Should i be using a smaller grit?

[fosgate99]

I have this piece of aluminum that was pitted pretty badly, dented, etc. I worked it for 2 days with 80 grit papaer to clean it up. So after i do this and it's nice and smoothe i begin to hit the piece with a spiral and the black emery. I did a small area for about 45 minutes and finally it began to get shiny BUT it had an orange peel look to it. I held it in the light and you could also see my sanding marks from the 80 grit. What am i doing wrong here?

[L98-Z]

Yes, move up. From what I've read emory is for 320+ in most cases.

Try going 180, 220, then 320 and follow through with the emory.

[jhillyer2]

Re: Should i be using a smaller grit?

I have this piece of aluminum that was pitted pretty badly, dented, etc. I worked it for 2 days with 80 grit papaer to clean it up. So after i do this and it's nice and smoothe i begin to hit the piece with a spiral and the black emery. I did a small area for about 45 minutes and finally it began to get shiny BUT it had an orange peel look to it. I held it in the light and you could also see my sanding marks from the 80 grit. What am i doing wrong here?

I've polished one aluminum item, an RX-7 OEM cast aluminum fuel rail, and it remains under construction, having received various experiments. I milled it with a cutting head, big drill stainless brush, ultra-speed drill stainless brush and garnet grinders, bench grinder brush. Aluminum seems great as a strut and as a fluid carrier, but soft and not good against abrasion and flexing. I would use 400 and smaller for a pre-buff finish, then hit with wheel and compound. Don't fear the thousands either, #1500, 4000, depending to suit the right goal.