As above, has anyone had a go at polishing. Is so, what\'s the best kit?
Thanks...
I would use Wet and Dry paper to get it to a smooth finish, working from rough to fine paper, then get some Meguirs metal polysh and finish the job off:
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l49/m1tch_2006/P8010017.jpg)
Thats just me using a tiny bit lol
This looks good man. But is there any specific kit that u can buy that includes all the stuff to get it to this kind of finish. Thanks for the reply.
To be fair the aluminium on that IC was quite smooth already, I have polished an intake manifold on my other car, it takes time and patience. Check out wickes or B and Q for some wet and dry paper, just work from course to fine. Then use some of the meguirs polish to finish it off, the more prep work you do, the better it will be :)
Thanks man, i\'ll try that.
Not sure how good the kits are but I have seen some on ebay before.
As Mitch says though, wet and dry then polish - Can also get from Halfrauds or Motorworld :)
Plenty of elbow grease too !
There are some quite good threads on the subject if you do a search :D A lot of people buy electric drill based kits for doing bigger areas !
I ended up giving up half way through smoothing the plenum (after about 3 days of work) and power coating it !
Shaun
Thanks for all the replies guys, i\'m just trying to make the piping and intercooler look a bit better.
I found this kit, is that any good?
http://www.thepolishingshop.co.uk/acatalog/Standard_Polishing_Kits.html
Quote from: chr007;521437Thanks for all the replies guys, i\'m just trying to make the piping and intercooler look a bit better.
I found this kit, is that any good?
http://www.thepolishingshop.co.uk/acatalog/Standard_Polishing_Kits.html
yes thats what you need to get started. I cannot emphasis enough that all the hardwork is done in the preperation
Thanks
Lee
I use this very kit from the Polishing Shop, but like Lee says, it\'s all about the prep. You have to spend hours with ever finer grades of wet and dry paper (aluminium oxide papers generally work best) before you can even start to use the polishing mops and compound. There are no short cuts, there really aren\'t! A bench grinder makes the polishing part easier if you have one with a pig-tail arbor, generally easier than trying to hold both the work and the drill and keep them consistent to each other. Good luck, and wear a mask and goggles, or you\'ll be coughing up black sh!t for days and look like you\'re wearing mascara!
Thanks for the tips. I didn\'t know u had to use a mask to do this, cheers for telling me man!
I\'m afraid i have more questions, What sort of wet and dry paper do i need (thickness-wise) and where can i get it from? Thanks...
you will need various different grades ranging from rough to smooth and you should be able to get it from halfords or any other motor factors
Thanks
Lee
I know hellfrauds aren\'t very good usually, but they do a \'project pack\' with different grades, check the back of that and it will show what you should use when. Also metal polishing is like paint polishing, scratches made by machine can only be taken out my machine. Personally I do it all by hand, it takes longer, but its worth it cause you can make sure you only take off what you want and not leave gouges in the metal.
Suppose it depends on which branch you use. I picked up 80, 120, 200, 400, 800, 1200 & 1500 grit from mine (there where others but didnt need them :D)
Quote from: chr007;521486Thanks for the tips. I didn\'t know u had to use a mask to do this, cheers for telling me man!
Very good advice, it is a filthy job.
Have done a few pieces in the past as i too bought a abrasive and poilshing kit from the polishing shop. Takes lots or elbow grease and time and is really messy but very satisfying when you results come up looking great :D
Might have another go when i\'ve got more time over the winter. The usual bits, plenum (again), alternator, pipes etc :)
Adam
Ordered the polishing kit today. Will be trying it on the FMIC and piping to start with when its here. Will let u guys know how it goes once i give it a go. Thanks again for all the replies.
Will you do before and after pic\'s too please ?
Remember that wet and dry can be used wet to cut down the dust :)
And I\'d recommend not using any coarser grade paper than 120 at the absolute roughest, or you\'ll spend a load of time trying to polish out the scratches you\'ve put in with the paper! :yes
for the amount of work it is to polish something up good, why not just pay some one lol ...seriously its not normally as bad as you think!
You touting there, dude? I have to say, your polishing does leave most others in the shade, as \'twere, very good stuff. Not as good as mine, clearly (*modest cough*), but not half bad :Giggle
lol...touting? me? lol...nah. Its just a lot easier to pay someone else...i know cos i tried once and got bored after half an hour....low concentration span me. Messy lark too..Your stuff does look mighty good i must say tho Nik.
i was thinking of doing abit of this myself!! but it seems like alot of hard work and as i dont have a garage...i dont think the other half would be too happy with me sanding down metal in the front room while shes watching hollyoaks!!...does anyone know where i can just take the parts and pay to have someone do it for me?
Best bet is to //www.yell.com metal polishers in your area.
Shaun
after reading this thread n trying some diy paint job.. i brought a multi pack paper from halfords 400, 600, 800, 1200 grade.
i was just ment to sand down the primer for my vent light cover but ended up gettin a snading mood n did the end of my kaki exhaust working from 800 to 1200.
looks near as new now. tho think for a really show polish should use 1500 then polish.
also polished the rush off my wipers n sprayed them black again =)
Look for a local \'metal finishing\' company in your yellow pages and then go talk to them. I\'ve taken damaged parts (over-riders) to get dents dressed out before rechroming and got them back looking like they had been plated already.
Be a bit wary and persevere till you find a specialist metal finishing outfit. A lot of general engineering companies offer polishing as a service but sometimes don\'t do a very thorough job - skimping on the difficult areas. Had some alloy cam covers done a few years ago and they came back with bits of the original powder coating still intact in the tricky corners.