Polishing aluminum...
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 148
From: Northwest
Polishing aluminum...
Hey for you guys that DIY, what's you're best method for polishing up some 6061 billet. Mind you I'm not talking 're-polish'.
I'm going to be having some machined and welded in the near future, but will do the finishing work myself.
thanks in advance
I'm going to be having some machined and welded in the near future, but will do the finishing work myself.
thanks in advance
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 631
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From: MA
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,380
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From: ,,
What are you polishing/having made?
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 148
From: Northwest
I'm building my own air cleaner. There are aspects of the Heavy Breather, Forcewinder, and Kuryakyn's Corsair, that I like.... but 'everyone' has the heavy breather, Forcewinder I'm just not sure about, and the Corsair sticks way the heck out.
So since I'm incorporating aspects of ancient archery into my bike, I have designed a baseplate that mounts to the throttle body with connections to the breather ports, that is in the approximate shape of an ancient arrowhead pointed down. The intake tube will be welded to the outside plate, which bolts on to the baseplate, and will use a K&N filter. So I will be polishing up the sides of the baseplate, and the whole of the outside plate/intake tube.
So since I'm incorporating aspects of ancient archery into my bike, I have designed a baseplate that mounts to the throttle body with connections to the breather ports, that is in the approximate shape of an ancient arrowhead pointed down. The intake tube will be welded to the outside plate, which bolts on to the baseplate, and will use a K&N filter. So I will be polishing up the sides of the baseplate, and the whole of the outside plate/intake tube.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 575
Likes: 1
From: WI
That seems like a pretty small piece. I would hand polish it, unless you have money to burn an buying misc wheels and compounds. I polished the tunnel of my old snowmobile by hand using mothers billet polish and microfiber towels. Here's what it looked like when I was done.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 1
From: ,,
I'm building my own air cleaner. There are aspects of the Heavy Breather, Forcewinder, and Kuryakyn's Corsair, that I like.... but 'everyone' has the heavy breather, Forcewinder I'm just not sure about, and the Corsair sticks way the heck out.
So since I'm incorporating aspects of ancient archery into my bike, I have designed a baseplate that mounts to the throttle body with connections to the breather ports, that is in the approximate shape of an ancient arrowhead pointed down. The intake tube will be welded to the outside plate, which bolts on to the baseplate, and will use a K&N filter. So I will be polishing up the sides of the baseplate, and the whole of the outside plate/intake tube.
So since I'm incorporating aspects of ancient archery into my bike, I have designed a baseplate that mounts to the throttle body with connections to the breather ports, that is in the approximate shape of an ancient arrowhead pointed down. The intake tube will be welded to the outside plate, which bolts on to the baseplate, and will use a K&N filter. So I will be polishing up the sides of the baseplate, and the whole of the outside plate/intake tube.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore
Look into NuVite. It is a three step process. I use in on the spinners on aircraft. It is what most Airstream owners use. It's not real cheap, but it does work well. You can use your hands or a buffing wheel. Take your time and it should shine right up.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 848
Likes: 0
From: Lake Jackson, TX
Wet sand the imperfections out using 400. Moving up to 600 then 1000, then 1500, then 2000. After wet sanding with 2000 the filish should be flawless but dull, use a quality aluminum polish and your results will look like a mirror.
I've done this many times with airplane spinners.
I've done this many times with airplane spinners.
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Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 148
From: Northwest
That seems like a pretty small piece. I would hand polish it, unless you have money to burn an buying misc wheels and compounds. I polished the tunnel of my old snowmobile by hand using mothers billet polish and microfiber towels. Here's what it looked like when I was done.
