Topic: Questions about polishing aluminum

[mylittleho]

Also a sisel polishing wheel and black emory on a polishing machine will make short work of any kind of sanding shaping you might need..

I used harbor freight 6" polishing wheels on a bench grinder and it worked well but not nearly as good as a bench mounted polisher... since the polishers spin about 2x faster than a bench grinder... or you could get an adapter like this one to attach it to an electric motor of bench grinder VIA a "V" belt..

[mylittleho]

caswell also sells scritchbrite like wheels for either a bench grinder, or angle grinder..


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

[Faust]

 I have polished a bit of aluminum and second everything said here, particularly Caswell. Very nice people, was a father and son team but I think it has expanded. If the piece has large flats, go for the stitched wheel on a good buffing machine. Watch your grip and your hands, wear heavy gloves.

Here is the best hint I can give to anyone living in "Industrial" America. Industry is dying, so look in the Yellow Pages for "metal finishing, polishing". Most of these are small "job shops". Things are universally slow, they will talk to you about jobs they would have laughed off 2 or 4 years ago. The guy who did the aluminum trim on my '64 Plymouth last year told me that in 1999 he had over 400 competitors in New England, now it is below thirty. (hearsay)

[Faust]

Since clear coat was mentioned, I was wondering what experience with clear powder coating? It seems to work well with wheels/rims. But most auto wheels aren't polished, they are turned. The knife grooves probably leave some "hook" for the powder.

Another hint, most of our local powder coaters have opened a "side door" for all of the locals who want wheels and such done. Last time I spoke with them, the minimum was $75.00. However, the minimum covered quite a lot. I suspect that would do a whole bike. They are finicky about the prep for the metal. Their heat takes care of most of the garbage on the aluminum, but they don't want to take blame for a bad, but small job.

[Faust]

or you could get an adapter like this one to attach it to an electric motor of bench grinder VIA a "V" belt..

For anyone searching. I believe the "bearings" are "pillow blocks".

[theunrulychef]

You can wax polished aluminum as a substitute for clear coating as long as it isn't a piece that gets really hot.  I've had Meguir's wax on my brake resivoir caps for a good 4 or 5 months with no degredation in shine, although, I'll probably need to pull them off soon & re-wax them when I get around to waxing all of the other polished parts.  I'm sure this would work well for the fork bits, master cylinder, and control housings etc. 

Anyone wax their disc brake calipers with any sucess, or do they get too hot?  When I get new lines, I'll be doing the calipers & master cylinder in one foul swoop.

[mylittleho]

If you apply polishing compound (not metal polish) with a polishing wheel they are waxy to begin with so no real need to seal them.. Just every couple of months wash the aluminum with liquid soap to remove all the old wax and hit them again with a small polishing wheel and compound.. no hand rubbing or buffing and no need to seal..

[grumburg]

I just keep some Neverdulll handy to clean off road film and dirt between polishing in spring and fall.  Seems to leave a coating that prevents dulling.

[CB750R]

May be a little off topic, but seeing as theres quite a few people familiar with Caswell on this thread...
anyone ordered there chroming kit???  Or has any experience with Chroming/plating???  Just the thought of having my own little Chroming setup in my garage makes my mind spin with the ooodles of stuff I could make shiney!!!!

[DiscoEd]

May be a little off topic, but seeing as theres quite a few people familiar with Caswell on this thread...
anyone ordered there chroming kit???  Or has any experience with Chroming/plating???  Just the thought of having my own little Chroming setup in my garage makes my mind spin with the ooodles of stuff I could make shiney!!!!

I've looked that stuff over too. I wonder if it's worth while or not. I mean aside from the fun of the do it yourself aspect, would it be any cheaper to try this at home vs. taking it to a plating shop? I wonder just how good the qulaity of plating you can achieve is?

Regards,
DiscoEd