Who wants to learn to polish? Options

[Ted Carl]

Who wants to learn to polish?

I know more than a few have asked me to do something on the topic. But the question has been the format.

So I decided that the logical choice would be one that progresses. So I am going to start with basic polishing 101 for a few reasons;

1. So you can buy the tools needed to polish a little at a time.

2. So you can have a chance to practice with the 101 class.

3. So I can take my time at doing a thread that makes sense, and leads up to the real bling stuff.

So be patient, and let's try to keep the comments focused on the 101 class, there will be more towards the wicked stuff to come.

For starters there are 2 basic kinds of polishing. First is abrasive. Second is non-abrasive. This 101 class only talks about NON-abrasive polishing with paste type polish.

We are starting with Aluminum and Anodized Aluminum only!


Here we have a set of basic used pedals.

So you ask, what can we do with these to bring them to life?

I would say....follow me. I will show you how to do a no reflection, basic restoration polish.
(IMG:http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2340/beforebothrz9.jpg)

Take a close look at them and remove any dents or damage before you get started. These pedals are going up for auction after I am done with this portion of the presentation, so I am not going to be too fussy with that part of it.

Not only does the aluminum look bad, but the anodized part looks bad too.

Step One. Is there anodizing on it. Colorless or clear, or colored? The most you can do with anodized parts is really make the natural color come out. We will go on to stripping ano much later in the presentation. How can you tell if is clear anodized? In short, if polish does little to the shine, then it is clear anodized. Anodizing is ONLY on aluminum.

For now. I am just going to tell you that these pedals are not anodized except for the gold.
(IMG:http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4355/closeupbeforejc7.jpg)

Step 2. Disassemble them. Degrease them. And give them a bubble bath. Remove all dirt.

Step 3. Choose your weapon. Here is a very much needed tool to do polishing. A multi-speed Dremel with a small cotton/linen wheel. Felt wheels have a use, but mostly they suck.I am going to use Met-All polish. If you want to use mothers or something, that's fine. Again, we are only going to discuss non-abrasive technique for now. If you don't have these tools, put them on your x-mas list.

(IMG:http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/9574/dremelwheelsr9.jpg)

Here is the other weapon of choice. The Black and Decker Mouse Sander Polisher. If you don't have one of these, put it on your x-mas list now! You want the newer one with Gel pads, and tip sanding attachments.

(IMG:http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/2757/mouseat1.jpg)

For starters, lets work with the Dremel.

First little hint. put some paste in the lid and put the lid on the can. 2 reasons. First you don't want the paste to dry up and get thick. Second, (Hear me now, or hear me later!, lol) you don't want to contaminate your paste with junk flying around off the wheel! This will ruin it for any future bling jobs later!

Take some paste.on an acid brush and brush it on. You need paste to get the job done. No dry wheels here. You want it to stay moist and fluid here. The longer it is fluid, the longer it works. Use slow speeds with the wheel. It is not about pressure, it is about contact time, and number of times the wheel goes around on it. If your paste dries up and turns to black goo, you are spinning the wheel too fast and getting it toooooo hot! Slow down, let it work.
(IMG:http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4980/goopingupfv8.jpg)

Now, you will quickly see that you can't get into many of the areas on these pedals.
Here is the next trick.
Take some PLASTIC Q-tips and cut them in half. Try and keep them in 2 separate piles! Keep them oriented! Some are wound backwards to the direction of rotation. Put some goop in the holes, and go to town with the q-tips. Don't spin them too fast, and dont push hard on them. They will tell you that you are doing it wrong when they fly off, and hit you in the forehead.
(IMG:http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5223/qtipsah8.jpg)

Now, if they are the ones that are wound the right way, they will work for a very long time. Sometimes they will grow a booger on the end, but they work really good. Just cut the booger off with a razor blade and keep going.

IF the q-tip flies apart right away, it is wound backwards. Get a new one from the other pile. You will use the backwards ones for clean up, later.

(IMG:http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1441/dremelqtipbooger2ew2.jpg)

Remember, as long as the paste is gooey and black, keep going. If it dries up too fast, you are spinning the tool way too fast.

This tool can get into all the good places that you want to get into. I prefer to do this kind of area first. It is faster, and it just makes for a better finish in the end, you will see why.

Now don't forget to do the inside cut outs of the pedal cages! It's all about the detail!

(IMG:http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1769/dremelholesmx9.jpg)

[ November 27, 2006, 07:30 AM: Message edited by: Ted Carl ]