Plating Powder Coating Buffing Anodizing - Caswell Inc. Metal Finishing Forum - Blogs http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/ en Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:06:31 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forum.caswellplating.com/images/misc/rss.jpg Plating Powder Coating Buffing Anodizing - Caswell Inc. Metal Finishing Forum - Blogs http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/ polishing http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/superchrged92/29-polishing.html Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:18:16 GMT Im looking for some info on how to polish aluminum. Ive got some valve covers and brackets that I would like to get that show quality high luster shine on. Need to know what will get that shine on cast peices. Thanks for any info. Im looking for some info on how to polish aluminum. Ive got some valve covers and brackets that I would like to get that show quality high luster shine on. Need to know what will get that shine on cast peices. Thanks for any info. ]]> superchrged92 http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/superchrged92/29-polishing.html Opel GT Valve Cover http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/boaty_boat/27-opel-gt-valve-cover.html Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:43:12 GMT Well, today I didn't get to enjoy my recess of hand-sanding my wheels - I enjoyed the last two hours of hand-sanding an Opel GT valve cover for a friend of mine, hoping to score a part time polishing job! He's a classic car restorer, and enjoys working relentlessly on his cars, but one thing he lacks is somebody, or the equipment, to polish his pieces.

If I can do a good enough job polishing this valve cover, I'll be taking on another set of valve covers from a Ford engine he's building, as well as some other miscellaneous odds & ends he needs polished. Looks like I'll end up having to invest in a bench grinder, because doing all this work with an air die grinder & 4" wheels is going to take some time! I'll also be polishing about 3 sets of taillight lenses. I'll also have to get a couple of string buffs to compliment them, as well.

So far, it's sanded down and finished in 800 grit sandpaper, but I need to figure out what will be needed to get inside the ridges on the top of the cover. They are about 3/16" to a 1/4" deep, spaced about 1/8" apart from each other. And to make it even more complicated, there is the oil cap boss right in the middle of it, so it looks like some dremel & felt work is in order.

I figure I can just literally start with the 400 grit greaseless for an initial cut all the way across in the places I can't sand by hand (Honestly, I'm really tired of hand-sanding, my hands hurt like HELL) and just hit it with black/brown compounds. If needed I guess I'll hit it with some white, and some nano-polish on a flannel, but hopefully I won't have to go to that extend.

The cover was severely pitted, and had multiple casting holidays, especially in the corners. Most of the pits came out with the palm sander, and then 380-600-800 hand-sanding. Greaseless on a sisal will surely cut it down quickly.

It'll be going on a show-car! So maybe I'll get some minor ego-boosts from random car-show pictures and such. ]]> boaty_boat http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/boaty_boat/27-opel-gt-valve-cover.html <![CDATA[15" 'Swastica' 280ZX-Turbo wheels]]> http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/boaty_boat/26-15-swastica-280zx-turbo-wheels.html Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:33:20 GMT I have always been interested in starting up a hobby of polishing random items, and I believe that I have finally figured out my niche!

Now, as soon as this shipment gets here from Caswell, I can finally start polishing.

It's amazing how much time and effort, elbow grease, and effort, elbow grease, some more effort & elbow grease, and beer it takes to sand down (by hand) a set of 4 15" wheels....

Originally, the wheels came corroded from sitting outside in the weather for the last 5 years or so. I purchased them from a gentleman out of Arizona for a fair price, in as-is condition.

The wheels were bone stock, and had no previous polishing jobs or modifications done to them, except some jacka$$ decided to put balance weights on the outside (dynamically balanced) of the wheel, where they stayed for Lord only knows how long. This successfully deteriorated the aluminum beneath them, and now the pits are so deep that hand sanding will most likely never yeild perfect results. I'm scared that if I sand this area down too much (with the wheel spinning), that it'll thin the metal down too much, causing it to easily break. The thickness of the lip where the damage is, is perhaps 3/16" thick because it's right at a bend. Oh well, I won't be complaining too much if they aren't *perfect*. I'll try my best.

Currently the lips are sanded down, and finished in 1000 grit, and the front faces are finished in 220 (orbital sander), soon to be faced off by hand with some 380, and then 400 grit greaseless compound on a sisal wheel.

Inside the ribs, will receive a while with a sisal wheel & 160 grit greaseless compound to remove the sand casting marks.

I'll hit the entire thing with a treated spiral wheel, with black & brown compounds, and finish it all up with some white compound on a loose cotton wheel, and finally finish it completely with some Eagle-1 Nano-Polish on a domet flannel wheel. That will keep them nice and shiny for the remainder of summer, and I'll hit them again with white and Nano right before winter to give it a good coat of protection before swapping over to my snow-tires for the winter months. ]]> boaty_boat http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/boaty_boat/26-15-swastica-280zx-turbo-wheels.html Wow this is a slow process. http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/tr4dude/25-wow-slow-process.html Sat, 02 Aug 2008 10:53:06 GMT I have some more pieces finished. Image: http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm248/tr4dude/PIC-0015.jpg Image: http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm248/tr4dude/PIC-0017.jpg Image: http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm248/tr4dude/PIC-0013.jpg I have some more pieces finished. ]]> tr4dude http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/tr4dude/25-wow-slow-process.html I need orthopaedic polishers!!!!!!!!!!!! http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/pariah/24-i-need-orthopaedic-polishers.html Sat, 07 Jun 2008 05:57:30 GMT Hey all, I work for a orthopaedic company in
Gainesville Florida I'm in need of experienced
polishers with at least 3 yrs experience.
Please contact me If you think you have what it takes
Thanks.....Pariah ]]> pariah http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/pariah/24-i-need-orthopaedic-polishers.html powder coated parts http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/tr4dude/23-powder-coated-parts.html Tue, 20 May 2008 04:39:49 GMT I only have like a thousand more things I want to coat now ""Addicted"" :mrgreen:

]]> tr4dude http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/tr4dude/23-powder-coated-parts.html Making A Cardboard Carrying Container For Your Submarine http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/mcaswell/22-making-cardboard-carrying-container-your-submarine.html Sun, 18 May 2008 11:47:11 GMT Why not make a simple custom sized waterproof container for your submarine from cardboard?

Just cut and fold the cardboard into a custom size and then reinforce the corners and seams with fibreglass dry wall tape/ After you've formed the box, simply coat with lacquer thinned epoxy such as Caswell Gas Tank Sealer.

Caswell Inc. will offer a Revell Type VII model as a prize for the best one.

Start your blog on this site to win! ]]> mcaswell http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/mcaswell/22-making-cardboard-carrying-container-your-submarine.html <![CDATA[B & B Painting & Powdercoating, Inc.]]> http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/melmel63/19-b-b-painting-powdercoating-inc.html Thu, 08 May 2008 18:44:57 GMT Anyone tried the glow in the dark powder? Pretty neat stuff. We used it to paint the lip of a rim and it looks pretty sweet! Anyone tried the glow in the dark powder? Pretty neat stuff. We used it to paint the lip of a rim and it looks pretty sweet! ]]> melmel63 http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/melmel63/19-b-b-painting-powdercoating-inc.html <![CDATA[Silvaspray prep ?'s]]> http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/dziedzicjoe/18-silvaspray-prep-s.html Wed, 07 May 2008 19:14:25 GMT What types of prep materials & or measures are being used to aid in keeping Silvaspray from peeling. Tried thicker coats, thinner coats ... no real luck. Any help would be appreciated, want to plate handle bar controls on a motorcycle ( 1st timer too) and not having alot of luck w/ the paint adhering to the part. ]]> dziedzicjoe http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/dziedzicjoe/18-silvaspray-prep-s.html 1974 Tr6 http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/tr4dude/16-1974-tr6.html Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:43:54 GMT This is my resto of my triump so far i have the body off and am restoring the car from the frame up. This is my resto of my triump so far i have the body off and am restoring the car from the frame up.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version Name: PIC-0070.jpg Views: 24 Size: 64.2 KB ID: 1  Click image for larger version Name: PIC-0071.jpg Views: 26 Size: 56.9 KB ID: 2  
]]> tr4dude http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/tr4dude/16-1974-tr6.html Tales of a Meredes find http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/grandrob/8-tales-meredes-find.html Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:34:43 GMT She was crouched in a Chinese yard, covered in leaves, dust, bird dung and goodness knows what all. Checked her out, 1975 1 owner Mercedes 350SE with V8 engine. Interior leather and wood flawless, all carpets A1. Engine, new hoses etc. But I have opened an account here to see if I can help Radiator (which has been professionally flushed, but is getting pressure from somewhere, losing a few drops from the pump) sorted, and some surface rust, engine grease etc sorted. The paintwork is as you'd expect. We will see. I do not think this model went to the USA, the 450 and 6.9 litre models did. 6.9 litres? Come on guys, who needs it!! ]]> grandrob http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/grandrob/8-tales-meredes-find.html We Now Sell Evercoat http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/lcaswell/3-we-now-sell-evercoat.html Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:30:14 GMT Evercoat manufacturers a fantastic range of repair compounds, including Metal-2-Metal and a host of fiberglass repair products. You can find them on our web site at http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/evercoat1.html Evercoat manufacturers a fantastic range of repair compounds, including Metal-2-Metal and a host of fiberglass repair products.

You can find them on our web site at http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/evercoat1.html ]]> lcaswell http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/lcaswell/3-we-now-sell-evercoat.html You Can Blog On Our Web Site http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/lcaswell/2-you-can-blog-our-web-site.html Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:41:30 GMT We're happy to announce a new feature on our web site that we hope many of you will use and enjoy...blogs!

We foresee you using this feature to tell everyone about your restoration and finishing projects, such as restoring a classic car or bike, setting up a powder coating shop, building an oven etc.

You can attach pictures to your blog posts, and other users can add comments if you wish.

Happy blogging everyone! ]]> lcaswell http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/lcaswell/2-you-can-blog-our-web-site.html We now stock Baldor Buffers http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/lcaswell/1-we-now-stock-baldor-buffers.html Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:35:31 GMT Over the years, customers have asked us about selling a buffing machine that was made in the USA, with the superior quality, craftsmanship and warranty that we would expect from a Made In The USA product. Well, we now stock a range of Baldor buffing machines, perhaps the best quality buffing machine on the market today. They cost a bit more than our Chinese buffers (which are also really good quality), but for those demanding people out there who want the best of the best, or for those of you looking to cut Chinese products out of your life, they are an excellent option. Read more and purchase one at http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/baldor.html Over the years, customers have asked us about selling a buffing machine that was made in the USA, with the superior quality, craftsmanship and warranty that we would expect from a Made In The USA product.

Well, we now stock a range of Baldor buffing machines, perhaps the best quality buffing machine on the market today. They cost a bit more than our Chinese buffers (which are also really good quality), but for those demanding people out there who want the best of the best, or for those of you looking to cut Chinese products out of your life, they are an excellent option.

Read more and purchase one at http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/baldor.html ]]> lcaswell http://forum.caswellplating.com/blogs/lcaswell/1-we-now-stock-baldor-buffers.html