new at polishing...PLEASE help!!

[jcole113]

i have a CBR im trying to polish out. so far i have stripped all the anondizing off the frame, subframe and swingarm. i then started sanding by hand like there was no tomorrow using these grits: 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, 3000. from 400 grit and higher i wet sanded it, going only in one direction. took forever and my arms are dead but all the aluminum is smooth as can be. is this improper? ive been reading some posts on here and people say to stop at 600 and use the compounds..? i havent ever used compounds, and none of my buddies have either. i know of 2 people where i live that polished their bikes, and they just sanded up to 2,000 grit then used Mother's polish. but their shine isnt as good as some of the pictures ive been seeing on here. please someone guide me in the right direction. should i go back down to 600 and use some combo of compounds? if so, what compounds should i get w/ what wheels? i read to possibly use a losse cotton wheel with white liquid.? or should i just use some aluminum polish on the 3000 grit and hope for the best? sorry if i come off as improper, but i am extremely ignorant in the field of polishing aluminum. any help is appreciated!

[jcole113]

sorry for the typo *Loose cotton wheel
also i do have flitz liquid polish and the flitz polishing ball but i havent applied any to the frame. again, any help is greatly appreciated.

[fly]

do you have any buffing wheels like what you see on the caswell site? You really need this adapter. http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/grinderadapter.html

[jcole113]

as of now, i dont have any wheels or compounds. im trying to figure out if i should buy them or just stick with the frame at 3,000 grit and put on some aluminum polish (flitz).

[rides20]

You're all good with the sanding part...the finer you sand..the finer the finish will be! After all of that sanding is done, use brown Tripoli compound on a vented flap disc GO IN ONE DIRECTION...then when that's done, wash it down well with dish soap and warm water...dry everything, and hit it with white compound on a loose wheel again, going in one direction (this mimimizes the effects of reflected light showing scratches) wash it again and if need be hit it with some of caswell's liquid white rouge..you should get what you are lokoing for after that!

[jcole113]

can i get the vented flap disc from caswells? also, if i needed the liquid white rouge, what should i use to apply that..another wheel or by hand..? thanks for the help so far.