Mikedubs guide to metal polishing

Jon P · 18th January 06, 13:19

How to take something from –

This –

To this –

You will need –

Electric drill

Some kind of disc sander attachment for an electric drill.

Loads of sand paper ranging from 180 grit – 2000 grit.

A polishing kit including – a few polishing mops (rough to smooth) and a few different grade compounds something like this -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/POLISHING-KIT-...-BRASS-COPPER- STEEL-ETC_W0QQitemZ7580639463QQcategoryZ92083QQtcZphotoQ Qcmd ZViewItem

plenty of elbow grease

First you use a 180 grit sand paper on the disc sander and get out as much of the roughness on the surface as possible, the hardest bit is getting in to sand where the sander can’t, you’ll need to do these bits by hand,

Keep going over the surface with the 180 grit paper until it is as smooth as possible, then repeat the process but work through the different papers, so start at 180 grit, then use around 400 gritt, then 800, then 1200, then 1500, then 2000.

Your aim is to get it as smooth as possible as it will only polish up as good as you have sanded it,

Once it is all sanded you set about polishing it, start with the roughest mop and compound and work through the mops and compounds in order of roughest to smoothest, when you are on the soft mop and finest compound you will be amazed with the results. Make sure you don’t contaminate the soft mop with the rough compound.

To do a 16v manifold top and bottom parts it is going to take you at least 10 hours of HARD work and make sure you wear a mask and goggles when sanding and polishing as the amount of poo you breath in is shocking believe me, I was coughing black pooe up for days.

TBH though if I was to do another 16v manifold I would get it painted in heat resistant matt black paint and just sand and polish the flat bit where it says DOHC on, same for a 16v rocker cover just sand and polish the raised lines.

The same procedure applies to almost anything metal, make sure you get steel lacquered if you polish it as it will rust,

Cheers

Mike

18th January 06, 13:19	#1
Jon P Paid Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Pod Posts: 27,997	How to take something from – This – To this – You will need – Electric drill Some kind of disc sander attachment for an electric drill. Loads of sand paper ranging from 180 grit – 2000 grit. A polishing kit including – a few polishing mops (rough to smooth) and a few different grade compounds something like this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/POLISHING-KIT-...-BRASS-COPPER- STEEL-ETC_W0QQitemZ7580639463QQcategoryZ92083QQtcZphotoQ Qcmd ZViewItem plenty of elbow grease First you use a 180 grit sand paper on the disc sander and get out as much of the roughness on the surface as possible, the hardest bit is getting in to sand where the sander can’t, you’ll need to do these bits by hand, Keep going over the surface with the 180 grit paper until it is as smooth as possible, then repeat the process but work through the different papers, so start at 180 grit, then use around 400 gritt, then 800, then 1200, then 1500, then 2000. Your aim is to get it as smooth as possible as it will only polish up as good as you have sanded it, Once it is all sanded you set about polishing it, start with the roughest mop and compound and work through the mops and compounds in order of roughest to smoothest, when you are on the soft mop and finest compound you will be amazed with the results. Make sure you don’t contaminate the soft mop with the rough compound. To do a 16v manifold top and bottom parts it is going to take you at least 10 hours of HARD work and make sure you wear a mask and goggles when sanding and polishing as the amount of poo you breath in is shocking believe me, I was coughing black pooe up for days. TBH though if I was to do another 16v manifold I would get it painted in heat resistant matt black paint and just sand and polish the flat bit where it says DOHC on, same for a 16v rocker cover just sand and polish the raised lines. The same procedure applies to almost anything metal, make sure you get steel lacquered if you polish it as it will rust, Cheers Mike __________________ 8v Appreciation society