Here you go Bob.
This is what we do on vintage bikes.
Plastics
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa214/TLRam1/Motorcycles/Lens/Lens.jpg)
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa214/TLRam1/Motorcycles/Lens/untitled5.jpg)
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa214/TLRam1/Motorcycles/Lens/untitled4.jpg)
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa214/TLRam1/Motorcycles/Lens/untitled7.jpg)
This is done with gradual decreasing grades of WET sandpaper. This gage was really bad and made a good example. Start with 400 and worked all the way to 1800 and finished with Plexiglas polish.
The trick is every time you go to a finer grade, be sure to get all the scratches out from the previous grade, total time about 1.3 hours per gage.
If you use power tools be careful because the plastic will easily burn.
And another guy did this though I have not seen his results. I will play around with this on my next set.
I would normally agree with you on the high speed buffer actually burning lines into the lens.
This situation I've seen before all too often before, but it depends on what medium you are polishing with.
For instance, the J Buffalo plastic lenses were fine with the white rouge bar I used. I even tested it on a cracked lens to see how much abuse it could take. No damage at all, just a high quality shine using the buffer and rouge bar. Even with the drill spinning at 3,000 rpm and applying some serious pressure on a spot there was no burning issues, and yes it was getting rather warm to the touch.
Had this been a polishing compound it would have burnt the lens in many sections.
Id say try the white rouge bar and the buffer on the yellow lenses and you probably won't need all that sandpaper and hand rubbing.
If you need info on polishing aluminum....let me know
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa214/TLRam1/Motorcycles/Lens%20and%20Aluminum%20Polshed/2447030420061780441IWzmuf_fs.jpg)
(http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa214/TLRam1/Motorcycles/Lens%20and%20Aluminum%20Polshed/7xan8dx.jpg)
If you need info on polishing aluminum....let me know
WOW.... Those pics look great. I need the polishing aluminum info because my project looks nothing like that.
Quote from: TLRam1 on January 16, 2008, 12:48:18 PMIf you need info on polishing aluminum....let me know
I'd sure like to learn about it, Terry!
Our bikes are comprised of all kinds of materials : clear plastic windshield; colored plastic fenders and side covers, chromed pieces, painted/clearcoated tanks, brushed aluminum, etc, etc. etc........
I've picked up dings, scrapes, scuffs and general wear on all these surfaces and sure would like to know the best way to clean, polish. and dress up the gal......
Anybody have a how-to manual or FAQ that gives idiot friendly advice on cleaning up scuffs and scratches ... polishing out scratches on fenders and tanks, proper windshield care, suggested cleaning stuff and polishing stuff......?
I'd love to see a one thread pinned down covering this here
Quote from: gregoehler on January 16, 2008, 09:30:22 PMAnybody have a how-to manual or FAQ that gives idiot friendly advice on cleaning up scuffs and scratches ... polishing out scratches on fenders and tanks, proper windshield care, suggested cleaning stuff and polishing stuff......?
I'd be glad to know where to find something like that, too... assuming it's dumbed down enough for me. :?
I will post info on Aluminum, let me put something together.
My wind screen was horrible. As a fluke I has some clear cellophane shipping tape get stuck to the screen and when I pulled it off the screen was much clearer. So I did my entire wind screen and it improved mine considerably.
Robert that was probably the UV coating you removed.... Check with the manufactuer.. I had a National Cycle shield that did that along with tiny little cracks at the drilled bolt holes. They replaced it for me.
You may not believe me :-P :-P but you first sand the pieces with sandpaper.
Start with 320/400 on bad pieces and then go progressively to at least 800, which gives a more stock appearance, and on to 1000-1500 if you want a highly polished finish (I take it to the finer side). I have used both wet and dry sand paper but as you progress to the finer papers, wet sanding will work better.
Than you can put a buffer wheel to it with rouge and bring it to a shine in minutes. At this point I have also hand rubbed with a metal polish such as Mothers Billet Metal Polish or Blue Magic.
This process works well (similar to the above) and doesn't take as much time as you may think unless you are doing a motor!
Now go and try it!
hey terry how about i just ship my parts to you and do them for me
I have a box full of parts to be polished as well :lol:
Now I know why chroming costs so much :-?
Yeah I think the Chrome would be cheap but it is the time it takes to polish the metal first then chrome it we all know time is $$$$ . Very nice job on the engines the plastic pictures are not showing up though.
Actually chrome plating involves several steps. If steel or iron is being plated it is first plated with copper. I have heard this is because nickel and steel react with each other. Wikipedia says it's to help the nickel to adhere to the steel. Then nickel is plated onto the copper. The nickel is what makes it shiny and silver. Then chrome is plated on top of the nickel. The chrome is to keep the nickel from corroding and becoming dull. Anyone seen a shiny nickel?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plated
Keith & Greg,
If you sent me yours....my reaction, you want it When?? :-P
I am like you guys, too many projects going on. :-P
Yep, chrome plating does have to start with a smooth base than copper, nickle, chrome. Than there is Hard Chrome which is a harder surface and used on bushings, shafts, etc. Soft chrome (cosmetic chrome) is what we are use to seeing.
Yeah its going to take me FOREVER to do all the polishing I want to do :sad: :lol:
However here is what a couple minutes with the polish will do!
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Yeah that dremel works great HUH :lol:
NOPE not a dremel!!!!!! Chucked up a arbor and a polishing wheel thingy in my bench top drill press and went to town!
Here is an old riser bridge from my Valk I polished half of it!
[attachment deleted by forum maintenance]
Greg those look great! We need to send our bits to You for polishing!
Quote from: Greg Cothern on January 18, 2008, 04:39:18 PM
NOPE not a dremel!!!!!! Chucked up a arbor and a polishing wheel thingy in my bench top drill press and went to town!
Here is an old riser bridge from my Valk I polished half of it!
Anything worth doing is worth doing half way, I always say! :shock: Looks good!
Curtis
Quote from: TLRam1 on January 18, 2008, 05:24:33 PM
Greg those look great! We need to send our bits to You for polishing!
NOT!!!!!!!!!! I have enough to do! LoL.
Curtis you know me, halfway or nothing!
I've heard that Greg would polish a small spot on your bike, then just quit, but I didn't know he done it to himself too :) :) :) :)
Quote from: Charles S Otwell on January 18, 2008, 09:18:40 PM
I've heard that Greg would polish a small spot on your bike, then just quit, but I didn't know he done it to himself too :) :) :) :)
HA HA HAH HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!! So true!!!!
Curtis
I DONT KNOW what you talking about! I would NEVER do such a thing to anyone!
Oh and he has a bug that lives in his Garage to you step in there and you will get it LOL POLISH BUG :lol: :lol: :lol:
Terry, thanks much for the polishing tips. The switch gear housings on my bike are looking rather sad, so I tink I'm going to have to have a crack at polishing them up.
Now, my next question is, what do you use on aluminum to prevent further oxidation?
I can answer this one, MORE POLISH! LoL, Or clearcoating! :lol:
Quote from: Spaceman Spiff on January 19, 2008, 01:54:51 PM
Now, my next question is, what do you use on aluminum to prevent further oxidation?
I have not used a protector, I have done as Greg so eloquently put, more polish. I have not had something polished that long yet. If it becomes a pain I might experiment.
One guy I know clear coated but I am not sure with what and he was disappointed when gas ran on it and turned a little yellow.
Another states this.......you HAVE to use automotive acrylic TWO parts clear coat (Glasurit, Max Meyer. etc)
And others recommend this,
Back in November I got a can of ACF-50 anti-corrosion spray. I painted it onto the chrome work on the Suzuki, then went for a ride the next day.
As bad luck would have it, the roads had been freshly gritted for winter. The bike ended up COVERED in salt. Well, I thought it would make a good test of how effective the spray was.
Over 8 weeks later, I've not washed the bike nor touched up the ACF since, and there are STILL no signs of rust. And this is on 30+ year old chrome which is already pitted in some places on the wheel rims, mudguards etc.
Off the website;
• was used during the filming of WaterWorld
• was used during the filming of The Titanic
• is a marine version of the aviation and military's ACF-50
http://www.corrosionauthority.com/
That's great information to know, Terry! You also just hit on one of my biggest concerns about winter riding: the salt! When I saw the post about the corroded engine mount on somebody's bike in a prior MOOT post, that got me thinking about the long-term effects of corrosion, and especially the application of salt to the roads in the winter. Since we're prohibited from outdoor water usage in North Georgia for the foreseeable future, washing the bike after a ride to clean the road grime off of it is not an option. Going to have to check into this ACF-50 more closely. Thanks!
No car wash :sad:? what a bummer!!
Someone said that it was so dry in Georgia the catfish had trouble with fleas! :wink:
Curtis
Now that is what you call dry humor :cool:.
Here are some goodies I polished up here at the house.
[attachment deleted by forum maintenance]
Very nice.
Wow....You will be on the Honor Roll with that one! At the next wrench session we'll need to keep our shades on with all the polished bits everyone has!
Labor of Love..or sweat. :-? :-? Looks Great!!!!!!!!
mr miagi would be proud wax on wax off
Quote from: Curtis_Valk on January 21, 2008, 05:48:33 PM
Someone said that it was so dry in Georgia the catfish had trouble with fleas! :wink:
Curtis
I just realized that I am now one of the Great Unwashed.