gj859 wrote on 02/10/08 at 08:36:03:KwakNut, can you give us a supplier of the polishing soaps and alu belgom? Thanks.
I buy AluBelgom off the shelf in my local motor factor, it's widely available in the UK. It's not
much better than Autoglym or Maas, but I think it gives a slightly better finish. It's a bit of a cult product among custom bike builders in the UK. if you can't get any over there, let me know and I can post you some cheap enough - though I think it's about $20 a bottle.
This is a link to the last polishing gear I bought - picked it up on ebay. My old buffing wheels were a bit dog-eared, so I bought a full new kit, same kit and supplier as this link:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-Bench-Grinder-Polishing-Kit-Buffing-Accessories_W0QQi...I'm sure you'll find something similar West of the Atlantic, just try to be sure that whatever kit you buy has a Calico finishing wheel - it's down to the quality of the cotton.
Also, if you don't already have an 8" bench grinder and are looking to buy one, make sure you get the most powerful one you can. polishing is hard work on the electric motor and you'll keep slowing a 250-350W wheel down. If you can get something that's at least 500W, that's better - the more power you have, the less the wheels will slow.
If you have heavy-duty 3-phase electrics, you're laughing all the way to shiny results.