in question about polishing? (with pics.)

so I thought about buffing and polishing my xj and picked up a few supplies from the hardware store and wal-mart. the process which I used to get the results shown is simple for me. I used a scotch brite green pad (wet) to clean off and remove the yellow, oily layer on the aluminum. afterwords, I used an 800 grit sandpaper in circler motions to try and smooth out the scratches from the green pad. then using a hand drill with 4" cloth wheel and WR1 Dico compound (white), I applied lightly on the aluminum covers and wiped off excess black residue as well as I could.


I just would like the exterior metal to be shined up. I don't plan to take everything apart piece by piece to shine up everything, merely I just wanted to do the job quickly so the engine looks just as good as the body paint. what can you guys recommend I do to reduce the number of scratches and get it looking like chrome and keep it looking shiny?! or does this look well enough for a first timer, that meaning i've never buffed or polished before...just thought I would seek those in which have had this kind of experience before, and thanks in advance!

 

looks good. My bike was bad and i started at 800 grit wet dry paper then went up to the highest grit I could find to get rid of the scratches; then buffed it with white and red jewelers and it came out like crome. Home depot sales a aluminum shine kit made by ryobi that works really good and is only 10 bucks. If you put a little more time in it you will be happy. Looks good man

 

There are already a couple of extensive threads on polishing aluminum. (Search "polishing aluminum" and "aircraft paint remover") You've stumbled upon most of the process already, a couple more supplies and you're there. You can use aircraft paint remover on the old yellowed lacquered overcoat, but it's better if the part is off the bike. You didn't have enough "progression" between the 800 wet and the buffing wheel. 800 wet, followed by 1200 wet and then 1500 wet or even 2000 wet THEN you can use rouge/polishing compound or go right to Mother's. The little $10 Ryobi shine kit from Home Depot is a good deal, and you can get replacement buffs.

I bought this cover off eBay ($10) to replace a "holed" one; it was badly corroded and had quite a bit of road rash, there were three gouges that were too deep to get out but it cleaned up nice otherwise using the method I described above. I use Mothers' "Billet Metal Polish" for maintenance.



I know someone's gonna ask: The insides of the socket and phillips screws I do with a half a q-tip chucked in my cordless drill. You tend to wear out "tools" quickly but it works--one q-tip (one half with polish, followed by the other half dry) per screw. My kids think I'm insane, chucking q-tips in a drill.

 

big:
That cover does sparkle. I'll bet the others are as nice.
Great job. Well worth the effort.

 

Go to Sears and get the polishing kit that includes the and all the neccesary compounds. Then wither remove the part you want to polish and use your drill press to buff them up like chrome. Or leave the part on the bike and use an electric drill to do it. It possible to get the engine components to look like chrome if you follow all the steps.
Those engine side covers stay looking like chrome with minimal effort of a soft cloth every now and then:

 

Big Fitz is bang right, moellear, there is just no short cut, I will say it's a lot easier with the cases on the bench.

 

They could be right, you know?

Of course, this type of insantiy is a really good thing!

 

thanks bigfitz. indeed, I was hoping to hear other methods, and I've probably just needed to get a few finer sandpaper grits, so I'll do so to hopefully bring out some more of the scratches. Thanks guys..
on a happier note, I spent most of today enjoying the ride in record temp. weather of midwest ohio... it was near 65F today!!

 

If you buy a whole Polishing Kit with different buffers, rouges and buffing tools that get into nooks and crannies ... you become addicted to putting a mirror finish on any piece of aluminum attached to your bike!

Pretty soon you get the feel for how much effort any one piece is going to require.

But once you get in the groove ... it's a beautiful thing ... cause you make aluminum look better than chrome!