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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2021
    Location
    Adelaide
    Age
    73
    Posts
    117

    Default Final polish on some bits.

    I stripped the clear coat off the side panels because the polishing wasn't good enough. Interestingly, After soaking the 2k clear just wiped off the blasted inner surface, the outer polished surface was a different matter, had to scrub and scrub and scrub to get it off.

    Then I polished again: Sisal and black, sewn cloth and white and then loose leaf cloth with green. Finish was pretty good, but I wanted better so finished off with a loose leaf Swansdown mop and green compound. Normal loose leaf cloth mops are calico, Swansdown is a finer, softer material providing a better finish. But don't be fooled, all mops, sisal, calico and even Swansdown mops leave streaks in the aluminium, you just have to look closely. You can reduce the streaks by polishing in different directions leaving a cross hatch finish, again, if you look close enough. Polishing with a very soft touch will reduce the streaking even further.

    The compound is what does the polishing, don't use enough compound and all you'll produce is heat. Compounds when running lean will leave little globs on the surface of the material, particularly around holes and edges, particularly green compound.

    I use Silvo as a final hand polish, Silvo has a finer texture than aluminium polishes such as Meguires and Autosol, so provides a better finish. Final polishing with Silvo and a microfibre cloth will also scratch the material, particularly if used in a circular motion. So, take note of the direction in which the streaks run, polish with the microfibre in the same direction, streaks are then less noticeable. These streaks are hardly noticeable unless you look very, very closely and are very, very fussy, not something you would normally notice.

    I've been at it for over 55 years, so I'm very fussy. Here's some final polishing I did today; side panels, engine mounts and a filter mount I made some time ago. Aluminium will never polish up like chrome or stainless, it is a more 'subdued' shine, which I prefer. Nevertheless, it does come up nice providing a good mirror finish. In pic three you can see the hairs on my fingers..
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Willowbank QLD
    Posts
    515

    Default

    Nice work and good description. Do you put a wax or something similar on the finished product so it retains its shine?

    Thanks

    Steve

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2021
    Location
    Adelaide
    Age
    73
    Posts
    117

    Default

    There are a range of optionS, top of the heap is bright dipping, similar to anodising, but the finish is very bright, most often used for reflective surfaces such as torches. Good luck finding anyone who does it though as it uses some very toxic chemicals, not backyard stuff. Cerakote 5100 is another option, but difficult to find and expensive. Then there are clear coats specifically for polished aluminium such as Glisten and Everbright, but again, expensive.

    I'll just be using 2k, the bike will never see the road while I have it, so it should last a while.

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