 'Polishing' section.
If interested I can either point you in the right direction for getting a hobby kit to get you going or if your not thinking long term by all means get in touch and I can polish whatever parts you need doing.
Hope that helps.
Olly
I actually do metal polishing and plating as a side line. I wouldn't advise using wire wool etc as it will show in direct sunlight and won't help to get a high mirror shine. Thats gained by high speed 'buffing'. It will increase shine initially but to get a lasting mirror shine I use a 3 step polish and buff process using various compounds and polishing mops.
Check out some of my stuff on here. Reclaimed Memories check out the site but also the 'Polishing' section.
If interested I can either point you in the right direction for getting a hobby kit to get you going or if your not thinking long term by all means get in touch and I can polish whatever parts you need doing.
Hope that helps.
Olly
Thanks for the advice Olly. I was hoping to polish the items in situ, but some parts that can be removed easily may come off over the winter.
What materials do you recommend (compounds) for hand polishing with plenty of elbow grease ??
Great website and intresting artwork. I like it !
Regards,
Bomb.
What materials do you recommend (compounds) for hand polishing with plenty of elbow grease ??
Great website and intresting artwork. I like it !
Regards,
Bomb.
Thank you for the feedback on the site. 
Well if you have access to a decent electric drill I'd recommend a guy on eBay that I used a while ago. The stuff works and bolts into a conventional drill. Or if it looks like it may get tight I'd suggest the mini kit for dremmil.
As for manually doing it. I have in the past used simple t-cut and rags. I used this for step on. I used a coarse rag and kept it pretty damp but not overly wet if that makes sense. After a good going over, stick to the t-cut but a softer cloth, not super soft but softer than the first. Then finally go to a soft buffing cloth and use the alloy polish you mentioned in the first post. (minds gone blank on the name lol)
Hope this helps. If I can be any more help drop me a line.
Oh don't use it on anything that's warm. I polished a air intake pipe and needed to nip to the shops mid job. The t cut did tarnish but it isnt a permanent thing. It just crossed my mind. That if pos go start to finish.
Olly
Well if you have access to a decent electric drill I'd recommend a guy on eBay that I used a while ago. The stuff works and bolts into a conventional drill. Or if it looks like it may get tight I'd suggest the mini kit for dremmil.
As for manually doing it. I have in the past used simple t-cut and rags. I used this for step on. I used a coarse rag and kept it pretty damp but not overly wet if that makes sense. After a good going over, stick to the t-cut but a softer cloth, not super soft but softer than the first. Then finally go to a soft buffing cloth and use the alloy polish you mentioned in the first post. (minds gone blank on the name lol)
Hope this helps. If I can be any more help drop me a line.
Oh don't use it on anything that's warm. I polished a air intake pipe and needed to nip to the shops mid job. The t cut did tarnish but it isnt a permanent thing. It just crossed my mind. That if pos go start to finish.
Olly
Ok Thanks. I'll give the t-Cut, with varying degrees of coarse / soft cloth, a go and see how I progress.
I can get my hands on a dremmel, and I like the idea of a drill to use a polishing head, although I suspect access may be a problem to 90% of the work areas.
Nice little project for the winter months though.....
I can get my hands on a dremmel, and I like the idea of a drill to use a polishing head, although I suspect access may be a problem to 90% of the work areas.
Nice little project for the winter months though.....
Hey buddy,
Right found the guy I've used on Ebay before. He sells all sorts of kits and I've used him lots in the past. The kits are litterally a arbour that goes in the drill or dremill and then usually a set of 3 mops. They go from hard, medium to soft. They are used in that order also. I will say, For really intense shines I have done steps 1-3 and repeated teo or three times to get really impressive finishes. But they are normally on more worn items.
Here is a link specifically to an Alloy polish kit. But check his other items as he does the dremill ones also.
eBay polishing kit
If I can be any help by all means drop me a line or feel free to give me a bell. Number on site.
All the best.
Olly
Right found the guy I've used on Ebay before. He sells all sorts of kits and I've used him lots in the past. The kits are litterally a arbour that goes in the drill or dremill and then usually a set of 3 mops. They go from hard, medium to soft. They are used in that order also. I will say, For really intense shines I have done steps 1-3 and repeated teo or three times to get really impressive finishes. But they are normally on more worn items.
Here is a link specifically to an Alloy polish kit. But check his other items as he does the dremill ones also.
eBay polishing kit
If I can be any help by all means drop me a line or feel free to give me a bell. Number on site.
All the best.
Olly
I was going to remove the swirl pot and reservoir on my Chim and polish them, I picked up a cheap Rolson kit from that electric store (can't remember name)for a tenner, it has three 4" mops and 3 different compound sticks but absolutely no instructions on how to use them - any clues anyone? not sure if you wet them, or wet the mops or apply to the ally or to the mops????
seeing as its a Griff have you seen this its on the Chimp forum http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t...
AlRaven said:
I was going to remove the swirl pot and reservoir on my Chim and polish them, I picked up a cheap Rolson kit from that electric store (can't remember name)for a tenner, it has three 4" mops and 3 different compound sticks but absolutely no instructions on how to use them - any clues anyone? not sure if you wet them, or wet the mops or apply to the ally or to the mops????
Any clues on this guys?I use a combo of standard wet and dry (wet) paper 1500 grits and 2000 grit first then polish back by hand and with a machine where i can get to .
Just used standard cutting compounds starting with course to remove fine sanding marks then fine cut to finish ., no real need for fancy small tubes of metal and alloy clean/paste .
I also use a cleaner wax/sealent to remove the left over compound residue and black that you get from polishing alloy .
Auto glym super resin polish or dodo juice lime prime would both work .
works a treat too but the alloy will dull down again once the car has been used , its the temps involved so alot of work to keep them looking the best at all times
been there and do it on a TVR took a couple of years to fully restore my Tuscan
i may off gone over the top a bit ,
reading this thread made me dig out many different folders of the pics , i have over 900 to process and loads of HD videos going to be a long task ahead i guess not as long as the job took thou
kelly
Just used standard cutting compounds starting with course to remove fine sanding marks then fine cut to finish ., no real need for fancy small tubes of metal and alloy clean/paste .
I also use a cleaner wax/sealent to remove the left over compound residue and black that you get from polishing alloy .
Auto glym super resin polish or dodo juice lime prime would both work .
works a treat too but the alloy will dull down again once the car has been used , its the temps involved so alot of work to keep them looking the best at all times
been there and do it on a TVR took a couple of years to fully restore my Tuscan
i may off gone over the top a bit ,
reading this thread made me dig out many different folders of the pics , i have over 900 to process and loads of HD videos going to be a long task ahead i guess not as long as the job took thou
kelly
Cant recomend this enough http://www.mothers.com/02_products/05100-05101.htm...
I guess your looking for something like mine???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHmaMb4K1iY
From about 20seconds in. Will post a couple of pics if you like.
P.s. If you have a few seconds spare click the add in the video.
Cheers. Lee.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHmaMb4K1iY
From about 20seconds in. Will post a couple of pics if you like.
P.s. If you have a few seconds spare click the add in the video.
Cheers. Lee.
bomb said:
Yes please................lets see some pics !!
kds keltec : fantastic work, and an impressive chassis. Must have put plenty of work into that project.
I will dig some out of the engine components for you as they are cast so its good to compare. If you want a great finish take the parts off and use a machine to polish. If its your first time get something from a scrap yard to practice on! Remember the finish on cast will depend on the quality of the casting itself. As for plate, below are a couple of pics of an aluminium washer bottle I supply. First pic shows the raw bottle and last pic finished. I use three different mops and soaps with a final hand polish to protect to get them to this level of finish. kds keltec : fantastic work, and an impressive chassis. Must have put plenty of work into that project.
Edited by bomb on Monday 7th November 09:03
Cheers. Lee.
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