Polishing RF900 Swingarm

[bigmatthew46]

I know that RF900 swingarms are aluminum but are they the right grade to be able to be polished? Got my swingarm in waiting on my other parts so I start my swap. It's like waiting on Christmas, I can't wait.

[The CyberPoet]

Any aluminum can be polished, but as soon as fresh aluminum is exposed to air, it will start to oxidize. The best solutions would probably be to leave it as-is, or to locate a powdercoater and ask for sandblasting + a clear powdercoat, or to get it plated (nickel-chrome) at a plater's.

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet

[BlackKatnWV]

If thats true then how do people keep polished frames from oxidizing? My frame never had that problem on my ninja and neither did the swingarm, unless you neglect cleaning it for awhile

[The CyberPoet]

If thats true then how do people keep polished frames from oxidizing? My frame never had that problem on my ninja and neither did the swingarm, unless you neglect cleaning it for awhile

Most polishing compounds intended for aluminum (or for a variety of metals including aluminum) contain some form of wax or plastic to seal the metal in their mix. For example, I use BlueMagic to polish the bare metals on my Kat (control levers, fork tubes, etc), and it has this. But even if I polish today, if I polish tomorrow again, there will be some oxidation on the rag to show that it did happen.

KNOW THIS: Anodizing is just a way of creating that same oxidation at much faster rate, and in a variety of colors.

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet

[Jax]

But isn't oxidation on steel or iron called "rust"??? So if you anodize steel or iron it is just rust in different colors???

Also I heard, I have not verified it, but when you have an aluminum part anodized they actually polish it up first that way it will be shiney under the anodizing color?? I don't know if it's true or not...

[The CyberPoet]

But isn't oxidation on steel or iron called "rust"??? So if you anodize steel or iron it is just rust in different colors???

Yes, oxidized iron is called rust. You don't anodize steel or iron, only aluminum normally. Unlike traditional rusted iron/steel (which is weaker than the metal it was before), the thin anodized aluminum layer on the surface is significantly stronger than the bare aluminum underneath, so there is a practical side to anodizing as well.
When you see white spots on aluminum window frames, etc., that's not anodizing, but minerals (such as calcium or lime) that got caught in the anodized layer. Anodized aluminum is normally a dark charcoal gray or black -- other colors come as a result of adding specific chemicals/minerals to the process.

Also I heard, I have not verified it, but when you have an aluminum part anodized they actually polish it up first that way it will be shiney under the anodizing color?? I don't know if it's true or not...

No clue on that. As far as I know, they simply dip it in acids to clean the part, and then anodize it. Plated parts (such as chrome plating) on the other hand, does require that the part be polished up before hand, otherwise every defect will show through the plating.

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet

[kwebbel]

Also I heard, I have not verified it, but when you have an aluminum part anodized they actually polish it up first that way it will be shiney under the anodizing color?? I don't know if it's true or not...

There are several prepmethods for anodizing, the aluminium can be chemically treated, polished, matted or even sandblasted, depending on the wanted results.
Second step is accelerating oxidation using acid.
Once a piece off aluminium is prepared you've got a open thin hardened layer off "rust" appropriate to bring in some other metal, anorganic or even organic substance depending on the targetted result and color (using electrolytical adhesion)
After that the layer is sealed.