Author Topic: Rainy Day polishing project  (Read 575 times)

Offline Canuck750

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Rainy Day polishing project
« on: July 02, 2022, 07:24:36 PM »
Rain all day, a good opportunity to clean up some aluminum engine side covers.

I gave the side covers a light cleaning on the vapour blast cabinet, juts to reveal the overall surface condition, not necessary but it helps to see the surface clearly.

Typical condition of 50+ years old aluminum, some deep scratches and gouges, plenty of pits



I start with 220 grit dry paper in a foam pad random orbital sander, keeping the sander moving all the time and sanding until the damage starts to disappear



Initial sanding shows the depth of the damage, if the casting is thick enough I try and sand all the gouges out, its not always possible



almost there



then wet sand with 400 wet/dry on a foam block until the surfaces are rounded and the scratches are removed, then finish with 1000 wet/dry, I go over the surface with the vapour blaster but again its not an absolute requirement, the vapour honing process just further smooths the surface



Then a polishing on the buffer wheel with white polishing stick and finish with a hand rub down with 'Autosol' metal polish



A comparison to another piece, the more I sand the surface with ever finer wet/dry the better the finish, this will do for what I am building



Its messy and time consuming but easy to do and the results are satisfying


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Online SIR REAL ED

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Re: Rainy Day polishing project
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2022, 07:31:12 PM »
very cool.  thanks.
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Offline kballowe

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Re: Rainy Day polishing project
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2022, 07:50:42 PM »
DANG !

Good job !

 :thumb:

Offline flower_king001

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Re: Rainy Day polishing project
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2022, 06:09:38 AM »
Well done!
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Re: Rainy Day polishing project
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2022, 06:09:38 AM »

Online s1120

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Re: Rainy Day polishing project
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2022, 06:13:44 AM »
Looks cool!  I like the idea of that second vapor blast. After sanding its really hard for the eyes to catch imperfections sometimes because it follows the sanding scratches. Taking them away lets you see what you missed better.
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Online cliffrod

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Re: Rainy Day polishing project
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2022, 07:16:58 AM »
Looks cool!  I like the idea of that second vapor blast. After sanding its really hard for the eyes to catch imperfections sometimes because it follows the sanding scratches. Taking them away lets you see what you missed better.

For those of us mere mortals who had yet to acquire a vapor honing capacity in our shop, you can do an aggressive (nozzle held closer to the piece around those imperfections) soda blasting as a second blasting to blend those residual scratching & imperfections.   The soda will not cut much, but it will help knock off edges of damage without having to lower the entire surface.

Nice thread, Jim.  I like seeing parts that aren’t over restored- very cool.
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Online chuck peterson

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Re: Rainy Day polishing project
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2022, 04:00:22 PM »
Did you say “this will do..”? Looks fantastic to me!
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Offline moto-uno

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Re: Rainy Day polishing project
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2022, 08:04:09 PM »
  Your rainy days look to be awful long (Nice Job) :thumb: ! Peter

Offline Canuck750

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Re: Rainy Day polishing project
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2022, 09:08:59 PM »
  Your rainy days look to be awful long (Nice Job) :thumb: ! Peter

Thanks Peter, it took about three hours start to finish for two engine side covers.
48 Guzzi Airone, 57 Guzzi Cardellino, 65 Benelli 200 sprite, 66 Aermacchi Sprint, 68 Gilera 106 SS, 72 Eldorado, 72 Benelli 180, 74 Guzzi 750S, 73 Laverda SF1, 74  Benelli 650S, 75 Ducati 860GT, 75 Moto Morini 3-1/2, 78 Moto Morinii 500

Offline LowRyter

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Re: Rainy Day polishing project
« Reply #9 on: July 05, 2022, 06:06:04 PM »
 :thumb:
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Offline LowRyter

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Re: Rainy Day polishing project
« Reply #10 on: July 05, 2022, 06:09:39 PM »
 :thumb:
John L 
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