Sanding questions

[Tng21]

Just a couple of questions as to what people think i should use to sand these items in preperation before polishing. Cast aliminium and its VERY VERY rough to start with.




Ive started it already and what ive done is sandblasted with a 120 ali oxide grit, and i recently bought one of these http://http://www.machinemart.co.uk/...6&r=2022&g=103

which has helped no end in the first stages of sanding. Should i be using a greasless compound on wheels to get in the tight areas? Ive got a dremel and thought about felt bobs and greasless but unsure how well the greaseless will work?

Im in the UK which might make a difference in products but i found this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-Piece-Abrasi...QQcmdZViewItem
thought it might be of help to me?

With this stuff, can i use loose mops to put the greaseless on? Ive read sown mops are to be used but i dont think they'll gets down in between the tubes due to being too thick etc.

[Tng21]

more pics added to show you what ive got to do.

[Tng21]

Any suggestions on if the greaseless shown will be any good? or any other ways to get everywhere sanded smooth would be a great help

cheers

G

[alabama_lowlife]

greaseless is some wonderful stuff! i haven't had any success with it on felt bobs, but i've been told i didn't let it dry long enough and these guys are usually right, so that is probably the case. for the areas between the fins, get several razor buffs from caswell, they rock, and can flex into alot of places a regular sewn buff can't. load it with greaseless and walk off to let it dry, when you touch it and it feels hard, it's ready and you'll be amazed. it doesn't last a very long time on razor buffs it seems to me, but is pretty durable on regular sewn buffs. get the big pack that includes the 80 grit and it'll knock all that casting stuff out.

when you use 80 grit greaseless on a sisal wheel on steel....it throws sparks, that's hardcore sanding.

[jrow]

Tng21,

Looks like you have taken on quite a polishing job! Nice pictures by the way.
Mold marks: Try a die grinder with a burr on it. Use it very carefully as it will eat the aluminum quite rapidly. OR use a die grinder with a 45 grit cartrage roll on it. OR use a die grinder with 2" or 3" roloc disks. OR your can try a diamond impregnated finger nail file. You can also try a 6" metal file. All these are pretty agressive so try to just remove the mold marks without touchiing the aluminum body of the manifold.
The rest: You can use the "razor buffs" as stated. OR try some 1", 1 1/2" or 2" treated or untreated buffs. (mops as you call them). Use those with greaseless. OR you can buy small diameter, 220 or 320 grit cartrige rolls and try those. OR if you have "Cratex" available in the UK try those. Cratex is a grit impregnated rubber buff. They come in small diameters and work pretty good. To smooth everything out before you start to buff try using 220 or 320 grit "flap wheels" in different diameters. Run them across the tubes so you don't have any flat spots. Then wet sand with 400 grit wet and dry, using anything as a backer that will fit in to the areas that you have to sand. You may even try buffing after you use the 320 grit greaseless and see what happens.
Polishing: Try starting with Emory and any buff (mop) that will fit into the area that you need to buff. Then Tripoli and then White.
That kit that you posted from Ebay will give you a good start.

Let us know how you make out....

John

[x1rider]

I am polishing an intake manifold and throttle body right now and I bought these from eBay...



You could give them a try, they come in packs of 25 I think and they are 1.5 inch in diameter, very flexible and the shaft is designed to be used with a Dremel. I find them very useful for tight spots and you can use them with greaseless, emery, tripoli compounds.
Good luck!!!

[Tng21]

dont suppose you have a link for the ebay ad to you x1rider?

i was looking at these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-Piece-Abrasi...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-Piece-Mount...QQcmdZViewItem

Loose mops for greaseless to mold around tubes etc??

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/G-Mop-6-x-1-fo...QQcmdZViewItem

and plenty of compounds to use.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Polishing-K...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

Have had na good look on the caswell products pages but not sure if postage to the UK would kill me prisewise.

Its my birthday today and have got some money to spend so thought about buyting some more things thats goinna help me,

[x1rider]

Here are the links to everything I got from eBay for my polishing job. A few of the auctions have ended but keep an eye on them, they come back pretty frequently. Happy birthday!!!

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...4076&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...4290&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...9214&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...2848&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...5260&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...0626&rd=1&rd=1

[Tng21]

cheers fella. Much appreciated.

gonna go out hunting today for a place that sells greasless a bit more local to me rather than getting stuff from ebay as i wana get on with it

ill keep my progress updated

[x1rider]

Originally Posted by Tng21

cheers fella. Much appreciated.

gonna go out hunting today for a place that sells greasless a bit more local to me rather than getting stuff from ebay as i wana get on with it

ill keep my progress updated

You are welcome, good luck with your search. Here is the piece I am working on right now, 2002 Audi A4 1.8T intake manifold, obviously not a big project like yours though!!!