# Metal Polishing 101
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504
**Category:** Shift518 Automotive
**Created:** [July 17, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504 "2009-07-17T20:14:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@KrazyKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/KrazyKid)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/1 "2009-07-17T20:14:13Z")
First thing i suggest is read this: [This is shows you just about every thing you need to know.](http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/buffman.htm)
Next set yourself up with a nice work bench with alot of space. As you work on a piece the buffing wheels and the compound will fly and make a mess. I attached the 6" 1/2hp polisher to a 2X12 and extended it off the edge of the bench so you can work a piece without hitting the bench top.
**Next get your supplies:** All the stuff pictured was bought from [Casewell](http://www.caswellplating.com/). Great dealer in NY with good quality stuff and itwill get delivered fast.
Some 1/4" drive felt bobs for tight spaces:
The greasless stuff here will almost completely eliminate hand sanding a piece. You basicly apply the stuff to a buffing wheel and use a hair drier to dry the compound. Once it is dried, in about 5 minutes with a hair drier it is rock hard and creates a cutting surface.
The greasless goes from 80, 120, 180, 240, 320 & 400 grit. 400 grit you can start with a Black rouge, but i would still wetsand with 600, 800 then even 1000, then hit it with black or brown/red rouge.
**Other tools that will help you out:**
Roto tool with a 1/4" collet, and a flex shaft. This is used for the buff bobs and sanding cartidges.
Air compressor, to power your die-grinders and DA sander. Also a air nozzel to shoot off dust and crud from your parts.
Brake Cleaner… blasts away the compound and black redisue.
Wet Dry sand paper: 120-1000 grits
PB blast or WD-40: I like this instead of just water for wet sanding, it helps keep the metal from sticking to the work and the paper alot better than just water.
Here is the 1.8t intake manifold I finished up. It was rough cast aluminum to start and the 80 grit greasless cut the cast down like butter, it was unreal how fast it flattened out the surface.
Again, ill come back when i have somemore time and add alot more detail to this. And spell check it! lol
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### Author:  [@Hank1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Hank1)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/2 "2009-07-17T20:33:15Z")
I bet that wall and counter won’t be that clean in a few weeks !! lol
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### Author:  [@Mk4\_30R\_Ban](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mk4_30R_Ban)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/3 "2009-07-17T21:55:54Z")
looks good. are you sealing it with Zoop?
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### Author:  [@Fn\_Skanks](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fn_Skanks)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/4 "2009-07-17T22:00:42Z")
great work. i am def. gonna try some of the greaseless stuff.
do seal with zoop, or clearcoat the mani.
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### Author:  [@KrazyKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/KrazyKid)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/5 "2009-07-18T11:55:28Z")
i have yet to try the ZOOP out… but after all this work…i will def give it a shot!
And yeah Hank, the bench is covered in fuzzys, threads and compound spatter!
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### Author:  [@KrazyKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/KrazyKid)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/6 "2009-07-18T20:43:36Z")
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### Author:  [@Vovchandr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vovchandr)
#### Post date: [July 19, 2009, 6:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/7 "2009-07-19T06:50:54Z")
Stickied :thumb
Keep us updated with good work!
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### Author:  [@votblindub](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/votblindub)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2009, 6:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/8 "2009-07-20T06:11:23Z")
Awesome. Totally signing up for more updates on techniques and photos.
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### Author:  [@KrazyKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/KrazyKid)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2009, 8:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/9 "2009-07-21T08:50:11Z")
thanks guys. I will keep adding a little here and there. I have alot going on at the moment!
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### Author:  [@KrazyKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/KrazyKid)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/10 "2009-08-02T18:04:44Z")
ATP 3" Stainless Vband big turbo downpipe. Figure why not, it will be right on top so you will see the first part of the bend. Used 400 Grit greasless, then black, brown, grey rouges and good old mothers mag polish last.
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### Author:  [@votblindub](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/votblindub)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/11 "2009-08-02T18:06:57Z")
hold long will it stay looking like that?
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### Author:  [@KrazyKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/KrazyKid)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/12 "2009-08-05T13:58:09Z")
The stainless… I am not sure to tell you the truth. I know the heat will blue it, but aslong as you dont let water, coolant or shit like that burn into it it will stay nice looking. All the titanium and stainless pipes I ran on my bikes are allways nice looking, until i let dirt/mud burn into and stay on them.
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### Author:  [@Alpine](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Alpine)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2009, 10:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/13 "2009-08-14T10:12:01Z")
Oh man. I’d love to polish the entire exhaust on my bike!
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### Author:  [@KrazyKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/KrazyKid)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2009, 12:34pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/14 "2009-08-14T12:34:12Z")
> [@Chris07SS"](#):
>
> Oh man. I’d love to polish the entire exhaust on my bike!
Is it anodized? or painted? or bare alum already?
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### Author:  [@Alpine](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Alpine)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/15 "2009-08-14T12:41:35Z")
> [@I luv my part time job](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/i-luv-my-part-time-job/21657/10):
>
> Is it anodized? or painted? or bare alum already?
Anodized I think. Or bare alum… fuck if I know. :lol
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### Author:  [@KrazyKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/KrazyKid)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/16 "2009-08-14T13:06:11Z")
LOL, saturday is going to be balls hot out… so I plan on working in the garage and doing some airbrushing and shit in the cool basement… if you wanted to ride down we can polish up your shit.
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### Author:  [@Alpine](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Alpine)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2009, 1:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/17 "2009-08-14T13:08:10Z")
I just might take you up on that offer. How far are ya from “the lot”?
If I get off my lazy ass today and fix my tank i’ll ride down fo sho
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### Author:  [@KrazyKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/KrazyKid)
#### Post date: [August 15, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/18 "2009-08-15T14:21:02Z")
> [@FS-FT: feeler '95 Integra GSR/b18c5 swap](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fs-ft-feeler-95-integra-gsr-b18c5-swap/21639/13):
>
> I just might take you up on that offer. How far are ya from “the lot”?
>
> If I get off my lazy ass today and fix my tank i’ll ride down fo sho
Ft Johnson. just abotu 2 mins past Amsterdam
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### Author:  [@KrazyKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/KrazyKid)
#### Post date: [August 15, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/19 "2009-08-15T14:26:30Z")
here is a catch can I worked on today.
Stripped the paint and left the extruded aluminum finish.
Then hit it with 400 Grit greasless. You can see the difference.
The went at it with black compound on a spiral sewen wheel… but the 400 didnt cut the extrusion marks out as you can see.
So then I took it back and wet sanded with 320, 400, 600.
After that buffed with Black, brown and finished with maguires aluminum polish/sealer. Here is the finished catch can all blinged out.
total time, about an hour and a half.
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### Author:  [@Alpine](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Alpine)
#### Post date: [August 15, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/metal-polishing-101/245504/20 "2009-08-15T23:16:10Z")
So sick!!
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