
Virtually all aluminum can be sanded
and polished to a mirror like shine with a little time and
elbow grease. The first step in the
process is to sand or file any casting pits, marks or
damage with a coarse sanding disc or sand
paper. Next is to then sand the entire
surface with a slightly finer grit until you get rid of all
the previous grits marks. I usually
finish the sanding process with 280 grit paper on a 6 inch
orbital air sander; this will remove the scratches that the
courser sanding media left behind and is fine enough to go
straight to cotton wheels and polishing
compounds. I start the actual polishing
process with a 6 inch sisal sewn wheel chucked in an air
drill and use the emery (black) compound, the compound is
applied by simply holding the stick of compound on the
spinning wheel. As you progress with the
cutting action of the black compound the wheel will start
to get “plugged” with aluminum and extra compound, the
wheel need to be “raked” by spinning the wheel in reverse
against a wire brush, sharp edge or a wheel
rake.
The
black emery compound will produce a relatively deep shine,
but the real deep shine we’re after will come from using a
different spiral sewn cotton wheel with a white
(diamond/rouge) compound. Be sure to use
a different wheel for each compound or fully rake out the
previous compound before applying a new
one.
Villain Motorsports can polish most
aluminum from cast to billet and from small engine brackets
to a set of four rims for your car or
truck. If you would like to try your
hand at polishing aluminum I have included a link to a
great printable instruction booklet from Caswell Plating at
the bottom of the page. Beware! The
process is very messy and time consuming, make sure to wear
the appropriate protective gear; safety glasses, dust mask
and gloves. The aluminum dust is very
hazardous to you’re health so be sure to AT LEAST wear some
kind of breathing apparatus.
Caswell Buffing
Booklet
info@villainmotorsports.ca
(204) 999-1325
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