TUTORIAL: How to polish aluminum LOTS OF PICS!! (and beer)
12-01-2009, 09:13 AM
#21
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More work than I think most are willing to take on.... but, it's a labor of love. 
I've heard comments that I have more time than them...
... I don't.
With a 4 month old son, my time is almost zero.
I wish I could post the pic of my wife very angry, flipping me off for making noise into the night....
... yes, when this engine is done... it will be a load off my shoulders.
I can't stop until it *is* what I picture in my mind.
I've heard comments that I have more time than them...
... I don't. With a 4 month old son, my time is almost zero.
I wish I could post the pic of my wife very angry, flipping me off for making noise into the night....
... yes, when this engine is done... it will be a load off my shoulders. I can't stop until it *is* what I picture in my mind.
12-01-2009, 11:36 AM
#24
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Nice job - those valve covers look awesome. Thanks for the tutorial.
12-01-2009, 12:54 PM
#25
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If you make the surface ultra smooth there are less microscopic angles that collect debris and oxidize. It will stay perfect for years. Dry weather driving only. Dust it off with microfiber towel after a weekend of driving.
So.... do the best job you can at first, and it will stay nice longer, and be easier to keep up spending a few minutes with micro fiber cloth and some Simichrome.
If it's a poor job to begin with, it will barely look right from the start and it'll lose all it's "glow" in short order.
Don't drive the car in rain. Baked on rain water kills it. Just like polished wheels.
I've had my last engine look the same 1.5 years after I was done... then sold the car. The next owner got a gem... but let it go to hell. Kinda like whoring out a beautiful model for $50 to a gang of construction workers every payday.
12-01-2009, 12:58 PM
#26
Burning Brakes
Wow, what a transformation, they look great. Personally, waaay too much time & effort for me. I would have just taken them to my local plating shop to them polished. It would have probably taken him about 4hours on the wheel.
12-01-2009, 01:12 PM
#27
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Those things can seriously injure/kill a man in a split second if it catches the part at a bad angle. Or it grabs your clothes and pulls you into it.
I'll stick with my lil' 1/3hp buff and little corded drill.
12-01-2009, 10:59 PM
#31
Le Mans Master
I'm exhausted! 
12-02-2009, 10:29 PM
#33
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12-17-2009, 02:40 PM
#37
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Just started on the part of the block that shows from the passenger side. Once it's done I'll take off the valley cover and timing cover and get those too. 
Found a use for the work shirts from my old job.
Lots of sanding before you can use the buffers.... (to be continued)
Found a use for the work shirts from my old job.
Lots of sanding before you can use the buffers.... (to be continued)
