pics after polishing
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,346
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From: Texarkana, TX
pics after polishing
I had been wanting chrome lowers but decided to hand polish them and save some $$$. They actually came out pretty good,... looks alot better than before and shines like the chrome on the uppers. It was a little time consuming and started wetsanding with 320 grit wet/dry sand paper and then went to 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, and finished with 2000. I then took some mothers aluminum polish and it brought out a good shine.
John
John
Novice
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16
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RE: pics after polishing
It does look good. Did you take the forks off to do that? The forks on my Suzuki were pitted so I started to polish them, but decided it was too much work so I fixed the problem by buying a new FLHTC. I have a nice Intruder with half polished forks for sale if anyone is interested.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: pics after polishing
ORIGINAL: jmbear328
I had been wanting chrome lowers but decided to hand polish them and save some $$$. They actually came out pretty good,... looks alot better than before and shines like the chrome on the uppers. It was a little time consuming and started wetsanding with 320 grit wet/dry sand paper and then went to 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, and finished with 2000. I then took some mothers aluminum polish and it brought out a good shine.
I had been wanting chrome lowers but decided to hand polish them and save some $$$. They actually came out pretty good,... looks alot better than before and shines like the chrome on the uppers. It was a little time consuming and started wetsanding with 320 grit wet/dry sand paper and then went to 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, and finished with 2000. I then took some mothers aluminum polish and it brought out a good shine.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 3
From: Texarkana, TX
RE: pics after polishing
Well,... I agree its not for someone who dont want to clean their bike very often as the aluminum will need basic polishing every so often. I did it on my Dyna Superglide and I used some mothers aluminum polish about once a month or so to keep them looking nice. Its not too difficult at all, but then again I'm a neat freak as well.It took me about 2 hours to do them both and I just masked off the fender and started sanding. Also,... be careful around the top chrome fork uppers they are really sharp. I have several cuts now to prove it. Just a lil basic maintaince will keep em looking nice and shiney.
John
John
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 389
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From: Doylestown, PA
RE: pics after polishing
Nice job! I think they look pretty sweet! I wounder if a nice coat of a high quality wax or something of that sort will protect them a bit longer like the clearcoat does on the chrome lowers...
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,346
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From: Texarkana, TX
RE: pics after polishing
Actually after you polish and buff them out a good wax might prolong the polishing a bit but in the end,... once or twice a month isnt that bad. Will take only appx 10 minutes to shine them back up, and you can use the money you save to buy other goodies,....LOL
John
John
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RE: pics after polishing
When I did that on my Fatboy my final process was buffing them with either a dremel or my air sander with a buffer wheel and some jewellers rouge and various other compounds . It brings the shine up ten fold. I use an 8 inch bench grinder with a buffing wheel on it to polish up the numerous bolts on the engine.( primary cover bolts, cam chest bolts etc.) I have yet to do the front forks on my EG Classic but eventually I will get there.
Kent
Kent
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,268
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RE: pics after polishing
you could get some stuff called zoops and once you get them polished like you want them coat them with that and they'd stay shiny a long time. It's made to coat aluminum wheels. What you've done looks sharp by the way, if you could hit them with a buffing wheels and some compund they'd shine like chrome, then put the sealer on em