Lines left behind........HELP!

[shoblue]

Hi All. I'm in need of advise in removing the hazy lines that are left behind after final polishing. I'm polishing an aluminum snowmobile tunnel and I am using the following buffs and compounds.

1. First cut with Black Emery/Sisal
2. Second cut with Brown Tripoli/Spiral Sewn Cotton
3. Third cut with White Rouge/Canton Flannel
4. Color with White Rouge/Canton Flannel
5. Color with Green Rouge/Canton Flannel

Between each compound I store each buff and compound followed by thoroughly washing the tunnel and with Simple Green and water. To no avail can I get this piece to shine without the lines. Yea, it shines but the lines the buff leaves behind drive me nuts. Can someone help me with a lasting fix, not just a bandaid? Below is a good example of how it looks, below that is a pic of the whole tunnel. Thanks!

Rich

[mpierich]

If you do each step in a different direction (90 degrees if possible) you should be able to tell which step is leaving the lines.

I've been doing this for a number of years, and sometimes there's no way to get some alloys perfect. Chrome plating (or stainless) looks perfect because it's a hard metal and so can be polished smoother.

P.S. - the sisal is probably not a good idea, and could be the culprit. It's pretty aggressive.

[FigureLLC]

try the spiral sewn denim in place of the sisal. we use it for first cuts on aluminum and it does a nice job.

[shoblue]

Thanks for the replies! I have some supplies arriving tomorrow - I ordered some 6.5" loose cotton's, a 6.5" spiral sewn cotton, and a 3.5" mushroom. The drill I'm using is a Rigid 2500rpm. Will the larger wheels make a difference? With the 6.5" buffs the speed will be about 4000 SFPM. With the 4.5" buffs that came in the kit the SFPM was about 2800. Also, what compound/buff should I go back to, to work out the "lines"? Thanks!

Rich

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by shoblue

Thanks for the replies! I have some supplies arriving tomorrow - I ordered some 6.5" loose cotton's, a 6.5" spiral sewn cotton, and a 3.5" mushroom. The drill I'm using is a Rigid 2500rpm. Will the larger wheels make a difference? With the 6.5" buffs the speed will be about 4000 SFPM. With the 4.5" buffs that came in the kit the SFPM was about 2800. Also, what compound/buff should I go back to, to work out the "lines"? Thanks!

Rich

Try dropping back to black and examine it closely to see if the "lines" you're seeing are gone. Then work your way back up. The canton might not have much effect except for a final coloring with white or red rouge.

[jrow]

shoblue,

Those streaks that are showing in your first picture look like there in the aluminum, not streaks from you buffing! Those you may have to sand out or use an Aluminum etch to get out. After you polish try using Acetone to clean the buffing compound off before you use the Simple Green. Make sure that you rake your buffing wheels often.
The biggest wheel that I would use on a drill motor would be a 4". It's to hard to control anything bigger. You might try some Mothers Mag Wheel polish and see if that will help.

John