polishing questions

[Michael Cummings]

couple quick questions here...can you clear coat polished aluminum valve cover? ...and can you polish steel the same way as alminum...like sand it down then buff with mag polish, and then can you clear coat steel? i'm pretty sure you can clear coat steel.
thanx

[Andrew Steele]

I believe you can clearcoat anything as long as there's not much flex/movement.

However, I believe your biggest enemy will be heat.  Not sure if they have a high-heat clear coat, or clear engine enamel.  But I would immagine the heat would brown or dry it out.

Just my thoughts.

-Andrew

[Michael Cummings]

ok so we have a yes to clearcoating steel and aluminum...now...
does anyone make a high-heat clear coat???
and can you polish steel with mag polish

[Scott Girvin]

In my experience, mag polish does work to actually polish parts. As well as many other polishing compounds. I use Windex to keep the mirror image on the polished parts unless they have been scratched. Then you will need to get out the ol polishing compounds. I dont know about the clear coating but I know that it is available. I havent had any of my polished parts coated and after a year they still look as good as new. Scratches are the only thing that is noticable on the parts.

[Jeremy Clarke]

I wouldn't bother clear coating. There are too many problems that could happen (cracking, browning, yellowing, chipping, etc.) I would just keep a polishing rag and some (Windex?) with me at all times. I'll have to try that Windex method Scott.

BTW: After the buffing wheel, I used "Meguiars Metal Restorer" on my plug cover and it really made a difference even after all the bufffing. On a side note I have also discovered it works very well on all gold jewelry to get that brand new shine back.

Happy polishing

[Mark Ergetowski]

...and can you polish steel the same way as alminum...like sand it down then buff with mag polish, and then can you clear coat steel? i'm pretty sure you can clear coat steel.
thanx

You can't mirror-polish regular mild (non-stainless) steel.... besides, every fingerprinf will actually etch itself permanently into it. Sure you can put some clear-coat over it, but I doubt that it be ever as good as SS or alu.

[Michael Cummings]

so jeremy you polished with mag polish and a buffing wheel and then after wards you just rubbed on the meguires restorer?
where can you get 1000 sand paper..i dont think home depot sells it

[Michael Cummings]

for takin the paint of the valve cover some threads say to use air craft stripper...but if your gunna sand it anyways..then theres really no need to use the paint stripper? is there?

[Wade Carlson]

use stripper it will be WAY easier

[Michael Cummings]

I was originally gunna start with 100 grit paper and work up to 1500 or 2000..but now i'm thinkin bout using the paint stripper and then sanding starting at like 600
any thoughts on this?

[Michael Cummings]

where do you get the aircraft paint stripper? i looked at a few places and couldn't find it

[Jeremy Clarke]

Go to a paint store you can get all kinds of thinners that will take paint off quickly. Also go to Industrial Plastics and Paint, I imagine they would have both high grit sandpaper and good stripping chemicals like acetone.

On my plug cover I did not use any mag polish. I used 180 grit wet untill the machine groves were gone, then worked up to 600 with oil. Then I buffed the hell out of it with brown rouge on a bench grinder with a 6" buffing wheel. Then I washed it and used the metal restorer, last thing was to hand-buff with a terry towel until towel remained clean. Process took about 3-hours total.

Don't skimp on the harder to get at areas or it will not look as good and you will be wasting your time.

I figure I will be painting my valve cover with a nice gloss black enamel instead of also polishing it like you guys are. I will polish the lettering though. I think it will look dope with the shiny plug cover on it.

[Michael Cummings]

yea the black and polished letters look good i've seen one of those before...
i got the high grit sand paper from lordco

Then I buffed the hell out of it with brown rouge on a bench grinder with a 6" buffing wheel.

i dont understand this..brown rouge?
bench grinder with a buffing wheel?

[Jeremy Clarke]

Rouge is polishing compound, it comes in sticks, and despite the name comes in various colors depending on what material you are polishing.
A buffing wheel is a big cloth wheel that can be put on a drill or bench grinder that you apply the compound to then buff the metal. This is traditionally how things are polished. You should be able to get the stuff to do it in various places. I have seen the wheels at Home Depot but am not sure if they sell the compound. I get my polishing supplies at Mid-land Liquidators in Nanaimo.

I'm sure there are other ways to get the job done but back in my grade 11 metalwork class we were taught to make jewelry and this was the polishing method we used. Works really well.

[Michael Cummings]

hahha..i knew what a buffing wheel was..its all good...i have one that i plan on using..i just didn't understand how you said bend grinder with a buffing wheel...so you used your bench grinder and put a buffing whell in it....i have one of the hand held buffing wheels...i also have a bench grinder