250R caliper

[TRX310R]

Hey all, i've been reading these forums for a while and only been polishing for a few weeks now. Just thought I'd post a few pictures of my latetst work and wanted to ask a few questions about the process.

Started with this


Now it looks like this...

[TRX310R]

Re: 250R caliper



I went to 600 on the top of the part and then to black/spiral, cleaned, brown/spiral, cleaned, then green/spiral...I can't seem to get the part free of waves after sanding smooth...any ideas?


It looks like orange peel...what causes that?

[Tng21]

Re: 250R caliper

what did you use to sand it with? paper, greaseless, machines?

uneven surfaces sandng with greaseless on a mop can be one cause

[mpierich]

Re: 250R caliper

I'm guessing greaseless. You need to use white compound with that to prevent the orangepeel.

[nfs2000]

Re: 250R caliper

Check out the bottom right hand corner of the pic below, yours doesnt look a million miles away from the same as my first (and current) workpiece.

In the post i put up about it i was pointed towards obtaining a palm sander to get an even surface and also go to a higher grit level to get it more flat. That would be my guess based on current experience (which is little so dont quote me!)

Just trying to share what little knowledge i have, hope the experts on here dont mind

To answer the question properly i think we need to know how you sanded down the items and to what grit level before polishing.

[smooth72]

Re: 250R caliper

Looks good, I did the same to my 310. Sand allot more before you go to the polish. Need to get it flat with sanding or grinding before going finer, I usally go down to at least 1000 grit. The polishing part is only about 10-20% of the process. Where do you ride? I usually go to Little Sahara in Oklahoma.

[TRX310R]

Re: 250R caliper

I sanded the surface with some surface prep disks from harbor freight, I can't seem to find the item online but I used a die grinder with 150 and 240 grit disks and it took all of the casting marks out easily. You can see on the caliper bracket that it is really shiny...and all I did was sand with those two disks and then start with emery/spiral; tripoli/spiral; green/loose cotton

On the caliper itself, I also used the two disks, then wetsanded to 600 then used emery/spiral; tripoli/spiral; and green/loose cotton...can't seem to get those marks to go away...


We only ride here in louisiana at a small dune recreation area...heres a pic of my 310


Lookin to upgrade to a 370!

[TRX310R]

Re: 250R caliper

Found the item on hf.com...- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices They are not hard dicks, more like a super stiff brillo pad haha, so they conform to whatever shape you are sanding and will not gouge the surface with stiff edges like a grinding stone.

The grey disk is 240 grit equivalent, but it seems to sand much finer than that...more like 400 b/c when I wetsand with 400 they have much more pronounced scratches then with the prep disk alone. I think I'll try to wet sand to 600 again and then go straight to the spiral/tripoli combo.

Smooth your bike looks amazing...I think I have that same picture of it saved on my harddrive from a long time ago when I first started riding and reading forums lol!

[FigureLLC]

Re: 250R caliper

jebus, those are some sick quads!

[smooth72]

Re: 250R caliper

Your curve areas look good. If you have a da sander use it on the flat areas. I use the da with different sandpaper, lubricated with wd40. Make sure the sandpaper doesn't get any debris or build up or it will leave little swirls. Harbor freight sales little 3" polisher and sanders for around $30 to $40 dollars that work great. 3M makes a full line of 3" Velcro bake sandpaper. Now take on the cylinder.

[TRX310R]

Re: 250R caliper

I definitely want to do my cylinder...I just dont know if i'm going to upgrade to a 370 soon or not. It would probably help the re-sale value of the cylinder anyway. I have a small palm sander that I may try on the flat surfaces, then wetsand with 400 and 600, then try the spiral/tripoli combo first instead of going to emery.

Smooth, are you talking about an air sander like this? The sander's maximum free speed is 1500 rpm...seems slow to me.
Or would I be better off getting an angle die grinder like this?


How do you guys know when its time for new buffing wheels??

[smooth72]

Re: 250R caliper

I use the wheel basically till it either falls apart or to small. Are you raking your polishing wheels. When the wheel gets shinny or built up rake it.

[TRX310R]

Re: 250R caliper

Should I try that 1500 rpm sander? Or just go with an angle die grinder?

I'd probably have more control with the 1500 rpm sander but idk

[smooth72]

Re: 250R caliper

I definitely want to do my cylinder...I just dont know if i'm going to upgrade to a 370 soon or not. It would probably help the re-sale value of the cylinder anyway. I have a small palm sander that I may try on the flat surfaces, then wetsand with 400 and 600, then try the spiral/tripoli combo first instead of going to emery.

Smooth, are you talking about an air sander like this? The sander's maximum free speed is 1500 rpm...seems slow to me.
Or would I be better off getting an angle die grinder like this?


How do you guys know when its time for new buffing wheels??

I use both of them I use the second one to rough it in with sand paper and with 3m Scotch -Brite Roloc surface Conditioning disc. They come in different grits but work great. The first one,the da, I used with sandpaper to get the super flat finish for a deep shine and wd40 . You will be surprise how little you need to use your buffing wheels and polish if you do the right amount of sanding to a fine finish. I usually sand out to at 1200 grit. If you do the sanding your shine will be much deeper because your surface is flatter. Another tip when you use your buffing wheels with any of your polishes pulling the part tor wards you against the spin of the wheel is used for cutting and with the wheel is for polishing. Do the cutting and then polishing step on each grit and rake your wheels often. Hope this helps. And about tools, I am a tool junky and you can never have too many.

[FigureLLC]

Re: 250R caliper

that's awesome.