polishing...

[TRX450rRoostin]

can you guys give me some addvice on how to polish things.....do you just sand it using low to high grit....and then using some compound to polish it? can you guys give me some steps to do...

[HONDA_RIDER250]

What do you want to polish? I polished my engine with steel wool, it worked great and looks awesome. If you are talking about things like rims, exhaust, nerf bars, etc, use mothers polish.

[Pappy]

i surely am not an expert....but ill tell ya what i know


depending on what your polishing you may need way more then a can of mothers and a rag:p

usually a person who polishes regularly will have a decent sized buffing motor and good quality buffing wheels and an assortment of different compounds to work the metal into a brilliant shine.

sometimes a fine grit sand paper can speed along the process if the metal has deep scratches or a textured surface. i used a sanding disc to remove the factory surface on my shifter, then worked it down with red rouge compound. it was high polished with white compound and the last step was green compound. just to do this shifter (polishing only not including the powdercoating) took every bit of an hour.

try a few of these sites for the tools you will need....and some offer forums for help and tips.

www.caswellplating.com
www.eastwoodcompany.com

[Pappy]

if you take your time and do a bit of studying, you will be satisfied with your work.

[HONDA_RIDER250]

A buffer? Go with a case of beer and a tub of mothers :p But really don't listen to me...

[whiteboarder]

here are some stuff i have done. i also polish for people


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/ped81c4e61856a184afa1551f8f78d7dd/f6b7744c.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p0a4317eb9742be3ed5e9326d3532928f/f6b77448.jpg

[TRX450rRoostin]

thanks for the info guys......i always though you had to sand first.....going to low to high grit and then use some compound and a buffer

[rider250ex]

can you just toss a buffing wheel on a bench grinder? or are the speeds different?

[TRX450rRoostin]

ya i was woundering that too.....bc i have a bench grinder..

[Pappy]

yes you can use a bench grinder, but its been my expierence that it takes forever and before you get a truely polished part you will tire of doing it:p

sand in a circle..call it a day

[ZRider400]

:devil:



http://www.bvcustom.com/polishing/polished450rshifter.jpg

http://www.bvcustom.com/polishing/seanparts.JPG

[jahaiap]

how did you get the texture off that 400 brake fluid reservoir? im looking into doing this stuff on my own 400

[Rootar]

please tell me what grit sand paper i need to polish like that i have polish and bufferwheels i want my bars, throttle cover, brake cover, and levers to look like the ones pictured trust me i have plenty of time to do it

[alberndt]

I am doing my brake res. right now and am sanding it all by hand with 100 grit. This removes the texture and gives you a good base to start with. Then i will go to 150 grit and then 220 grit wetsandpaper. After 220 grit its up to you if you want to use a buffer or keep wet sanding with higher grits (I've had great results both ways). I would get a good polish, like from an automotive paint store, I use a brand called Wizards. It all comes down to the time and effort you put into it. I'm not a professional (a friend of mine is) but this has worked for me. good luck.

[crap-banshee32]

Originally posted by HONDA_RIDER250
A buffer? Go with a case of beer and a tub of mothers :p But really don't listen to me...

mothers wont take off the factory paint..or pc if it is, it will not smooth the surface of any scratches or nic's either.


but if what u are polishing had already been polished b4, and clean of paint and smooth, a tub of mothers will work just fine
!

[popo]

Just Chrome it and avoid the hassles of rebuffing the part over and over and over again.

[450 Racer R]

Originally posted by alberndt
After 220 grit its up to you if you want to use a buffer or keep wet sanding with higher grits (I've had great results both ways).

You could get a polished part without having to use a buffer? It makes sense... Has anyone else had success with this?

[Pappy]

the sanding process is to level and smooth the metal. alot of parts do not need any sanding.


run a search on the net for polishing and study up a bit. the time you save may be your own:p

and i agree with popo...if you can swing it get stuff chromed

[flyingbyfast400]

I dont mean to take over the thread... I just have a qucik question. Whats it cost to chrome parts? sub-farme, motor mnts, side covers and such.. just a ruff price would be fine...
Thanks Vic

[Rootar]

send popo a pm he does that stuff

[flyingbyfast400]

ok thanks....

[phatswinn]

i polish alot of stuff in machine shop, turns out like a mirror, i use 400 grit, then 600, 900, 1500, then 2000 grit, then hit it int he buffer on the lathe with whatever compoud i find, its alot like clay
anyway it takes about half an hour just cuz i have everything i need on hand

[ZRider400]

:o
http://www.**********.net/images/logos/seanbars.JPG
http://www.**********.net/images/quads/crkickershifter.JPG
http://www.**********.net/images/quads/polishedcover-brakemc.jpg