Polishing Aluminum

[Stormy320]

Does anyone have any tips on good ways to Polish Aluminum until it has a nice shine.

Steal Wool, Wet Sand, any thoughts?

Thanks

[perryeyges]

Never use steel wool on aluminum as tiny slivers will become embedded in the softer aluminum and cause a rusting effect which will be next to impossible to eliminate. Emery paper of increasing grits followed by various buffing compounds will do the trick.

[Stormy320]

Thanks for the tip.

Not sure what Emory Paper is (Is that the same as sandpaper) and where would I get it?

Also, where would I find polishing compounds.

Thanks

[perryeyges]

Emery cloth (or paper) is cloth backed and grit faced specifically designed for sanding metals. There are many types of grit from garnet to diamond designed for different applications.

[a squared]

Which parts are you polishing?

[Stormy320]

I have to confess...it's not Lotus related, It obviously could be.

I'm building an R2D2 with an aluminum dome. Needed some advise on polishing his dome.

[SweetDaddyD]

Go to Eastwood.com You will find everything you need to polish with. Compounds, bobs, etc.

How harsh you have to get depends on what you start with. Use progressively finer sandpapers or emory paper until you get pretty smooth. Then switch to rubbing compound, then polishing compound and eventually you will have a mirror finish (and less skin on your fingers!) I took the intake manifold of my New Beetle from a textured cast finish to a mirror like shine in about 13 straight hours, a few beers, and a week of growing my fingerprints back. I like Wenol polish and use all 3 compounds, you really can see a difference in the shine as you move from the red to blue, then seal it with the pink (just soft carnuba) and it really does last a long time.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Stormy320

I have to confess...it's not Lotus related, It obviously could be.

I'm building an R2D2 with an aluminum dome. Needed some advise on polishing his dome.

You too... I am just waiting on a frame to have 2/3 of it built. I already have the legs pieces. Mine is an all metal droid.

[Bill]

Having built 3 Factory Five Cobra's, I can give you some good reading. The FFR's are built with aluminum panels, so many people do polishing.

The simple answer is to find some Pro Liquid Polish. That stuff works great. I think it is made of clorox and kerosene. Really. The guy who makes it can make it with off the shelf products and that's what it looks like and smells like.

Here's an article for polishing cast parts: http://www.ffcobra.com/magazine/polishing101.html

For sheets of aluminum or suspension parts go to forum area of that site and do a search for "polishing aluminum. The guys on that site are experts on this subject.

- Bill

[Stormy320]

Originally Posted by Samurai

You too... I am just waiting on a frame to have 2/3 of it built. I already have the legs pieces. Mine is an all metal droid.

Been working on mine for 5 years and it's only a Static R2. I'm just about done painting all the blue pieces. It looks fantastic, but I can't wait until it is done.

It's been great fun, but it's time to finish and go to something else.

I assume your a member of the R2 Builders Club?

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Stormy320

Been working on mine for 5 years and it's only a Static R2. I'm just about done painting all the blue pieces. It looks fantastic, but I can't wait until it is done.

It's been great fun, but it's time to finish and go to something else.

I assume your a member of the R2 Builders Club?

Oh yea... I am a member. expensive hobby. I currently need aluminum logic boxes to finish my dome, a frame to start the body, and my booster covers to come in to finish the legs. My R2 will be a 2-3-2 Pc controled, with RC as a backup.