Tech Talk

Anyone have recommendations for a good metal polishing person? I've called the number of someone who advertised on craigslist, but a voice says "the person with this number is not taking calls at this time". Sounds like the number is not in service? Too bad, as the person is supposed to be in Willard.
I've got two sets of GoldWing sliders(fork lowers)that I would like to get spiffyed up, since I'm having to rebuild the entire units and it may be awhile before I really "need" them for riding.

Mike....I have a motorized sickle bar sharpener/regular lawnmower blade flat wheel sharpener, and those can be removed to put on a cotton buffing pad if you want to buff down some chrome or aluminum. I have a few sticks of red and white rouge lying around and you are welcome to any or all of it. The pedestal buffer is up in the north barn by the shop door with easy access to electrical power. If you want to do your own, just gimme a holler and I'll put a new pad on it.
CW

this is not one of those portable bench sharpeners that weighs just a few lbs. This bad boy has the motor about belly button high on a big round base that has three wheels underneath so it can be rolled around. The motor is probably 1/2 to 3/4 hp.

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A man has got to know his limitations.
"Dirty Harry" Callaghan

I re-read the post and remembered that I polished the lowers on Oldwing. As you well know, the old clearcoat oxidizes, gets chipped , and generally gets dull and funky looking after a few years. You can spiff those up fairly easily yourself without buffing wheels and rouge sticks. All it takes is some various grades of steel wool , a tube of aluminum polish (Flitz is the best) and some old rags. I started off removing all the old finish with a medium grade steel wool, right down to bare metal. This will leave some scuff marks on the lowers, but those marks will come out with some elbow grease and a fine grade of steel wool. You can bring most of the shine back with a final buffing with extra fine (00) steel wool. Once that is done, start in with the Flitz or Mothers metal polish by putting a small amount on a soft dry rag and slowly working it in with a circular motion. The rag will pick up the remaining surface oxidation in the form of a black coating where the metal polish used to be. Wipe that away with a second rag and you will soon see the beautiful original polished aluminum finish come back. It's time consuming, but if the lowers are off the bike, it's a lot easier and you have all winter. I polished the Harley lowers, the Oldwing lowers and most of the Oldwing aluminum polished engine surfaces. As for re-spraying clearcoat on the newly polished surfaces, that would be a personal decision.
I did not do that, but it was pretty easy to maintain the uncoated surfaces with a quick app of Flits or Mother's metal polish on a rag.
CW

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A man has got to know his limitations.
"Dirty Harry" Callaghan

May well take you up on that offer of using the buffing wheel. I cleaned them up by hand, but the little nooks and crannies need something faster than one finger in a rag. Thanks, Bill.

Well, it's not like you have not done a ton of stuff on my behalf......I will get a new buffing wheel next time I'm at C&C, plus some more white rouge polishing compound. With the fine white rouge sticks, you can't really take off a lot of metal and screw up the job. The red stuff can cut up soft aluminum if you get to feeling macho and bear down on the lowers......
CW

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A man has got to know his limitations.
"Dirty Harry" Callaghan

After posting the ad on craigslist, for a metal polisher, I got several responses. Fellow I chose to do the work, got it done in one night and only charged $20 per slider. Way less time than it would have taken me at home. I plan to start the re-installation of them on BlackWing tomorrow so it might be ready by next week. For finish protection, I won't be clearcoating them. I'll use a silicone-based polish that will shed water and dirt like a duck's back and keep any air from oxidizing the metal. Once this stuff is applied, not even a torch will faze it much.
Since first posting this, I've been reading of a product that keeps metal from tarnishing and it looks to be really ideal. Seen photos and videos both of years bathed in salt water and other harsh elements. The protectant is called Sharkhide. Wipe it on and it lasts for years. It is even flexible with the metal, so that it won't flake and peel with metal expansion. Check it out. May be another silicone-based product. It was developed for the military some 40yrs ago.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/16/2012 10:32AM by missourimike.

Howdy guys ,see this is a older post .I'm wating for parts to redo front forks noting the lowers looking pretty rough .I googled how to polish aluminum and found a real informative site.maybe others would be interested it is called English Custom Polish . 73's Ed

Howdy, Ed! Always interested in new products or ways to do things. Keep in touch, good weather is bound to be the norm and hope we cross paths and get to meet up.