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As a newbie to the forums, and a newbie to the process, I am almost too embarrased to ask this question.
I'm rebuilding an '82 harley lowrider. This old shovel was left out in the rain and blowing dust in Arizona for the last ten years. In the process of rebuilding, I'm trying to learn the art of polishing and buffing. The old shovel rocker-arm covers look horrible. They are horribly discolored, stained, and pitted.
I purchased a full kit from Caswell, including a buffing machine, several wheels, and compound beyond belief. Thank God for caswell as I have had a great experience with them!
I have read the instructions, read this forum, and have had great results because of the great advice and help, but I am faced with a small, rather tiny, problem....... THE PITTS
While I can buff from emory to Tripoli, to white and get great shiny results, there are tiny little pitts in the aluminium that make the project look like ****. Here are my questions....
1. Is this normal? Does cast aluminium normally have these pitts or was this due too corrosion over the years?
2. While I have worked mainly with Emory on a Sisal, I can not get ride of the pitts, is it time to shift to a greaseless compound? If so, I have everything from 400 to 80 grit, where best to start? 400? 260?
3. If I polishes the pitts out, are there more pitts below? (Woodworkers will understand this, as sand pitts often continue until you have nothing but a toothpick) Am I never going to see the end of my pitts?
Any advice, direction, flames or comments are greatly appreciated!!!
Jhelm
I'm rebuilding an '82 harley lowrider. This old shovel was left out in the rain and blowing dust in Arizona for the last ten years. In the process of rebuilding, I'm trying to learn the art of polishing and buffing. The old shovel rocker-arm covers look horrible. They are horribly discolored, stained, and pitted.
I purchased a full kit from Caswell, including a buffing machine, several wheels, and compound beyond belief. Thank God for caswell as I have had a great experience with them!
I have read the instructions, read this forum, and have had great results because of the great advice and help, but I am faced with a small, rather tiny, problem....... THE PITTS
While I can buff from emory to Tripoli, to white and get great shiny results, there are tiny little pitts in the aluminium that make the project look like ****. Here are my questions....
1. Is this normal? Does cast aluminium normally have these pitts or was this due too corrosion over the years?
2. While I have worked mainly with Emory on a Sisal, I can not get ride of the pitts, is it time to shift to a greaseless compound? If so, I have everything from 400 to 80 grit, where best to start? 400? 260?
3. If I polishes the pitts out, are there more pitts below? (Woodworkers will understand this, as sand pitts often continue until you have nothing but a toothpick) Am I never going to see the end of my pitts?
Any advice, direction, flames or comments are greatly appreciated!!!
Jhelm
? Alot of those rocker box covers are chromed pieces, and they will pit just the way you are describing. I really can not tell you if they are or not, without messing up the chrome (if it is chrome). the pits you are describing may just be badly corroded chrome plating that is now gone, leaving the pits behind. Also, could be as you described and be porosity though, I can clearly say that Harley parts are usually no where near the quality of a Jap bike in terms of lack of porosity in a cast aluminum piece. Jap bikes are far easier to polish than a cast (probably in china) harley piece.
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