Topic: Polishing Steel

[wannabridin]

Hey guys.  i'm considering polishing my gas tank on my '76 750K.  the tank is one of the longer boxier F tanks, and i'm going to add my own little twist to the fuel filler.  either way, i'd like to fix any of the dents in the gas tank by welding up what i can't fix and grinding it smooth.  i know polishing aluminum is easier, but i want to get a nice high luster finish, almost mirror like, and keep it that way.  any tips?  if i could afford it, i'd just go have it chromed, but i don't know if that will be a possibility...

also, i'd love to get a polished cowl seat, but those are spendy!  so i was thinking of just upholstering the whole thing like i've seen before.  thoughts?

oh ya, i'm planning on a nice bright red frame and shouldered wheels, polished side covers, etc...

[Don R]

You would need a really nice tank or be an experienced metal worker. Clear coats are available that might keep the corrosion away.

[Duanob]

Chrome? Your fixes will show up like a neon sign if you polish it.

[wannabridin]

well in order to chrome it i still would need to fix some of the dings and dents...

i just LOVE the old school look of a polished tank and seat cowl, so maybe chrome is the way to go for this...

[Alan F.]

I wonder if Corrosion-x will do the trick?  http://www.corrosionx.com/ 

Kingcustomcycles.com uses it, maybe he has an opinion?  Sounds like really good stuff to me.

[camelman]

The chroming process isn't very expensive.  It is the prep that costs all the money.  Since you are doing the prep yourself I bet you could get it chromed pretty cheaply.  After you fill your dents in, just polish it up with oil on the surface.  Leave it oily when you take it in and let the chrome shop clean it and do their magic.

[Retro Rocket]

What about chrome paint...?

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/chromefx/showcase4.html

Worth looking at...

Mick

[xedge4lifex]

What about chrome paint...?

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/chromefx/showcase4.html

Worth looking at...

Mick

ive sprayed it, with those expensive kits, any idiot can do it with a 20 dollar gun. definitely liked the effects, never got to see what it looked like after 2 months but i thought it was dope.

[Retro Rocket]

You used to be able to get it in smaller kits as well for small jobs....

Mick

[BrianAdair]

The company in my area that does powder coating has chrome powder coat, may check that out.

Either way you wont be able to use body filler "bondo" has to be metal, for powder coat or chrome. I do custom stainless steel fabrication for a living, and working dents and dings out for a good polish is very time consuming, and I mostly work with flat and square corner surfaces, so on a tank I know it would be a pain. What about filling in where the emblems are/were?
Back in the day they used to lead the panels on old cars, may try filling with lead or body solder, sanding smooth, and have chrome powder coated.

Just my 2 cents,
Good luck with what ever you decide man

[wannabridin]

ya, i'd need to look at the tank again, but i'm pretty sure none of the dents/dings are on any complex areas of the tank, just the flat sides.  i think i might keep the emblems, make it look like it was a factory option or something, just freshen up the emblems to match the frame paint or something...

i've seen plenty of videos for the alsa corp's chrome fx kits, and you can buy a low use kit for "cheap", but i think a nice nickel plated finish would look great and not corrode.  plus i could get a nice mirror finish to it. 

one other question; what does the surface finish need to be to properly chrome something like this?  i've worked with industrial chroming, but surface finish is not important here. 

[Retro Rocket]

ya, i'd need to look at the tank again, but i'm pretty sure none of the dents/dings are on any complex areas of the tank, just the flat sides.  i think i might keep the emblems, make it look like it was a factory option or something, just freshen up the emblems to match the frame paint or something...

i've seen plenty of videos for the alsa corp's chrome fx kits, and you can buy a low use kit for "cheap", but i think a nice nickel plated finish would look great and not corrode.  plus i could get a nice mirror finish to it. 

one other question; what does the surface finish need to be to properly chrome something like this?  i've worked with industrial chroming, but surface finish is not important here. 

If you want good chrome you need a blemish free mirror finish, everything will show through chrome, the preperation needs to be perfect..

Mick

[BrianAdair]

ya, i'd need to look at the tank again, but i'm pretty sure none of the dents/dings are on any complex areas of the tank, just the flat sides.  i think i might keep the emblems, make it look like it was a factory option or something, just freshen up the emblems to match the frame paint or something...

i've seen plenty of videos for the alsa corp's chrome fx kits, and you can buy a low use kit for "cheap", but i think a nice nickel plated finish would look great and not corrode.  plus i could get a nice mirror finish to it. 

one other question; what does the surface finish need to be to properly chrome something like this?  i've worked with industrial chroming, but surface finish is not important here. 

If you want good chrome you need a blemish free mirror finish, everything will show through chrome, the preperation needs to be perfect..

Mick

+1 on the perfection before chroming.

[wannabridin]

well i think i can get that...  if not i'll have to check into the chrome powdercoating.  thanks for the help guys!!

[Ichiban 4]

What about chrome paint...?

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/chromefx/showcase4.html

Worth looking at...

Mick

____________________________________________________________________________

Given your apparent budget limitations..I'd agree with Retro here..that Chrome paint might be the best way to go for you.  Krylon also makes a chrome paint that's really hard to tell it's paint..until you get right up on it.

If it were me though..and I wanted a really brilliant finish..but didn't have the where-with-all for chrome..I'd follow-up the chrome paint with a clear tint top coat of some sort..just so it looks like you meant it to look that way..not trying to imitate chrome.

My two-cents..

Ichi

[wannabridin]

ok, so what about an engine turned or just machined-like finish?  i was watching a tv show last night where they took a scotch bright pad on a buffer across the surface of the aluminum go give it an almost swirl-like finish.  really look looking, and i think if i did that on the tank and the cowl, with a clearcoat on top of it, maybe even some pain and just accent the machined area, i could have a really trick look!!  kind of like this: http://www.motodesign.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Painting-Grind-for-Harley-Davidson3-587x458.jpg

thoughts??

[camelman]

Your pic isn't showing for me, but I think I know what you are talking about.  The clear powdercoat would probably be robust enough to cover and protect the steel.

Camelman

[wannabridin]

well it was working, but i don't know why it stopped.  take a picture of the link now.  i think an automotive clear would work just fine for that, maybe even find someone to do a little pin-striping around the color