How do I do this ? Real polishing :)

[YeboGoGo]

I saw this car at a local autoshow.



http://www.autopia.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14981&stc=1&d=1268058795

http://www.autopia.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14981&stc=1&d=1268058795





Its raw aluminum and was polished. It looks VERY impressive!



So now I decided my car needs to be polished.





http://www.autopia.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14980&stc=1&d=1268058760

http://www.autopia.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14980&stc=1&d=1268058760



Any ideas on how to do this ? I thought I would go 400 grit, 800, 1200 and 2000 git then 105/205 and maybe a polish at the end. I`m not sure if I would need wax or not.

[craigdt]

Hmm not seeing the pic or attachment.

[Camaro5Ryan]

Looking blank to me too

[rdorman]

Do a search on Polished Kirkham and you should find some one that has been through the process. Kirkham makes aluminum bodied Cobra replicas. I can tell you, from the folks I know that have been through the process, it is a LOT of work. Progressively finer grits and then the proper rouges, 105/205 probably won`t touch it. Yes, you do want to seal it once done. Once you start down this road, it is a maintenence nightmare. I don`t know what car you have that has a bare aluminum body but it is a lot of work. Many that started dropped back to a brushed finish which is MUCH easier to maintain.

[YeboGoGo]

Do the pictures work now?

[rdorman]

Pics work. Nice seven by the way. That Cobra is a Kirham. Click on the aluminum body link to see some clues on how and what to polish with: The Art of Engineering (http://www.kirkhammotorsports.com/book_aoe/)



Amazing cars.

[FastEddysDetail]

Hey i was at the Cars and Coffee meet yesterday as well! Next meet say hello you will see my white Chevy.

[YeboGoGo]

Hey i was at the Cars and Coffee meet yesterday as well! Next meet say hello you will see my white Chevy.



:) What type of white chevy? there were a few

[YeboGoGo]

LIttle progress.



Used 400 then 800 then 1000 then 2000grit sand paper.



And then that Red heavily compounding polish with a yellow wool pad on my PCXP.



Tomorrow ill take a whack at it with some 205 and maybe fine polish.. Still debating what to LSP it with

[YeboGoGo]

All done.



It was a pain in the ***! I think the results are worth it



RIP Harbor freight polisher! It look its own life when the cord got snagged by the pad and ripped out of the housing :(



http://www.autopia.org/forum/attachments/car-detailing/15015d1268772129-how-do-i-do-real-polishing-img00008-20100316-1038.jpg

[Tru_Shine]

hey man, the best way to polish aluminum like that is a wool pad at full speed with some hard core compound, and i am talking super heavy duty. then you can go back with some aluminum polish and a DA with a wool pad for polish. I wouldn`t recomend the foam pads. it almost a waste of a pad. You can check out some of the Big Peterbilts threads that Ive posted. basically the same thing. looks like its tuning out real good though

[M Gray]

Awesome Locost. What kind of engine are you running? I am assuming some sort of motorcycle powerplant.

[YeboGoGo]

Awesome Locost. What kind of engine are you running? I am assuming some sort of motorcycle powerplant.



Its a 1.8liter miata engine. Turbo coming soon!

[YeboGoGo]

hey man, the best way to polish aluminum like that is a wool pad at full speed with some hard core compound, and i am talking super heavy duty. then you can go back with some aluminum polish and a DA with a wool pad for polish. I wouldn`t recomend the foam pads. it almost a waste of a pad. You can check out some of the Big Peterbilts threads that Ive posted. basically the same thing. looks like its tuning out real good though





Pretty much what I landed up doing.



I went to an autopaint store and got this - http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/woeimages/00001281.jpg

3m Super duty cutting compound which is made for old laquer finishes.,



I used a 2" long wood pad on my HF Polisher at full speed. Worked well.

Then I switched to a 1.5" wood on the HF rotary and used the same compound. The results are pictured. I might try find some of that white diamond stuff locally and give it a shot!



Thanks for the thread info! I read them end to end! I might try get that foamed wood pad for my PC and see what it does.:buffing:

[David Fermani]

This is a monumental thread for anyone that wants to experience polishing alloy:



http://www.autopia.org/forum/click-brag/76762-spirit-ecstasy-1922-rolls-royce-silver-ghost.html