More perfect shine

[Chopper Doc]

Thanks guys for all the great stuff your bringing up!! My question is I have bought the basic polishing kit (Caswell) with the Tripoli (loose buff wheel) and the White rouge (spiral wheel) and I just can't seem to get beyond a dull, hazy reflection on my aluminum (OLD) motorcycle parts... I am seeing alot of other compounds listed, am I not going through enough polishing compounds before I buff?? Please advise and recommend some products if I need them... Go easy guys, I'm a newbie!! THANKS!!

[mcaswell]

Did you buy our Aluminum Polishing Kit? It should have come with a black and brown compound and two 4" wheels. Or did you get the bigger wheel polishing kit?

Anyway, don't use the white for aluminum. You should be using black compound with the sisal (rope) wheel, then brown compound with the cotton wheel.

[Chopper Doc]

Thanks- I bought a 8" wheel kit for soft metals... I will order the other types and give it a try. Also, how much of the compound do I actually need on the wheel?? I have been experimenting a liitle and found sometimes it leaves a heavy black residue on the surface. Is this too much compound?? Thanks again!

[mcaswell]

Yes, sounds like you're using too much. Use VERY small amounts applied frequently to the wheel, as opposed to a lot at once.

[PRD#5]

What I do to get a perfect shine is:
1) Remove scratches and marks with a schotch brite wheel.(equivelant to the black compound)
2) Buff with brown
3) Buff with white
4) Buff with red
5) Lightly buff with blue for a great mirror finish.

Don