could someone help explain HOW to use caswell's kit...

[mdwsta4]

i'm sorry, but their FAQ doesn't really answer how to use their kit.
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/buffman.htm

i bought this about a year ago and finally have the materials i'd like to polish.
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/alpolkit.htm

i've been doing everything by hand because i couldn't seem to understand exactly how i'm supposed to use this kit properly. how do i apply the compounds? what do i apply them to (wheel or what i'm trying to polish)? do you need to start with a partially polished surface already and this kit just creates a mirror finish? etc, etc?
yes, this is a definite newb question. i've been doing bits and pieces by hand (320grit->800grit->1000grit->2000grit) and am getting excellent results, but i'm also doing small things first and it's still very time consuming (not to mention getting blisters on my hands).

any advice people could give me would be much appreciated. i've looked through a few pages of the search, and have found some helpful information, but haven't found anything really explaining caswell's kit.


cheers

[pickleboy]

ok bro first off welcome to the forum, second relax and read the following thread first. it has a lot of good info. it is polishing a motorcycle frame but the methods are the same for most all metals. that said i could walk you through the entire process but would probably bore you with it and that thread at least has pictures even though some of the humor is off color. after looking through the first part that is written and shown if you still have questions post them and i will be more than happy to help you get the finish you want.
MOTORCYCLE POLISHING 101 CLASS IS IN SESSION!

[mdwsta4]

that was very helpful, thanks. i guess i should have looked a little bit further before posting! i guess i'd be using the white rogue liquid compound vs the red bar compound he has in the post.

[pickleboy]

no problem bro some new people dont know what search words to use so its up to us old timers to help out. as for the kit you have you will use the black bar first, work that till you get as much shine as you can get and have removed as many scratches as you can. then move to a new wheel and the brown bar. do the same with this combo. when you cant seem to get it any better then move to a new wheel and the liquid white. that is best applied to the part like a liquid wax then wheel the part with the new buff. this should give you a very colorful shine that is free of scratches. side note if you still see micro swirls or micro scratches in the finish it is not a screw up on your part. it is near impossible to get a fully scratch free finish. even on some of my best work i can still find areas that have a small spider web of those pesky micro swirls. most important thing is be thorough in each step. dont rush through or you will not be happy. if you find that at some point you have to back up a step to get some scratches out dont fret it happens to all of us. when you get started dont hesitate to ask questions. most here are more than willing to help you out. best of luck and keep us posted.
cliff

[fxstcguy98]

One other thing, I don't wetsand alum. past 400 grit and steel past 600 grit, I would only go to 800 or 1000 on something like S.S.