POLISHING Valve Cover, NOS Bottle, ITB

[Layton141]

I have been reading on the internet how to polish things like the valve cover, ITB, nitrous bottle, and many other things under the hood. However, since I am new at this I am trying to learn the proper way. First of all once you've polished something and have it in it's final condition, How long will it last? Can some sort of a clear coat be added after the polishing process is complete? I'm gonna go to a junk yard and see if I can get a really cheap valve cover off of something to try it out first. Also, how do YOU polish? I have read about 8 articles online and have seen 8 different methods.... How is the mirror like shine achieved on a nitrous bottle? I also want to find a way to keep that shine for years to come (clear coat, gloss??) Any information would be extremely helpful.

Below are some of the links I came across explaining the method......
http://www.geocities.com/n_dahi/valve_cover/cover.htm
http://www.londonautoclub.org/html/Tech_Info/polishing_valve_cover.htm
http://www.se-r.net/engine/polishing_valve_cover.html

 

[crazyjoe]

"Use the Search"

There are plenty of topics here on how to piolish various things, and what people do to try to keep the shine.

If it isn't exposed to heat, clear coat will help, otherwise it will tend to doscolor on you due to the heat. Don't know how to prevent that....

Once you polish something, unless is't subjected to a lot of dirt or harsh conditions, it will retain its shine with occasional cleaning and light polishing.

 

[Layton141]

I've already searched all over for this topic and the question about retaining the shine, however, I couldn't find anything. Any links? Thanks for the input...

 

[wastefuldreamer]

To retain the shine. Use some mothers polish every once in a whole.