polishing engine covers

[bigbike-r]

hi i want to polish my engine covers - i figure i can remove all the paint with nitro-morse but what do i polish it with to get that mirror clean look

i dont want them chroming or anything i just wanna polish them up so i got something to do!

cheers guys n gals

[md86]

I imagine you polish them like any other part . Start with sandpaper , I THINK it was some rough stuff like 400 grit , then get finer . I'd have a little search though and see if someone has some better info .I'm sure they HAVE .

[bigbike-r]

yup sin assures me corn starch will do the job

in the sin we trust

[KRAZYKAT]

CORN STARCH? WTF!?!

[bigbike-r]

yup....... ask sin dunno myself but if sin says it will work ...... chances are it will!!!

[tzortn]

Maybe cornstarch would work as a final polishing agent. Afterall waltnut shells are commom media for tumbling. MD hit the nail on the head you need to start with something coarser to get the paint off them work your way to finer media. I like water based polishing compounds. Remember to seal everything with a good clearcoat so the cover stays bright.

[bigbike-r]

yeah im gonna use nitro-morse to get the paint off!

i used it on the tank from my tzr and it took it all off down to the metal real easy to use....... not for plastics though
mate of mine used it on fairings and it melted them to a pile of ...well melted plastic!!

[Anonymous]

Maybe cornstarch would work as a final polishing agent. Afterall waltnut shells are commom media for tumbling. MD hit the nail on the head you need to start with something coarser to get the paint off them work your way to finer media. I like water based polishing compounds. Remember to seal everything with a good clearcoat so the cover stays bright.

yeah cornstarch as a final step there something in it that helps keep alum from oxidizing why but it works

[Astro4x4]

I started to polish mine too, but I'm going to clear them with the same clear that you would use on a polished automotive wheel.

[loudnlow7484]

Wow, cornstarch? Strange.

I use paint stripper, then start with something like 600-800 grit sanding, to 1000 grit wetsanding, then something like 1500-2000 grit (like sanding with a paper towel), and finally a high speed polishing wheel on a die grinder covered with Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish. Apparently you should then use corn starch, because in my experience, Sin knows his s**t.

If your covers are brand new, and flawless, then you could probably just go from paint stripping to polishing. I've never polished anything that was without light scratches, though.

[KRAZYKAT]

so this corn starch thing;obviously you have to mix it with some water , right? should it look like a paste, a liquid, or what? and should you apply it at high speeds, or by hand?

[bigbike-r]

sin??

[Astro4x4]

I use polishing rouge as a final once over, makes aluminum look like chrome when done. Corn starch is new on me, but I would imagine it does the same thing as the rouge.