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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Anyone polished the aluminum? /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1640560767 Message started by TZK on 12/26/21 at 15:19:26 |
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Title: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by TZK on 12/26/21 at 15:19:26 I'd like to get the aluminum flywheel and clutch cover to shine like the chrome pieces behind them. Any suggestions from people that have done this or know how to do it? I'm guessing that the aluminum has some coating on it to prevent oxidation and this must be removed first, right? Any help would be greatly appreciated! |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by och on 12/26/21 at 15:24:53 You can polish it to a mirror finish just like stainless steel, but right after you need to protect it with clear coat against oxidation. |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/26/21 at 15:47:39 400g 800g 1,200g 2,000g All lubed with WD-40. Polish with a polishing wheel. If you don’t ride in the rain, you’ll never need to polish them again. |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by Dave on 12/26/21 at 15:49:35 I did it to my bike in 2012. I used "Aircraft" stripper to remove the clear coat, then progressive grits of sandpaper to get the aluminum smooth and shiny (320 and 360 on corroded places - then 400, 600 on smooth areas) - then used a buffing wheel to get the shine. If you don't have the power equipment then you need to keep going with the finer grits of sandpaper (800, 1000, 1500, 2000) and buff by hand using clothes and polish. I have tried lots of different metal polish including Flitz, Simichrome, and others. The best I have ever found is the polish from Griots Garage. It keeps the metal from tarnishing longer than the others. My bike is stored indoors and I try to avoid riding in the rain whenever possible. I need to clean/polish the aluminum once or twice each year to keep it looking good. If you bike is stored outdoors and/or gets wet often you will need to do it more than I do. I never put my bike away wet - except if we are camping and it gets rained on I don't have a choice. Shiny aluminum looks great - but it is more work to keep it nice. If your bike is a commuter and/or sits outside - I am not sure you want to have bare aluminum......it will be a lot of work. |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by TZK on 12/26/21 at 18:24:51 Thanks, guys for the advice. I'm thinking of ordering this sanding kit. The discs are 2 inch. Is that a good size? https://www.amazon.com/Sanding-80-3000-Sandpaper-Buffering-Assortment/dp/B07QXXYY3S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by Dave on 12/27/21 at 02:03:46 I don't believe that kind of a sander will work very well on the engine cases. The swirly action that results from trying to use a drill powered disc on a curved surface will be very difficult (impossible) to control. This is how a professional would do it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qDC1b-1WhI This is how you do it by hand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZzRmj-fXTY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaBiKHDOlzE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaBiKHDOlzE |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by TZK on 12/27/21 at 10:02:03 Thanks, Dave. I was under the impression that it would be too labor intensive to do this by hand but if that guy can do his whole airboat then I'm sure I can do the motorcycle. I'll be sure to post photos when it's done. BTW my bikes are garaged and the S40 will be used mainly as a learner bike for my wife so it won't be used in the rain |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/27/21 at 14:44:34 I love rebuilding motorcycles but despise the process of restoring the metal parts. So I built a vapor blaster. If you restore a lot of things, I highly recommend it. Here is a before photo… |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/27/21 at 14:45:11 After (and painted) |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by Dave on 12/27/21 at 15:11:43 32383C363D343039676165550 wrote:
I want one! The past couple of years I have drooled on the display models they had for sale at the Barber Vintage Festival. |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by Armen on 12/27/21 at 15:12:59 My bud has a vapor blaster. It changed my whole outlook on life! |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by ckahleer on 12/27/21 at 15:29:46 040E0A000B02060F515753630 wrote:
OK, I'm sold. But how do you build a vapor blaster? |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/27/21 at 17:29:00 I will post a how to. |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by TZK on 12/28/21 at 10:52:52 Just wondering, could you reapply a clear coat with a rattle can to protect the aluminum after it's polished? |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by badwolf on 12/28/21 at 13:09:56 Normal rattlecan clear can do a so-so job on parts that don't heat up, like the fork lowers, triple clamps, and risers. But won't hold up on the engine. There is some 2 part epoxy rattlecan clear you can get, but it costs more and once you break the seal you must use it up in a day or two. https://www.amazon.com/Spray-Refinishing-Permanent-Surfaces-3680061/dp/B0043B7UQY/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1640725683&sr=8-1&srs=20270444011 |
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Title: Re: Anyone polished the aluminum? Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/28/21 at 14:38:50 A vapor blaster how to has been posted in the technical documents section. |
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