polishing parts?

[low compression]

Im bored as hell this winter and waiting on parts for the t2 and decided to try to polish some parts to contrast all the paint. I guess also to compliment my new fd tb, greddy elbow, and what i hope to become a v mount intercooler and piping. I realize the sanding is key to this now just after starting on my booster vacuum line banjo shit, but how far do most go in grit? I thought 400 would be good but after polishing im not happy with appearance. im using turtle wax polishing compound with a dremel buffer afterwards. Do certain metals not polish as well as others or am i way off on my strategy?

[TitaniumTT]

Way off on the strategy. Go way higher in the grit and use 3M superduty rubbing compound followed by a polish of your choice.

I haven't polished alot of metal parts, but sand up to 1500 then use some 3M finesse for the final. Soooooo maybe go up to 800 - 1000?

[low compression]

Thanks. Ill hit the store in the morning and see what happens.

[NoDOHC]

To polish, I start with 80 grit until uniform, step to 160 until uniform, 240, 400, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000, Polishing compound. You get the idea. If you try to polish metal after 400 grit, a lot of the texture will remain.

[jerd_hambone]

Yeah. Start very coarse, but be extra careful. It will eat through metal rather quickly if you don't watch it.

[low compression]

Well here was todays trial run. Just a quick get the hang of it thing, but it isn't to horrible.

[jerd_hambone]

Not too bad. You find out that the hardest part is getting all the nooks and cranny's.

I polished an old style valve cover for my friends 240, It was a PAIN getting the factory powder coat off, and getting the lines and lettering. Used a lot of paint sticks and such to get in there.

[RETed]

It's not worth it.
Pay a pro polishing shop to take care of you polishing needs.
They can do it a lot faster and at reasonable prices.


-Ted

[low compression]

I agree it may not be worth it , but January in Ohio gets pretty boring too. Im gonna give it another go for the hell of it. And yes jerd the creases sucked and still dont look great.

[low compression]

Yet another probably dumb question. Once i weld my bov flange on my polished intercooler pipe can i get the discoloring out?

[TitaniumTT]

Yeah, you're gonna want to weld that on BEFORE you polish it.

[magus2222]

i went from this: just your average rough cast vw bug alternator
http://www.vwparts.net/mm5/graphics/00000001/alternator.jpg
to this: polished
http://www.vwparts.net/mm5/graphics/00000001/polished%2075%20amp.jpg

not my pics, but it looks exactly the same
i used 80 grit to knock it down to a relatively smooth uniform look
then i stepped up to 100, 200, 500, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, wet sanded, then polished the fuck out it with 2 polishing compounds, course and finishing

it just takes patience. can you do it? of course. will you want to after a few hours? probably not LOL
after doing 1 alternator, i will never polish another part. ill powdercoat before i polish

Lloyd