Topic: how do you polish aluminum?

[liaudio]

I have tried before.  What do you need to polish aluminum to a bright, chrome-like shine?

[kghost]

If you use the search function you will find this question discussed, explained and debated many times over.

[Einyodeler]

If the aluminum isn`t scratched up I usually start out with 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper work up to 2000 grit keeping it wet with WD40. Then go to Mothers or Blue Eagle polish with a buffer. You`ve got to put in hours to make it really shine.

[mrbreeze]

Yeah....ditto on the long hours!!!! Even if the part is off of the bike for easier access,it still takes a lot of work to make it look sweet.....but man is it worth it!!!

[jalfonso]

I'm to lazy to buff the parts by hand so I bought a buffing wheel at Harbor Freight. I bought the start up kit at Caswell's, www.caswellplating.com, which included six buffing compound bars and a couple of buffing wheels.  They have an instruction manual of sorts which tells you which compound to use for each particular situation.  The instruction manual can also be downloaded in a pdf file.  I've buffed a couple of pieces and they look really nice.  It shortens it from hours to significantly less depending on how picky you are.

[racing33]

I just started the task of polishing some side cases and other bits for an older brit bike that I have, and I can already see that I will have a good amount of hours into this project before I am done. I had some semi deep nicks and scratches so I had to start with a 320 wet/dry and work my way up from there. Today I am going to start with 600 and work my up from there.
Bruce

[Tiek101]

I've done both the sandpaper and small buffing wheels in my drill press and I think the wheel is the way to go.
...an example of before and after with the wheel:   **Click for biggin'

[nickjtc]

I've done both the sandpaper and small buffing wheels in my drill press and I think the wheel is the way to go.
...an example of before and after with the wheel: 

Polished metal is just soo nice to look at. Good job.

PS. I like your Guiness drinking squirrel.

[SohcCBs]

I've done both the sandpaper and small buffing wheels in my drill press and I think the wheel is the way to go.

Which wheel did you use?

Hey that's one thirsty squirrel you got there!!

[southbound]

I recommend beer...  not on the aluminum though.

[Honda CBer]

I recommend beer...  not on the aluminum though.

perhaps not, but it makes those hours pass by easier... the thing that REALLY sucks about typical honda aluminum is that it is clearcoated or painted black... so not only do you have to subject yourself to the actual polishing, you have to strip (or sand!) the coating... if only......................

the last major polishing job i did (several parts on a '93 katana), i wet sanded until blood was literally seeping through my skin (from countless micro-abrasions)... pretty freaky, but i ended up with stuff looking like this bar clamp:

you cant really tell in the pic, but the aluminum has a mirror finish, and if i may say so, was quite stunning (and a little distracting when riding at high noon in the summertime  )... OEM was painted nearly flat gray, lol...

[nickjtc]

perhaps not, but it makes those hours pass by easier

Isn't it nice to be able to get up close and personal to a bike and have something to show for your efforts at the end of it?

[paulages]

i usually just spray jasco paint remever on the part first to remove the clearcoat. someone on here claims that oven cleaner removes the anodized layer, but i haven't tried it.

polishing is nothing but sanding down to a really fine grit, in the form of a polishing compound. i recommend a high quality jewelers rouge, preceded by 600 grit, preceded by 400 grit, and starting as coarse as it takes to get deep nicks out. i've also bead blasted first.

[SohcCBs]

quite stunning (and a little distracting when riding at high noon in the summertime  )... OEM was painted nearly flat gray, lol...

....why they had it painted a non-relecting color.

[racing33]

I just finished one side case for my Brit bike. I have about 12 hours into this one case cover.I started with 320 wet/dry as there was some deep nicks and scrapes. Then I went to 600, then 1000, then 1500, then semi-chrome polish. I am very happy with how it turned out. Especially since I have no polishing wheels and did it all by hand. The surface is not quite a mirror, but I can clearly see my face reflecting off the surface of the case cover. Next I am moving onto the other side case, then the inner covers, then all the little aluminum bits and pieces.
I think I will get some stuff from caswells and a buffer from harbor freight to make it a little bit quicker and to be able achieve a little bit better shine, I hope. Either way I can see many hours of work to get this all done.
As soon as I get a digital camera I will post some pictures. For now I am going to take the case cover to work and let my friends judge it, and to show it off a little bit too.
Bruce

[RRRToolSolutions]

Guys, you hurt my fingers -- I had every piece done, the head cover, clutch, chain, transmission, rear hub, front hub, triple tree, and the camchian tensioner professionally polished for less than $80. Seriously, I've done it before with Eastwood kits, 1,800 rpm buffer, but no more. The folks in the business have huge floor-mounted machines with 25" diameter buff wheels, belt-drive systems with 5 horse electric motors turning 600~700 rpms and they make it look easy. This old man can do a entire car or truck grill in 5 minutes. The place was a mess, but that comes with the territory.

Less than $80 for all -

[Honda CBer]

quite stunning (and a little distracting when riding at high noon in the summertime  )... OEM was painted nearly flat gray, lol...

....why they had it painted a non-relecting color.

hence

)... OEM was painted nearly flat gray, lol...

it is true that i sometimes get a bone-headed idea that i act on before fully thinking it though...  besides, the gray was tacky and clashed with the bike's bling!

[mrbreeze]

Hey Paulages,I also use paint remover to strip the clear coat.I got this stuff called  Citrustrip at Home Depot.Its in an aerosol can and smells like oranges.I spray that on and let it sit overnight.Next day,you just wipe it off and rinse it.Then start buffing away.I also remember the post about using oven cleaner to strip Anodized surfaces.I don't remember who posted it but I tried it on my right side handle bar control.It works but you have to help it along to get down to the aluminum.It is a small part so I used a wire wheel on a Dremel.I had a chat about it with Too Tired at the Berkeley run this past June and he said the oven cleaner eats aluminum so you probably don't want to leave it on too long.

[nickjtc]

starting as coarse as it takes to get deep nicks out.

You don't need to to use anything more abrasive than harsh words, then I know I'm not welcome, and will happily get out.

Nick

[mrbreeze]

Daaaaamn!!!!!!!........you gonna take that insult Nick?

[nickjtc]

Daaaaamn!!!!!!!........you gonna take that insult Nick?

It flows off like water off a ducks back!

[hondachopproject]

I know there not perfect yet, but here is a picture of one of my lowers. I just started at 400 to 600 to 800 to 100 to 1500 to 2000 grit and wet sanded, then just used mothers.
I did not use a buffer (yet).
Didn't really take that long. Just start it early one lazy Saturady and take your time.
Lee

[SohcCBs]

Nice, I need to get 'rouond to that too.

[paulages]

mothers is coarser than rouge. i've tried using it on a piece i had just buffed on my wheel and it dulled it up with a quickness.

[Kevin D]

10 minutes on the left tube with the green Scotchbrite. I'm hoping/trying for an original finish. The aluminum parts looked soooo nice when they were new.
 

[whodareswins]

I just bought an  aluminum polishing kit @ Harbor Freight.It costs $20 and well worth it saves plenty of time compared to the wet sand method. Il post some picks soon.

[SohcCBs]

I don't know 'bout the forks, but I Honda painted most of the aluminum.

[blackhog02]

Slick has a good how to on his web site.  http://www.slickschoppers.com/TechArticles/polishing_aluminum.html

After wearing out my drill I got a 5 inch bench grinder from Harbor freight and put a polishing wheel on it.  Spent about 2 hours doing my lower forks last weekend and they look great.  I have also have done the covers on my cb550 engine and it is looking real sharp.