Sorry...How the hell is everyone cleaning/polishing these old bikes. This 78' CB 750 needs some serious polishing on all the aluminum...what are u guys using? I take it there isnt a chemical that is going to work, so what are u using for air tools or on a drill? I want to get this this shinning.. THANKs!!
Aluminum
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get your drill, and dremel, pick up several different types of polish, semichrome, mothers, neverdull, noxon, etc..lots of old tee-shirts, towels ...0000 steel wool
get your buffs here http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/index.html
put on some music, and have at it...it takes alot of time and trial....best to remove the parts you're working on.
or you could send it all out and pay.
dch.
get your buffs here http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/index.html
put on some music, and have at it...it takes alot of time and trial....best to remove the parts you're working on.
or you could send it all out and pay.
dch.
I don't know branson personally, but shiny alloys are definately a sign.
Here's a definition: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tweaker
Somehow I just new polishing would lead to meth addiciton.....
Mothers makes a powerball that you put on the end of a drill. If you aren't looking for the show chrome shine but just a nice clean metal look this thing is awsome. My buddy did his covers on the bike and they came out really nice.
Mothers makes a powerball that you put on the end of a drill. If you aren't looking for the show chrome shine but just a nice clean metal look this thing is awsome. My buddy did his covers on the bike and they came out really nice.
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1,523 Posts
for the best look, remove parts and use a bench buffer and rouge.
for an ok finish without removing the parts, very carefully spray airplane paint striper on the covers without overspraying onto painted items like the frame. maybe i should say, mask off areas with paint that don't wish the stripper to ruin. all the aluminum has a clear coat or something sprayed on them at the factory. it turns gross and yellowish. this paint stripper will remove it.
next, get some running compound and applicator pads and cloth towels to buff the compound off with. the powerball does work well, but its pricey and can't get all the tight spots.
for an ok finish without removing the parts, very carefully spray airplane paint striper on the covers without overspraying onto painted items like the frame. maybe i should say, mask off areas with paint that don't wish the stripper to ruin. all the aluminum has a clear coat or something sprayed on them at the factory. it turns gross and yellowish. this paint stripper will remove it.
next, get some running compound and applicator pads and cloth towels to buff the compound off with. the powerball does work well, but its pricey and can't get all the tight spots.
Joined
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141 Posts
you can also go the way i go about doing it. means lot of wetsanding.
I start off with a heavy 180 grit then work my way to 1500 grit. witch is like regular paper. then i get out the rubbing compound and the small metal buffer wheel. have at it for abit then switch to polishing compound. I can get alum to shine like chrome. every see a sport bike with a nice shiney frame, wheels swingarm. ect. thats what polishing should look like. chrome with out the wt of chrome. the down fall is you have to keep up with it or it will dull on you and look like crap.
I start off with a heavy 180 grit then work my way to 1500 grit. witch is like regular paper. then i get out the rubbing compound and the small metal buffer wheel. have at it for abit then switch to polishing compound. I can get alum to shine like chrome. every see a sport bike with a nice shiney frame, wheels swingarm. ect. thats what polishing should look like. chrome with out the wt of chrome. the down fall is you have to keep up with it or it will dull on you and look like crap.
I made a little tool for my drill, consisted of 6 scotch brite pads. Spent a couple hours with that, then a little 3M rubbing compound from the old mustang restoration. Its going slow, but im not going to go too crazy....bike needs some work. I figured i would clean things up a bit while i wait for parts. Here are some quick shots i took.
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Joined
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141 Posts
not bad. i seen them worst. my little cb125 had no shine to it at all.
its coming around. just need some more buffing. if you really want a pro polish look. check out eastwoodco.com thats were i get all my polishing stuff. loads of compounds buffing wheels and kits. I have over a grand just in poliching stuff to do sportbike frames, and anything that can be polished.
its coming around. just need some more buffing. if you really want a pro polish look. check out eastwoodco.com thats were i get all my polishing stuff. loads of compounds buffing wheels and kits. I have over a grand just in poliching stuff to do sportbike frames, and anything that can be polished.
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