Alloy polishing, Whats the best way?

[Old Skool Subbie]

Whats the best way of polishing Allumium?

Ive got some hubs, parts of motor and some handels that I want to get all polished and shiney.

I dont want to damage any of the FHI markings etc

I do want to get rid of the other casting marks.

Its taking me along time to do it by hand and sand paper lol

I cant find the dremal we used to have so cant use it to help.

I dont want to pay any one to do it or finish it off since Im a bit low on cash.

I wasnt exactly sure where to put this on here... So mods feel free to move it if you like.

[wrx_lou]

you can get drill attatchments. compressor driven die grinders are the go too.

[Swindog]

Elbow grease

[wrx_lou]

Have you done a search on your tube? theres good tips on there.

[Guest boostin]

Autosol. And elbow grease.

[wrx_lou]

 boostin said:

Autosol. And elbow grease.

wouldnt mirror a rough surface though would it?

[Guest DMSREX]

 boostin said:

Autosol. And elbow grease.

X 2 Its worked for me in the past.

[Guest itsgotgo]

 boostin said:

Autosol. And elbow grease.

Absolutely correct,its an old school polish,but a bloody good one

[Old Skool Subbie]

 itsgotgo']

[quote name='boostin said:

Autosol. And elbow grease.

/quote]

Absolutely correct,its an old school polish,but a bloody good one

I thought the new autosol was non abrasive? I used some real old stuff from the 1980s to polish up a raditor grill made of german silver.

Got some brand new stuff about 3 years ago and it didnt polish as good as the old stuff.

[Guest itsgotgo]

 Old Skool Subbie']

[quote name='boostin said:

Autosol. And elbow grease.

/quote]

Absolutely correct,its an old school polish,but a bloody good one

I thought the new autosol was non abrasive? I used some real old stuff from the 1980s to polish up a raditor grill made of german silver.

Got some brand new stuff about 3 years ago and it didnt polish as good as the old stuff.

Didnt know it had changed ???

Still polishes my wheels up really good......maybe i have to much elbow grease ;D

[wrx_lou]

 itsgotgo said:

have to much elbow grease ;D

[driftrex]

i used a die grinder with a course flap wheel (not sure if thats proper name) to smooth my inlet manifold, then took to with very fine sandpaper, i could of then used autosol to get the mirror finish but i painted it instead so didnt bother, but its smooth as now.

die grinder and flap wheel thing makes it so easy and its good for curves.

[wrx_lou]

yeah i did the one I've been doing like that. except I used a angle grinder and dremel.

[driftrex]

 wrx_lou said:

yeah i did the one I've been doing like that. except I used a angle grinder and dremel.

oh yea i used a angle grinder first to hack off all the chucky bits and flatten them off ;D

[Old Skool Subbie]

 driftrex said:

i used a die grinder with a course flap wheel (not sure if thats proper name) to smooth my inlet manifold, then took to with very fine sandpaper, i could of then used autosol to get the mirror finish but i painted it instead so didnt bother, but its smooth as now.

die grinder and flap wheel thing makes it so easy and its good for curves.

What grade of paper is used on the course flap wheel you used? I was looking at some today. at mitre 10. Saw afew different grades for those.

Also I looked at some dremels. Cant afford to buy one yet

[driftrex]

 Old Skool Subbie']

[quote name='driftrex said:

i used a die grinder with a course flap wheel (not sure if thats proper name) to smooth my inlet manifold, then took to with very fine sandpaper, i could of then used autosol to get the mirror finish but i painted it instead so didnt bother, but its smooth as now.

die grinder and flap wheel thing makes it so easy and its good for curves.

/quote]

What grade of paper is used on the course flap wheel you used? I was looking at some today. at mitre 10. Saw afew different grades for those.

Also I looked at some dremels. Cant afford to buy one yet

from memory i was using a 120, you could then go over again with a finer flap wheel.

they really are the way to go before getting to the polishing stage.

[wrx_lou]

I bought a cheap one from bunnings. Its an ozitzo one or something like that. was only about $50

[Old Skool Subbie]

 driftrex']

[quote name='wrx_lou said:

yeah i did the one I've been doing like that. except I used a angle grinder and dremel.

/quote]

oh yea i used a angle grinder first to hack off all the chucky bits and flatten them off ;D

When I did my manifold on my GSR I did it all by hand. Sand paper and file.. I must had spend 15 plus hours on the stupid thing. So ended up paying a polisher to finish it off. Still cost me 90 buxs.

So want to save money and time this time lol

[Guest itsgotgo]

 wrx_lou']

[quote name='itsgotgo said:

have to much elbow grease ;D

/quote]

Not quite i much larger arms and far better teeth rofpmsl

[driftrex]

oh and if you buy flap wheels, get them from an engineering shop, will be cheaper than mitre 10.