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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    78

    Default Polishing, polishing, polishing.

    Did a little polishing of the XS over the last couple of days.   Happy with the results but what a filthy job.   Looked like an indigenous person with a nose job after.   This is the left side cover, took a couple of hours to do, still have heaps more to do:   right side cover, rocker covers, carb tops, lower sliders, hubs, rims, master cylinder, +++!   Before and after pictures:

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,444

    Default

    Problem now is keeping it that way
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,416

    Default

    It's very rewarding seeing the final results.
    If I keep my truck polishing up it's about 7 days work, if I don't it's 10 days plus.
    Using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    1,105

    Default

    What polish are you using to do it? I used to used Autosol in the past with good results, just wondering if there is anything better out there now?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,416

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Com_VC View Post
    What polish are you using to do it? I used to used Autosol in the past with good results, just wondering if there is anything better out there now?
    20 plus years ago I polished my tray with autosol, never again lol.
    I was introduced to buffing wheels and compounds and saw the light of day to easier polishing.
    This site might help, after sanding I use 3 different compounds and buffing wheels for aluminum and one more for stainless. I still do all my finishing with autosol or equivalent by hand.
    Also look up airway buffing wheels, there are cheap alternatives as well.
    DC supershine on Facebook is a great resource, his work on full size trucks is amazing.
    Using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,416

    Default

    Using Tapatalk

  7. #7
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,183

    Default

    In 2007 I built an all ally chainsaw mill. Once I'd mastered sharpening the chain it became the one bit of machinery I've made that exceeded my expectations.
    One winters evening I inadvertently started polishing the ally and then of course I couldn't stop.
    complete-mill2.jpg

    ChainAccess.jpg

    Scams.jpg

    In 2009 it was modified to take bigger chainsaw and a longer bar and got re-polished - this photo was taken some time after that.
    880bigBILMill.jpg

    When its polished it's definitely a lot easier to remove the caked on sawdust, sap, resin and bar oil etc.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    78

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Com_VC View Post
    What polish are you using to do it? I used to used Autosol in the past with good results, just wondering if there is anything better out there now?
    Polishes like that are only good for bring up the shine on surfaces that have been polished properly using mops.

    It's at least a two stage process, three being better. Start with a sewn sisal mop using white or brown rouge, this is called first cut, it takes a bit of time and basically just flattens the lumpy, uneven bits, minor scratches and dents and casting marks After that you graduate to gradually softer cloth mops, finishing with a loose leaf cloth mop. For the final polish I use green rouge which is normally used for chrome.

    Brown and white rouge bars are for stainless and aluminium, green is usually used for chromed surfaces.

    There are a myriad of rouge bars and just as many sewn and loose leaf mops, start rough and work your way to soft. Only after the surface has been polished with this process can you use products like autosol. It's not a quick process but it can be sped up if the item is sanded smooth with very, very fine sandpaper, particularly useful if the surface is not flat.

    The item pictured was pretty rough as you can see but, I only used sisal and cloth mops, took 2-3 hours to do, so you can guess how long the whole bike is going to take.

    Oh, and it is a filthy job, you get covered in sisal and cloth discards along with rouge, best done with a bunny suit and full face shield.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    1,105

    Default

    When I was doing it I used 400 grit wet and dry to get all the imperfections out and then used Autosol. I was happy with the results I was getting at the time. I might try these buffing wheels and compounds.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,910

    Default

    You are all sick individuals!
    I spent way too long polishing parts for truck drivers. So long that I became good at it.
    I hate polish if I have to do it!

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