Newbie polish questions already saw the FAQ on caswell

[zazzn]

Ok,

So i'm mainly polishing aluminum parts for a car... (manifold, turbo housings, misc parts).

So I've used a sisal wheel with black emory bar, cutting is actually pretty good, and takes out lots of the scratches. Very happy with the results this gives.

My question is after I apply compound and everything gets cloudy on the metal should I stay in that position until the metal starts to polish up (clear and return to a mirror state?)

When i'm satisfied with the results of the emery bar I move on to a yellow bar (which is supposed to replace a white bar) Not quite sure sine there is no info on the website but the caswell rep in canada was convinced it's better then white. I use this compound with a denium wheel and it gives a nice shine but how do I keep the rest of the metal from clouding up after applying the compound? Do I clean the material by hand after polishing with a clean rag? Should I be cleaning the item before moving on to a new compound?

Finally I don't really see the use of the loose coton wheel over my denium wheel, doesn't seem to give better results?

Thanks for the help!!

[zazzn]

Here are the sepcs on my 6" grinder (using 8" polishing discs)

Fully balanced, 1 medium and 1 coarse grinding wheel for a variety of dry applications
Two heavy-duty eye shields to protect the operator from injury
A gooseneck-style lamp to provide light on to the item being grounded - bulb not included
Rear exhaust chutes direct debris away from operator
Cast-iron base and motor housing to reduce vibration and increase stability
3.5A ball-bearing motor provides 1/2-hp for a no load speed of 3,450 rpm
14½ x 8 x 17" d (37 x 20.4 x 43.2cm d)


The sepcs on my new 8" grinder is below however, they use 1/2" arms instead of 5/8th so I can't use my caswell arm extensions. I was planning on returning it beucase of that.

Fully balanced, 1 medium and 1 coarse grinding wheel for a variety of dry applications
Two heavy-duty eye shields to protect the operator from injury
A gooseneck style lamp to provide light on to the item being grounded - bulb not included
Rear exhaust chutes direct debris away from operator
Cast-iron base and motor housing to reduce vibration and increase stability
5A ball-bearing motor provides 1-hp for a no load speed of 3,450 rpm
16 x 10 x 18" d (40.7 x 25.4 x 45.8cm d)

[thesound]

Originally Posted by zazzn

My question is after I apply compound and everything gets cloudy on the metal should I stay in that position until the metal starts to polish up (clear and return to a mirror state?)

It's never a good idea to stay in one spot with any wheel, sisal especially. Sisal wheels take away the material so fast that ending up with a wavy "funhouse mirror" effect on the part is a real danger. However, since you've indicated that you were currently using a 1/2hp buffer, I'd have to lean towards the cloudiness being caused by the buffing machine not being able to keep the SFPM's, (surface feet per minute), at a decent rate and therefore extending the working time of the compound. You'll see what I mean when you get the 1hp model. When you can hold more pressure against the wheel without the motor bogging down, you can build up more heat and friction which in turn consumes the compound at a faster rate. (And makes the shine pop out quicker.)

Originally Posted by zazzn

Do I clean the material by hand after polishing with a clean rag?

Brake cleaner works wonders for this. You CAN wipe them down, but at the very least use a microfiber towel and wipe slowly, because you can put scratches back into the finish.

Originally Posted by zazzn

Finally I don't really see the use of the loose coton wheel over my denium wheel, doesn't seem to give better results?

If you use a wide enough variety of buffing tools, you'll eventually come to discover that there are literally dozens of ways using a multitude of different combinations of buffs to achieve the same results. Loose cotton wheels and denim wheels are both in the "final finish" category, so they're gonna be pretty equally matched in the kind've results they get. As far as one being "better" than the other, it's really just a matter of personal preference.

[zazzn]

Thanks for the reply.....