[cruizer]

Hi all, new this particualr forum, but been with the powdercoating forum for over a year now.

I've ben dabbeling in the art of metal polishing for the last couple of month. What I have found is that simple external stuff is fairly easy to do. What I have a problem with, though, is smaller internal crevices.

I am currently working on my engine for my VW Corrado. I had decided to port and polish the throttle body intake. Porting it wasn't that hard, as a simple flapper sanding wheel was used. And when it was worn down enough I was able to get to the smaller areas and crevices. I could only find flapper wheels down to 180 grit though.

So from that point I hand sanded with 220, and then 320. This is where I started running into problems. Even with hand sanding, I could barely get the crevices. no matter how hard I worked, I was sanding away other areas trying to sand the crevices, which was not good. I didn't want to sand those areas more, there are some areas with tolerences I can't pass (example, where the throttle plate is. That area was never sanded to begin with, it was only going to be polished).

Then came the buffing wheels. While the open barrel areas were relatively easy, the buffin wheel would get caught on something inside, and slam the part into the machine, causing gouges and cratches, which required me to sand again. Then trying to get to the crevices was next to impossible. The little arbor I had was the kind where the small buff would literally screw onto it, and the end stuck out too far. I ended up chopping that end off with a grinder. Then the little buffing wheels would just fall apart after a few minutes.

I pretty much gave up after the black emery. Mostly smooth is pretty good. but the more I worked at it, the more the piece was getting damaged, adn I didn't want it damaged anymore.

I initially started out with the EW manifold polishing kit. I have since bought a few other buffs. But I literally cannot find any place in my area that sells buffing supplies. So everyhting I want I have to order online and then wait like a week for them.

I also wanted to say the work I see you guys do is amazing, and I hope it is not under-appreciated!