Why i love aluminum (and other soft metals)

[turboglenn]

Because man can they SHINE!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sitting around watching robot chicken, checking tuners and playing with metal/catch cans.. So i go out to the garage for a smoke and seeing how i am done with a piece i'm about to polish I figured i'd hit it with final cut (just to clean it and see how much work i'm in for in making it shine) IN the side by side pic, the one on teh right is un-polished, and although it seems shiny'er, it's really reflecting white from aluminum oxide, and the part on the left is the actual shiny one looking almost "black" tinted just to show comparison. both pieces are from teh same piece of stock.

But what really got me going was how nice the welds shined up without even hitting them with a smoothing compound!!!!!!

Needless to say, i'm pleased, if there's something i like as much as working with metal, it's seeing it shine... Keep in mind i still have to hit these with "cutting compounds" before going back over them with final cut and polish. Also pics just don't do polished AL any justice at all. I've got tons of pics of wheels, motorcycle frames and everything else i've polished and it's enver as good in pics.... Anyone else a "polisher" ??? If you are post up some pics of your work!

Most either love or hate doing it... I do it then clear coat it so i dont' have to do it again for a few years, you lose some shine, but not enough to worry about when you don't have to do it 2-3 times every summer hahah

 

[GSX]

Right on. It's nice when you can make parts for yourself. When they clean up all purdy that's just a bonus. Good work!

 

[Ajax]

Boy you are really getting good at that Glenn! How is the Stainless steel coming along?

 

[turboglenn]

I"m finally getting the SS welds to do what i want them too. I figured out it's not really in the heat you put into the bead, but more of how much heat from transfers back to your previous welds while you start working further down the SS piece that does the gold coloring to it.

 

[Flash]

Send it my way and I'll perfect that shine.

 

[turboglenn]

^^ Be my guest If there's one thing i don't like about polishing metals is all the little aluminhum shavings that get in your fingers ( at least on rough cuts) When i did my VC and intake mani, i had metal slivers coming out of my hands for weeks. I could barely hold on to tools or anything because of all the little sores where metal was working it's way back out of my hands Then again, i guess i could have just put some gloves on

I just hand rubbed that with a little final cut and a towel. Too bad most of my metal working stuff is in another garage about 15 minutes from here or I would have put it on the wheel with some compounds and make that baby look like a mirror.

 

[97 4G63]

Looking good nice work.

 

[Flash]

^^ Be my guest If there's one thing i don't like about polishing metals is all the little aluminhum shavings that get in your fingers ( at least on rough cuts) When i did my VC and intake mani, i had metal slivers coming out of my hands for weeks. I could barely hold on to tools or anything because of all the little sores where metal was working it's way back out of my hands Then again, i guess i could have just put some gloves on

I just hand rubbed that with a little final cut and a towel. Too bad most of my metal working stuff is in another garage about 15 minutes from here or I would have put it on the wheel with some compounds and make that baby look like a mirror.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/hangout/276886-flashs-glitz-thread.html

 

[turboglenn]

YOu my friend are a polishing phenom!!!!! That mount looks fricken awesome.. Any pointers for a long time polisher who still can't get that good of a mirror shine out of rough cast?

 

[DSMunknown]

Man, those things are rearing their ugly heads everywhere! Can't wait to get them.

So did you think some Ultra RTV and perhaps a makeshift gasket will suffice?

 

[Flash]

People have been asking me to write a tech article for a while. So I wrote one up.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/art...2819-how-polish-flashs-way.html#post151565420

 

[DSMunknown]

^ Would (have) like(d) to see more examples, but you get your point across.

 

[turboglenn]

DSMunknown, i used a piece of this cardboard about the same thickness as normal gasket paper and got a perfect fit and seal. I think you'll be fine without RTV if you just use the cardboard i cut as a template for some gasket material, or i can do it if you don't feel confident or don't want to mess with it.

 

[turboglenn]

Well, harbor freight had a deal on a 6'' table buffer for 37 bucks so i went ahead and brought one home. I normally mount my buffing wheels in my lathe chuck or in the head on my mill and use them to polsih things up. It's nicer having the correct tool for the job.

I brought one home with a few basic compounds and gave a few pieces a once over... man do they shine..almost as good as Flash, but not quite since i didn't sand them or anything, just buffed

There's also a pic of how my 90* welds are coming along with the lower frequency set into the unit.., I did a bunch of them today after getting back from camping last night ( i missed the ice cream cruise, but oh well i guess.. i didn't even remember until i was already layed back coking smores on the fire)

EDIT: damnit, even these pics make the parts look dull

 

[Flash]

By the looks of the condition that the metal was in when you started, you don't need to sand. Sand paper would just add unnecessary scratches. You made the right call by just buffing. If it was a cast piece, then I would work my way up using sand paper.

 

[RipperXX]

Gave any thought to grinding down the welds?

 

[jada64]

Gave any thought to grinding down the welds?

Never grind alum. welds, it makes the weld even weaker.

 

[turboglenn]

Yea. i've been told not to grind them, just make them as pretty as you can and call it good or they will weaken. I'd rather have teh part hold up,. but if it was just a decorative piece i would probably smooth them completely out and sand then polish them

 

[Velocity]

Never grind alum. welds, it makes the weld even weaker.

Well done aluminum welds are a work of art. You do not want to grind them down.

 

[91eagle_tsi_awd]

Nice work there!

Here's a few pics of my work.I have a bench buffer but have yet to use it.Most of the stuff i polish i use a handheld drill with buffing wheels and compounds.

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I have a bunch more but prefer not to clutter your thread .

 

[turboglenn]

Looks good, what did you use to plane the letters off the VC with? I did mine with an angle grinder and a DA sander. The weird part is you can see the outline of the DOHC and 2.0 on it in certain lights or when it gets a tad corroded.

 

[kmoore]

Nice work there!

Here's a few pics of my work.I have a bench buffer but have yet to use it.Most of the stuff i polish i use a handheld drill with buffing wheels and compounds.


I have a bunch more but prefer not to clutter your thread .

That looks great. What tools/method did you use?

 

[91eagle_tsi_awd]

Looks good, what did you use to plane the letters off the VC with? I did mine with an angle grinder and a DA sander. The weird part is you can see the outline of the DOHC and 2.0 on it in certain lights or when it gets a tad corroded.

That's the same method i use to grind them down.I have polished numerous valve covers and this is the easiest method for me. I know some people use a belt sander, and from what i hear it's much faster then using an angle grinder.


You always see the ghost lettering in the reflection. Looks kind of cool sometimes.

 

[Lofty]

Did you Tig weld these or Mig?
I'm kinda curious.

 

[kewlguy]

you cut your finger