Who wants to learn to polish? Options

[Ted Carl]

When you are done here, your finish will look like this....

(IMG:http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/9080/finish3mwheelbe4.jpg)

Now when you part looks like this it is time to move down to the next step of abrasives.You need a polishing wheel. Generally speaking I will preach this wisdom; Flat parts, flat tools. Round parts, round tools.

In this case, the metal is hard, and the flats are small, so a wheel works fastest, and can be controlled adequately. This is not true on most aluminum parts, but I'll save that for a later item.
Choose a wheel that is firm for metals. See how this wheel is sewn to the edge of it. The ones that are soft and fluffy are for plastic and stuff.

Choose a compound for " hard metal, removing defects, in this step. Not the most aggressive, but somewhere in the middle of the scheme of things. put some stuff on and do the exact same thing you did on the 3M wheel.
(IMG:http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4014/polishingwheelpixwsxza9.jpg)

The finish you get from this should look like this. You will notice I have left a blemish from the get go, so you can follow it, and see why it has to be done right, and all the damage has to be gone, from step one. Besides, the wedge bolt goes there anyway....lol.
(IMG:http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8128/polishingwheelfinishmd5.jpg)

If you think we are going to stop here, you are nuts....

Now, if you want to you can add some milder polish to the wheel, and get it just a smidge shinier.

Here is where we trasition to Non-Abrasive Polish. Again, Met-All is being used.

Same tools. Same plan. Goop it up. Turn your mouse pad to a fresh side, and go to town. As long as the mouse is leaving swirls on the surface while you are polishing, it is still working. (IMG:http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5628/goopingupju0.jpg)

Do this at least 4 times. Goop, and polish, goop and polish. Each time polish until you think it should be good, then do it again....6 times is better, but 4 is what I did here.

And what do we have to show for 1/2 hours labor time? (and 2 hours typing time, sheesh!, lol)
(IMG:http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9836/donesidelenswsxtj3.jpg)

And I like this one, it looks like the surface of Jupiter, complete with an eye of a storm (the pit). Or a nebula being swallowed by a black hole. Or like liquid Mercury oozing over the top and down the sides......
(IMG:http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2640/meltingfinishedwsxsa3.jpg)

And here we are again....at the

BEFORE....

(IMG:http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2351/boltorigtopwsxog0.jpg)

AFTER 30 minutes of a labor of love. (Or a disease????)
(IMG:http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2597/vbmxshotsd8.jpg)

Cheers!
T

[ December 02, 2006, 06:43 AM: Message edited by: Ted Carl ]

[Kurt.]

Stunning Ted. How could you bring yourself to touch that with a spanner!!!???

[Ted Carl]

Because you remove a smidge of material, you can now use a 6 point socket with a thin cotton cloth inside it.

[Ted Carl]

Here is one source for 3M wheels. I deal with MSC frequently. Their price isn't always the cheapest, but they always have same day shipping, and I have never ever had a problem with them.

I lied, I am using a grade 8 medium density silicon carbide grit wheel.

8s-med

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMPXN...PMT4NO=15014995

$60.49 for the wheel. 29.95 for the 3450 RPM grinder. but the investment is well worth it for our purposes.

[Paul Springer]

quote:

---

Today I am going to prep a bolt to fix my pro neck on my blue Sting that Pauly broke.

---

So what is this going to cost me? LOL

[Guest200901]

Nice work Ted!

At least I know now that being an ex silversmith what I can use all my polishing equipment for.

[Guest200901]

Paul,

quote:

---

So what is this going to cost me? LOL

---

Just don't let him polish your nutz

[ December 02, 2006, 06:30 PM: Message edited by: MarkConley ]

[Ted Carl]

Ooops, there goes the neighborhood! lol ....Pay no attention to the heckler behind the curtain....

Next I will go back to aluminum. Less tools, more detail.

[vrobb3]

damn, your finished products leave me in a daze awesome work

I would assume when sanding the edges of the bolt, you would do each edge for not long at all, few seconds at the most with no really hard pressure.......*side-note* 80 grit belt sander will eat fingernails and finger tips, so go slow and have a good grip and don't be intiminated (sp) when making contact..........or you might be wondering where your fingernail and bolt went........LOL

[joe cool on a Ph...]

OUCH!!!