1. Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

Polishing Your Aluminum Parts

Discussion in 'XJ DIY How-To Videos' started by XJOE550, Nov 24, 2014.

  1. XJOE550

    XJOE550 Active Member

    Messages:
    446
    Likes Received:
    75
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Inverness, FL
    Here a set of four clips I did on polishing aluminum. Hope it will give some encouragement to anybody out there thinking about adding some bling to their XJ.




     
    DarbyC, jsmith800, Rusty81 and 4 others like this.
  2. Ted

    Ted Member

    Messages:
    432
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Sioux Falls, SD
    Holy Christ - I need a buffing wheel STAT! :)

    Nice work man.
     
  3. XJOE550

    XJOE550 Active Member

    Messages:
    446
    Likes Received:
    75
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Inverness, FL
    Finished the forks the other day.
    20141221_113439.jpg
    20141221_113800.jpg
     
    DarbyC, Nikos, RTRay and 3 others like this.
  4. FtUp

    FtUp Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,309
    Likes Received:
    94
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    pacific northwest
    those look awesome! much better than the ratty old black finished ones.

    CN
     
    Nikos likes this.
  5. DarinAdkins

    DarinAdkins Member

    Messages:
    67
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Dallas,TX
    Awesome bro this vid helped me a lot
     
  6. Skwerly

    Skwerly Member

    Messages:
    276
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Yucaipa, CA
    Heck yea, good work!
     
  7. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    9,751
    Likes Received:
    2,093
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Beaver Falls, PA
    What's your plans for the bolts that go back in all those shiny parts?
     
  8. XJOE550

    XJOE550 Active Member

    Messages:
    446
    Likes Received:
    75
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Inverness, FL
    Usually, I try to polish them, but some start rusting again after time. I guess any anti-rust coating is compromised by that point. I prefer purchasing stainless steel versions from Fastenal. I could get SS from Ace but the cost runs two to three times as much from them. On the larger bolts, the cost difference can really add up.
     
  9. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    9,751
    Likes Received:
    2,093
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Beaver Falls, PA
    i do Mcmaster-Carr for SS bolts. Caswell's has "plug-n-plate" kits i used on some of the big stuff, you can use it after the part is on the bike
     
    dirtmax and FtUp like this.
  10. cutlass79500

    cutlass79500 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,226
    Likes Received:
    51
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    lawrenceville georgia
    Good job people do not realize how easy it is with a bench buffer. You even have the same harbor freight one that i do. They are tough. I recently bought the big 3/4 hp model. I use both since your not suppose to use different compounds on the same bonnet. Mothers works good. I like the shine on purple metal polish its seems brighter. And i use the buffer with a new pad to take it off its a liquid but i use mothers first. As long as you keep them out of the rain and wipe the aluminum off after washing you can get away with a quick hand polish once a year or so. Here is a before and after with a few coats of metal polish 001 (9).JPG
     

    Attached Files:

    dirtmax, Chance and XJOE550 like this.
  11. XJOE550

    XJOE550 Active Member

    Messages:
    446
    Likes Received:
    75
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Inverness, FL
    Wow, I just looked this product up. Not cheap. But I agree with you on the Mother's polish, It actually does take a tad of the shine away after I finish buffing. But, I always like to finish off with the Mother's since it has a wax that will add longevity to the shine. Not sure what kind of wax it contains, but I know that silicone type waxes will dull the shine on aluminum. Normally, I only have to hit a piece with Mother's once a year after the initial buffing. But thanks for the tip, I may give Purple metal polish a try. One thing I may mention, with the proper cutting and polishing compounds, I have seen people bypass the sanding process and solely use the buffing wheel with just as good results. I imagine they can do this as long as there are no scratches/imprefections in the part.
     
    Toomanybikes likes this.
  12. cutlass79500

    cutlass79500 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,226
    Likes Received:
    51
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    lawrenceville georgia
    Chance and Kris Taylor like this.
  13. XJOE550

    XJOE550 Active Member

    Messages:
    446
    Likes Received:
    75
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Inverness, FL
    Nice! Do you know if it helps remove bluing from a header?
     
  14. Skwerly

    Skwerly Member

    Messages:
    276
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Yucaipa, CA
    wooooow, that's insane!
     
  15. cutlass79500

    cutlass79500 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,226
    Likes Received:
    51
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    lawrenceville georgia
    I don't know i can check this weekend . I like it a lot i should be their rep lol i use it after white ruge when i am buffing also it protects metal really good. But everyone is different this works well for me everyone has their favorites. Works great on stainless also this header is 18 years old with 22k miles 005.jpg
     
    Chance likes this.
  16. Tim morris

    Tim morris Active Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    39
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Hopatcong NJ 07843
    Love it thanks
     
  17. Chance

    Chance Member

    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Rockland, Ontario, Canada
    Beautiful pieces I will remember to try this. like the zing it gives.
     
  18. Tomq

    Tomq Member

    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    New Zealand
    These look great, I was going to paint my covers but I just bought an old bench polisher so I can do this. How did you get into the little niggly bits, eg around the bolts etc, with the polisher or was there a bit of hand polishing involved too?

    Cheers!
     
  19. GoCrazy

    GoCrazy Member

    Messages:
    69
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Poland
    Do you spray the covers with clear coat to project it from alu oxidation?
     
  20. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    13,199
    Likes Received:
    3,854
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Great North Woods
    you can use a dremel to get the the hard to get spots.

    you can clear coat or wax
     
    DarbyC likes this.

Share This Page