DIY Polishing Metal
 

I dont know if there is a thread about this already. I figured since so many people ask me the steps, that I would just polish a random wheel that I had and make a thread. Well here you go.



Polishing 101
---------------------------------

This can be applied to any metal. I am polishing an SE rim for an example.

Items needed
---------------------

Die grinder
Roloc Discs (rough and polishing)
Safety glasses and dusk mask
Sandpaper (220-400-800-1K-1500-2K)
Mothers Polish
Cotton Cloth
1 SE rim

Die Grinder
Attachment 10123

Roloc discs for die grinder. Rough on the left and polishing disc on right.
Attachment 10124

This is a shot of the back side. they just twist on and off quickly
Attachment 10125

Mothers polish and cotton cloth. I used a hanes cotton shirt.
Attachment 10126

Safety glasses and dusk mask. Eye lashes only work so good.
Attachment 10127

And one ugly ass SE rim
Attachment 10128


To get started, clean the rim well with some stripper. I actually just left the paint on the rim and used the discs to remove it. These rims are gonna be for drifting so I am not going to be that anal about it.

This is what the wheel should look like after you went over it with the course then the polishing pads. Notice the swirl marks.
Attachment 10129

Next step is to start wet sanding. I start with 220 grit. This is working back from the polishing pad but in the end you will have a better product. I didnt take a picture of the 220. Make sure you keep your sandpaper wet. I use a bucket and dip the paper into it every so often. If the sandpaper starts to fall apart, you will feel the grits between the paper and the rim, stop sanding right away and dip your paper into the bucket again. the grits will scratch deep into the metal and will take extra effort to sand them out.

This is 400 grit wet sanded.
Attachment 10130

Notice the scratches, this is normal. Dont panic, you didnt ruin your rims.
Attachment 10131

This is 800 grit.
Attachment 10132

Scratches are getting a little smaller.
Attachment 10133

1,000 grit
Attachment 10134

1,500 grit
Attachment 10135

2,000 grit
Attachment 10136

Now clean the rim off really good with some soapy water and dry thoroughly.

Take your polish and cotton cloth and put a little bit on the cloth and start working the polish into the metal. you should have black swirl marks like this.
Attachment 10137

The longer you work at it, the better the shine is gonna be.

Wipe the polish off with a clean part of the rag and this should be the result.
Attachment 10138

Make sure you do a small section at a time. Dont let the polish fully dry on the rim. This step should take you at least 15 minutes.

This should be your end result. Took me about 3 hours total.
Attachment 10139

quick question, i've polished aluminum wheels before and used a three step kit. have you ever seen/used such kits, if so how do the results compare to mothers polishing compound?

well with the kits, you dont need to sand to 2K grit. you sand to like 800 then use the different compounds in a certain order to obtain the same result. I just like to do it this way. It takes about the same ammount of time and I think the results are slightly better.

i see, thanks.

no prob man. just glad I finally made this. now I will just give people the link if they ask. lol

holy freaking ****.

good stuff brother. man im going to polish some **** for sure... i seriously never looked into it before.

Awesome diy! Going to do this to my manifold thanks!

its really not that hard. It is just a tedious job that noone really wants to do. The manifold is quite the job. bout 13 hours for the first one that I did.

Which manifold was it?

Ka24

dang, looks like a chrome finish now. good work man, i wish i had something to polish now!

23 hours of polishing i did on this motor, the intake manifold, turbo manifold, front cover, thermostat housing and valve cover.

Attachment 10121

wow 23 hours worth dang man that alot of elbow grease... im just curious i've actually polished up my valve cover and i want it to stay shiny sooo would i be ahead to clear coat it once im done so that way the aluminum doesnt corrode to where i have to polish it up again??? or do u just use that polish and let it go with that?? thanx
Eric

you can clear coat if it you want. I would recommend it if your gonna be daily driving it.

i'm skeptical about the clear adhering properly to a polished surface, i've never done it myself though, i'm just not sure how well that will turn out.