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    #1

    Polishing Metal

    Hello all!

    So I'm a bit frustrated... I have been trying to get the art of metal polish down and it just simply isn't working. I'm going for a high reflection but I just keep getting scratches after using a microfiber. I would love any feedback on what to do. Im using my nardi wheel for test runs before I do my RS090 lips.

    My steps:
    Wet sand in steps and one direction starting at 800 grit, and then on to 1000. The wheel was in good condition before so I believed I didnt need to knock anything smooth with 400.

    Next I used a denim wheel on an angle grinder with tripoli rouge and rubbed the rouge in until no black came off any longer. I did that across the whole wheel in the same direction I sanded.

    Then I followed up with a cotton wheel with white polishing rouge and did the same thing.

    Then when i move onto using mag and aluminum polish with a clean microfiber, the wheel develops shallow scratches. Pictures provided show the scratches.




    Now to be clear what kind of finish Im going for here's pictures downloaded from the Internet.
    1991 325i Calypso Coupe

    Like Grandfather, Like Father, Like Son
    BMW
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    #2
    Higher grit? Not sure about large things like wheels or rims but I know I can polish a coil to a mirror finish.. I use the same steps minus the polishing compound but go to 2500 grit.

    Sent from my LG-H831 using Tapatalk

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      #3
      Originally posted by RobTapps88 View Post
      Higher grit? Not sure about large things like wheels or rims but I know I can polish a coil to a mirror finish.. I use the same steps minus the polishing compound but go to 2500 grit.

      Sent from my LG-H831 using Tapatalk
      If I went to a higher grit would the metal respond better to the polish?
      1991 325i Calypso Coupe

      Like Grandfather, Like Father, Like Son
      BMW

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        #4
        Originally posted by Zreberlcoe View Post
        If I went to a higher grit would the metal respond better to the polish?
        No idea about polishes man, I'm sure someone else would be able to chime in on that. I would assume so though it would be a less course surface for the polish to fill... Mind you at that grit you are basically using polishing paper rather than sand paper..

        Sent from my LG-H831 using Tapatalk

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          #5
          when I was into polishing metal I used 2000 and 2500 grit, but I think the main problem I see is that you still have deep scratches from the lower grit sand papers visible. You need to be more patient and do a better job sanding before moving on to the next grit of sand paper. Re-sand everything and get those deep scratches out. Also, this stuff works better than anything else I've tried including mother's polish

          Comment

            #6
            Where do you find that product? I will restart my sanding at 800 wet and go from there.

            Sent from my SM-G928P using Tapatalk
            1991 325i Calypso Coupe

            Like Grandfather, Like Father, Like Son
            BMW

            Comment

              #7
              yah i think you want to keep going with the grits, 1200, 1500, 2000. and you have quite a few deep scratches there to get rid of by the looks of it.

              Although not quite the same, but when cutting back acrylic paint when spraying cars you don't get much shine below 1500, gotta get up to 2000 or even higher to get the mirror finishes with no visible scratches.

              Comment

                #8
                Definitely higher grit. The purpose of using rougher grit is to break the level of metal down FASTER, but it creates more work in the long run because you'll need to magnify the time spent sanding on finer grit because you're sanding out the deeper marks from the previous grits. When I polish wheels I push with how ever much time I spent on the previous grit I double for the next grit up. This is where it gets time consuming and that's why there are still professionals still around. Add every step of grit all that way up to 2000.

                On a side note, those pictures are not true representations of the work. I believe the angle at which the photos were taken hide the imperfections. To truly see the work would be to make a much closer look with direct light reflection.

                Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
                I don't even own this car anymore, but I'm too lazy to change the picture.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by spike68 View Post
                  Definitely higher grit. The purpose of using rougher grit is to break the level of metal down FASTER, but it creates more work in the long run because you'll need to magnify the time spent sanding on finer grit because you're sanding out the deeper marks from the previous grits. When I polish wheels I push with how ever much time I spent on the previous grit I double for the next grit up. This is where it gets time consuming and that's why there are still professionals still around. Add every step of grit all that way up to 2000.

                  On a side note, those pictures are not true representations of the work. I believe the angle at which the photos were taken hide the imperfections. To truly see the work would be to make a much closer look with direct light reflection.

                  Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
                  And what do you reccommend for my polishing? What kind of set up do you have?
                  1991 325i Calypso Coupe

                  Like Grandfather, Like Father, Like Son
                  BMW

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Zreberlcoe View Post
                    And what do you reccommend for my polishing? What kind of set up do you have?
                    With the setup you're using I'd be worried the angle grinder spins too fast for proper polishing. It gets to the point the compound slings off the wheels before it even touches the application surface, but I've used the same method before (because my bench buffer doesn't have a long enough shaft to polish 10" lips) and I was able to yield I pretty decent finish. Not my best work, but the client was happy.

                    My personal setup is a bench polisher. I find it much easier to hold the subject against a buffing wheel as opposed to the other way around.

                    Not saying what you're doing is wrong, but I'd have slight concerns. I in no way have solid scientific proof that my theories are correct.

                    Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
                    I don't even own this car anymore, but I'm too lazy to change the picture.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      The other thing I forgot to mention is don't be afraid to apply many coats of each compound. It can make a big difference. Not sure if you've tried that yet

                      Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
                      I don't even own this car anymore, but I'm too lazy to change the picture.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Originally posted by spike68 View Post
                        With the setup you're using I'd be worried the angle grinder spins too fast for proper polishing. It gets to the point the compound slings off the wheels before it even touches the application surface, but I've used the same method before (because my bench buffer doesn't have a long enough shaft to polish 10" lips) and I was able to yield I pretty decent finish. Not my best work, but the client was happy.

                        My personal setup is a bench polisher. I find it much easier to hold the subject against a buffing wheel as opposed to the other way around.

                        Not saying what you're doing is wrong, but I'd have slight concerns. I in no way have solid scientific proof that my theories are correct.

                        Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
                        I have a bench grinder but i haven't gotten a shaft extension for it. I bought a cotton ball that can go into a drill chuck, what rpm drill should I look to be using?
                        1991 325i Calypso Coupe

                        Like Grandfather, Like Father, Like Son
                        BMW

                        Comment

                          #13
                          I haven't looked into it, but I think a bench polisher is an idea range for polishing purposes. With that said, 3000-3500ish range

                          Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
                          I don't even own this car anymore, but I'm too lazy to change the picture.

                          Comment

                            #14
                            This would be a good place to look around
                            Metal Polishing Questions - Caswell Inc. Metal Finishing Forums
                            https://forum.caswellplating.com/forum/metal-polishing-questions
                            Discussion Board For metal polishing questions.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Originally posted by kgiynmgs View Post
                              This would be a good place to look around
                              https://forum.caswellplating.com/for...hing-questions
                              Heck yeah, super helpful link!
                              1991 325i Calypso Coupe

                              Like Grandfather, Like Father, Like Son
                              BMW

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