Topic: Buffing Aluminum

[Johnie]

Joel...so I take it your fork lowers were in pretty bad condition to warrant the use of sandpaper?  My fork lowers were the easiest parts I did without the use of any sandpaper.  And I only buffed in one direction with 3 different rouges. 

[Joel]

Joel...so I take it your fork lowers were in pretty bad condition to warrant the use of sandpaper?  My fork lowers were the easiest parts I did without the use of any sandpaper.  And I only buffed in one direction with 3 different rouges. 

Yea, they're a bit rough.  They also had some adhesive reflective strips wrapped on when I got them.

[Really?]

Keep the 220 away from the aluminum.  Unless you want gobs of sanding to get the scratches out.  If you do sand, start with a 320 or 400 wet.

Some parts I have done have not needed sanding since I started to get the hang of the rouge.

[Joel]

Even with 220 wet, the casting marks are taking a long time to remove.  I spent about 3 or 4 hours last night working on them and went through half a sheet of paper.

[Really?]

3 or 4 hours for one sheet might be stretching that sheet a bit far.  One thing that you can try is if you have a dremel and one of the sanding wheels that come with it (it slides on the rubber thing), you can lightly lay it on that area and it might go down a bit quicker.  Then bring your sand paper to it.  I believe the it a wheel that is above 200 grit.

[NE550]

In real rough areas I used my "Black & Decker" Mouse.  Made the job a lot easier for me.

[Joel]

I got a couple 180 & 280 grit abrasive buffs for my Dremel that I'm going to try using on the forks.  We'll see how it works out.

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/AttachmentsAndAccessories/Pages/AttachmentsDetail.aspx?pid=511E

[Really?]

I got a couple 180 & 280 grit abrasive buffs for my Dremel that I'm going to try using on the forks.  We'll see how it works out.

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/AttachmentsAndAccessories/Pages/AttachmentsDetail.aspx?pid=511E

Those abrasive buffs work but for a very short amount of time.  Not worth the amount of money spent for them for what you are using them for.  They will be knubs before you know it.

[BIKE]

I got a couple 180 & 280 grit abrasive buffs for my Dremel that I'm going to try using on the forks.  We'll see how it works out.

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/AttachmentsAndAccessories/Pages/AttachmentsDetail.aspx?pid=511E   

Those things go fast!  Really fast.

[Joel]

That's unfortunate.  I looked for sanding drums but couldn't find anything higher than 120-grit, which I already had.  I may have to order online if these don't last long enough to finish the job.

[Krixxer]

hope this has not yet been posted; great link and all the info you need to make the project a success

http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/buffman.htm

[papp101]

I love this guy, and I love his accent.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Enjoy! Git urself a big compressor if you're using pneumatic die-grinders and such. Wear a respirator!

[Really?]

So where do you get the 240 grit reefer?

I noticed he only went one direction on the buffer where caswell shows to go both ways.

So, is it a good idea to spin the buffer before you turn it on?

Enjoyed the video's. 

[cxtecs]

Found really good info on this on another forum I read for my other bike:

http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/46509/ShowPost.aspx