Topic: First attempt at buffing CB500 motor parts

[Rocker]

Not bad for my first time.



The buffed cover has some pitting but over all it's very shiny.



My setup:



Buffing wheel came in a 3 pack set. Each wheel is different. Harbor Freight part # 46262



Used grey compound also from Harbor Freight:

[Stev-o]

I love polished aluminum!

Here's a good read to get you to the next level:

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

[Alan F.]

Awesome, I hope you're ready for all the attention your bike will get on the next ride. Be sure to go where there will be Harleys, use your kickstarter when you're firing it up to leave too. 

[Rocker]

I love polished aluminum!

Here's a good read to get you to the next level:

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

Awesome read. Thanks for the link!

Awesome, I hope you're ready for all the attention your bike will get on the next ride. Be sure to go where there will be Harleys, use your kickstarter when you're firing it up to leave too. 

I've done the kickstart trick before on rides. I was on my CB750 K5. I noticed a few people were watching. There is nothing wrong with my electric starter...but I kicked her to life anyway.

[Kong]

Rocker,

Did you find the adaption of the bench grinder to do buffing work satisfactory?  From the picture it appears you bought a fairly large buffing wheel, is it 8" or larger?  Also, did you have to buy any sort of spindle adaptor to put the buffing wheel on the grinder?  I ask because I've been sort of looking for a good cheap used grinder to do exactly what you have done, convert it to a buffer.  My plan is to set up to buff, hit all the parts at once, shoot them with clear coat and call it a day.  So, is there anything special a person should know before they set up or is there anything you would have done differently?

[plug1]

Did you sand it down first? Using a sanding pad on a die grinder will get that pitting out. It's nice and shiny but a little more effort will really spruce it up, IMO.



What's with the Harley reference?

[Brandotheamazing]

I love kicking my bike over in front of harley's. it just feels good.

[paulmac]

You can get that aluminium like chrome if you first clean it with gumption paste then rub it down with 600 wet sandpaper and finish off with AUTOSOL polish. It will come up a treat.

[paulmac]

Another example of what a little elbow grease can do to get shiny aluminium.

[dave500]

its addictive though,i only try to polish the easy to get to when its assembled parts.autosol is my favourite,it brings everything up.

[Rocker]

Rocker,

Did you find the adaption of the bench grinder to do buffing work satisfactory?  From the picture it appears you bought a fairly large buffing wheel, is it 8" or larger?  Also, did you have to buy any sort of spindle adaptor to put the buffing wheel on the grinder?  I ask because I've been sort of looking for a good cheap used grinder to do exactly what you have done, convert it to a buffer.  My plan is to set up to buff, hit all the parts at once, shoot them with clear coat and call it a day.  So, is there anything special a person should know before they set up or is there anything you would have done differently?

The bench grinder worked fine. There were a few instances where I had to pull away from the wheel because the motor was slowing down. It is an 8" buffing wheel with a 1/2 whole. I just eyeballed it and used a few washers to lock it in place. After a few spins I trued it up and spinned perfect. I would like to find a 1/2 adaptor or I may rig something up myself.

Did you sand it down first? Using a sanding pad on a die grinder will get that pitting out. It's nice and shiny but a little more effort will really spruce it up, IMO.

I did not sand first. I wanted to see what the wheel would do as is. I was pleasently suprised. This was really a trial run for things to come. Any recommendations on sanding pads for my die grinder? I assume there is a grit rating on those as well.

You can get that aluminium like chrome if you first clean it with gumption paste then rub it down with 600 wet sandpaper and finish off with AUTOSOL polish. It will come up a treat.

What is gumption paste? What do you wet sand with? I've read about people using WD40. Do you only use 600 grit? How did you clean between the vents?

[q2418130103p]

If you want to get rid of the pits then you need to sand it smooth first.  Whatever scratches or pits you see before you start polishing will be in the final product.  I do not believe the exact sanding pad matters, also it may be a good idea to use a sponge pad under the sanding disk.  Sometimes I dont use a sand paper at all, and instead use a 3M roloc wheel (7443).  It leaves a nice finish, and will remove small pits.  The results are not as good as methodical sanding, but with the right high speed drill you can prep some pretty rough pieces for polishing with that roloc wheel.

Its more important that you dont leave scratches from the sanding disks, you need to go up incrementally in grit, you need to make sure you take out any scratches left from the last paper.  Although if I am using a power tool then I usually just start with a 220 or 320 grit (which doesnt lave deep scratches anyway), then move up to 600, 1000, etc.  If you are using a power tool then I wouldnt go below 220 unless you have some serious casting marks or pits.  With a power tool the 220 will take out most anything.

On a side note, I polished my rear hub the other day and I was unable to get a perfect finish, it still has what looks like water spots.  The surface is perfectly flat, and with out scratches, the discoloration appears to be in the metal.  So take my advice with some hesitation, seeing as I dont get it right myself.  This piece was sanded thoroughly with 220 grit on a DA first, and it still has this odd discoloration.

[dave500]

SNAP!

[paulmac]

I use 320 grit and move up to 600 grit sandpaper then I finish off with the gumption bfore polishing with autosol. I'm from Australia so you may not be able to get this stuff where you are.

[wildcatmahone]

Do you think polishing shops spend all that time wet sanding to level out a surface? Answer is no. The thing to use is what's called greaseless buffing compound available at caswell or eastwood. Your hands and arms will thank you later.

[Rocker]

This is my pic from the initital post in the thread. I got it from the cover on the left to the cover on the right with only using gray buffing compound and a buffing wheel. I want to remove the pitting. Would wet sanding with say WD40 remove it or would I need to use a die grinder?

[Duanob]

I love this thread! Nice work on the polishing. I wish I was more patient but if mine has a sheen I'm happy. I've found a lot of the basic polishing stuff at harbor freight and sears tool department. Keep up the3 good work.

D

[plug1]

Die grinder would work fine. I never tried wet sanding aluminum but I would think it'd be a bit of a workout. You can go to harbor freight and pick up a pack of 2" sanding discs for like 6 bucks. Just don't stay in one spot too long .

[domer]

i've hand sanded worse with good results. just start at 400 no wd-40 needed, just water, go to 600,maybe 800 but i usually polish after 600. doesnt look like you have anything to deep, shouldnt take long.

[dave500]

aluminuim ingestion or absorbtion has been linked to brittle bones and alzheimers.wash it off well after.

[harvey mushman]

I need to remember to consult this forum more often...I just tried my hand at this today...bought buffing wheels 'A' and 'B' at Home Depot..with a little rouge kit...stuff looked better than when I started...but reading this post shows me what I missed.
Great info guys ,thanks for sharing!
I buffed the side panel trims up before I re-installed the newly painted plastic parts.

[Stev-o]

I need to remember to consult this forum more often...I just tried my hand at this today...bought buffing wheels 'A' and 'B' at Home Depot..with a little rouge kit...stuff looked better than when I started...but reading this post shows me what I missed.
Great info guys ,thanks for sharing!
I buffed the side panel trims up before I re-installed the newly painted plastic parts.

What are those off of?

[harvey mushman]

What are those off of?

My buddies Yamaha maxim 750 that I painted...not Honda relevant...but somewhat on topic

[JBMorse]

After spending countless hours and lots of money on wheels and compounds, most of my parts just don't look that good after polishing.  Don't know if I'm not being patient enough with each compound or what.  It's tricky to figure out which one to start with (rouge, brown, jeweler's rouge, etc.).  What I have been doing is starting with brown and then using the white rouge, which seems to work pretty well but there's still some stuff I can't get through.  I'll post pictures of what I'm describing maybe in another thread. 
What I would like to know is what is this gray compound?  Is it the only one you used? 

[Stev-o]

After spending countless hours and lots of money on wheels and compounds, most of my parts just don't look that good after polishing.  Don't know if I'm not being patient enough with each compound or what.  It's tricky to figure out which one to start with (rouge, brown, jeweler's rouge, etc.).  What I have been doing is starting with brown and then using the white rouge, which seems to work pretty well but there's still some stuff I can't get through.  I'll post pictures of what I'm describing maybe in another thread. 
What I would like to know is what is this gray compound?  Is it the only one you used? 

 

JB - read this, it will answer all your questions:

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