I am in the process of putting a windscreen onto my kit car. the provided frame and mounts are aluminium I don't wish to paint these but would like to polish them up I have a polishing wheel attachment on to a drill. Will this work? but the mine question is what compound ? at the moment the metal is rather ruff so will need something abrasive to remove marks etc.. Any idea?
Best way is to use wet and dry, start with a low grade and work your way up to 1000 grade and then use autosol. I used 200 - 340 - 1000, Been doing my swinging arm like this and works very well. Make sure you wet the paper though makes it last longer.
Get the kit off the bay Matt, 3 types of compound and I think 2 kinds of mop and jewellers rouge to finish off, I polished the whole frame and swing arm on my fighter with one kit. I burned out two drills tho
Depends how rough it is Matt, may be an idea to give it a going over with wet and dry first. Frosts do a great polishing kit with all the compounds, used this on my Golf but had to get the casting finish flattened first- I'll some pictures up.
+1 on what they said Solvo Autosol 100% Shame your so far away as I have a polishing wheel and compounds in the garage!
I'll try and get pics up later but feel that wet and dry may be the best bet. I have loads from very coarse to 1500. I used autosol on my drill and polishing attachments but all it did was shine and not remove the deeper scratches
Yes thats the problem Remal, you need to remove the scratches first or you will get nowhere (appart from shinny scratches )
lol I mean I don;t have the pics yet as I have not taken any. the wet and dry paper I mean. I am always happy to have a go first.
After flattening with wet and dry, I used this. http://www.frost.co.uk/standard-polishing-kit.html Resulting in this
pretty much what I got dave. But as said the scratches are deep as its a very basic ruff cut bit of aluminium. So will use the metals polish and hard cut before polishing with something to buff up
Sand them back, I HATE autosol it causes a chemical reaction with moisture and eats aluminum, cutting pastes are a problem will alloy as they fill the micro pours and often react later on leaving a white powder. Cutting soaps are what you need but you need a motor with enough power to melt the soaps to release the abrasives that will polish the alloy, alloy up close is like the rocky mountains and when you polish it your are in fact rounding off the tops this is what reflects the light and give a polished effect, once shiny I use simple wax to keep it tip top, will last for 10 years if looked after. Been doing alloy etc for 20 years or more My XJR has a little polished alloy See thepolishingshop.co.uk for gear.
Cheers art will do mate. I've spent a short time with 600 wet and dry and looks much better already. I know I need to take my time with this
Biggest problem with some polishing is like yours the size! DA sanders and 2k disc will give a mirror finish mate, then mops. You always welcome to use my gear.
Like Art said, getting you may struggle polishing with a drill. I use my kit on a bench grinder- can this easily be taken off the car?
I have a bench grinder and a polishing wheel just never seen if they will fit together. I can't do much at the moment as I am in the middle of fitting the frame and screen at the moment. Once I know it fits 100% I will take it off and have a go. I'm more than happy sitting down polishing my bits
I can do it for HOURS. Just as the wife. I do enjoy polishing my helmet as well. keeping it nice and shiny
