Polishing aluminum, it's ruff.

[shaun]

I'm attempting to polish my gas tanks, they are aluminum gas tanks and they are really ruff. The issue I'm running into right now is that these gas tanks have a ton a little grooves/scratches. I'm not sure why they are like this, maybe from manufacturing. I'm using a sisal buffing wheel and the brown bar and it's working, it's removing them slowly but at this rate it's going to take me forever. I'm wondering if there was something i could do to speed this process up a bit. I was thinking maybe a real fine piece of sand paper but wasn't sure. Here's a poor pic of the gas tanks, i also included a link that includes the huge version that will give you a bit better detail of the tanks



Giant Pic http://reitanfamily.com/gallery/d/6363-3/IM000978.jpg

[mpierich]

You could try emery on sisal, but you'll probably have to start with 120 or 220-grit paper. On a big surface like that using wet paper would probably work well. I would probably use my (air-powered) jitterbug sander, but it could be done with any number of types of sanders or even by hand, if you have the elbow grease to spare.

Try 320 grit first then work backwards thru 220 then 120 til you find whatever works fast enough to suit you. After 320 or 400 you could probably go to emery (black) on a cotton wheel, then perhaps brown (tripoli) followed by white to color it up. Some people take the sanding way up thru 1000-grit but I usually don't find that necessary.

[jrow]

shaun,

I agree with what mpierich stated. I just wanted to add that you can use an electric drill motor with some greaseless compound. It would be a whole lot faster than hand sanding. I'd try a 4" sewn buff with the greaseless, get about four buffs and mandrels.

John

[shaun]

Thanks for your responses!

I've been using a drill to polish, i dont think i could fit 4 wheels onto the shaft that i got with my starter kit. I think i can only fit two at the most unless i find a longer shaft. One think i'm worried about is making the take wavey or bumpy. THe tank is round and i'm removing alot of material it seams so i want to make sure i get this even but also get it done as fast.

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by shaun

Thanks for your responses!

I've been using a drill to polish, i dont think i could fit 4 wheels onto the shaft that i got with my starter kit. I think i can only fit two at the most unless i find a longer shaft. One think i'm worried about is making the take wavey or bumpy. THe tank is round and i'm removing alot of material it seams so i want to make sure i get this even but also get it done as fast.

He didn't mean to put four on a shaft at one time...you need one for each grit or compound. Never use the same wheel for different steps.

To avoid waves/ripples is an acquired skill - best advice is to keep the tool moving. It's when you stop in one spot that the problem occurrs.