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Thread: DIY Polish aluminum. (thermostat housing)

  1. #1
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    DIY Polish aluminum. (thermostat housing)

    Okay so I was going to do a DIY for painting a bumper, well we had to deal with tornado weather all day yesterday so instead, I decided to do one on how to polish aluminum.

    First i took my thermostat housing and hit the hard spots with my dremel tool to get some of the deeper scuffs out of of it.


    Next I take 400 grit paper and sand it all over.






    This is how it will look after hitting it with the 400 grit.



  2. #2
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    Next, we used 1000 grit paper and and water sanded to get a majority of the scuffs made by the 400 out.


    Then repeat the same process with 1500 and 2000 grit paper. By the time you get to 2000 grit, it will feel almost like a sheet of paper..


    This is after 1500 grit water sanding.


    This is after 2000 grit water sanding.

  3. #3
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    Then we used this guy right here. Makita Buffer>*



    And used this 3M rubbing compound... Not necessary to use this brand or anything like that, but this is what we had at the shop. I believe you can get some that will work pretty good at an autozone or something similar.


    It works really well if you have a Vise to mount your buffer too (also a buffer isn't a must, but it makes it a lot easier)...
    Note the pieces of wood to keep from scarring the housing.


    Reversed


    ****BE VERY CAREFUL DOING THIS ^^^****
    it is very easy to loose grip and it will send whatever you're working with flying. If you use a buffer, turn it to a low setting and hold on tightly.
    Last edited by DTM Derek; 04-05-2008 at 06:44 PM.

  4. #4
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    Time to polish. I used the following polish to get the initial polish done.


    With just a plain old towel. It works pretty well.


    What it will look like when you finish this step.





    Last edited by DTM Derek; 04-05-2008 at 06:48 PM.

  5. #5
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    Looking decent... I wasn't really satisfied with the final shine yet so I went and bought some of this.

    Kinda pricey at 15 dollars per can, but I think it will last a long time seeing as i barely used any at all.

    Used some of these towels to do my final polishing.

    Last edited by DTM Derek; 04-05-2008 at 06:50 PM.

  6. #6
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    I used the white house towel to apply the polish and the yellow towel to remove it.

    Here it is after one time of polishing with this stuff


    Here is after a second time.


    The third and final polish.(for me at least, my hand got tired.)


    (don't mind the left over that is still on there. I ended up getting it all off. It just takes a while)
    Last edited by DTM Derek; 04-05-2008 at 07:00 PM.

  7. #7
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    This is the DA that was used in the 400 grit process... Forgot to post it.
    It isn't a must, but helps to not wear yourself out.


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    dammmmmmn, I wanna do that to my valve cover

  9. #9
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    give it a go... its not hard at all, it just takes a bit of time. I only focused on the parts that would show once installed...

    That took me about 45 minutes to an hour. Plus the final polishing which took me about 20 minutes.

  10. #10
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    Very nice. Certainly looked great at the end. I love the pictures with you reflected in the metal!!

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    haha. thanks. it distorts your face kinda like a house of mirrors lol.

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    UP

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    oh what thats tight as hell, now how bout the oil filter housing.... get it going

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  14. #14
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    Now you just need to take care of the scratches in your tool box!
    The church is close, but the road is icy, The pub is far, but i will walk carefully

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    hah. i should do some more things. I just got this in the mail thursday and was slow at work friday, so decided to polish it up.

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    You could skip a bunch of steps there with a pedestal mounted buffing wheel and varying compounds of rouge.

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  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tefal View Post
    Now you just need to take care of the scratches in your tool box!
    lol. its 5 or 6 years old and gets used daily... most things in a shop don't stay "pretty"

    thats my dad's anyways

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by solgoodband View Post
    You could skip a bunch of steps there with a pedestal mounted buffing wheel and varying compounds of rouge.
    you sure could. you could actually go from 400 to 1500 and then used a tougher compound and polished it.... everything that was used here is also used in painting a car, not strictly for polishing metal. like i said though, you can go to a part store and get some rubbing compound that may work better than this. this is typically made to use on painted surfaces, not a metal.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by DTM Derek View Post


    Here is after a second time.


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    Thats sick

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    Just a tip.

    If you use white rouge then jewelers rouge on a loose buffing wheel in between the 1500 and the mother's you could save yourself from alot of rubbing and get a much deeper shine.

    If you use the rouges you only have to do the final polish by hand.

    I bought a kit like this and did these wheels.

    Before.


    After



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    Damn that looks nice
    2004 330ci

  23. #23
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    I could definitely see this project getting out of hand very quickly if I were to do it in my garage. First the thermostat housing, then the oil filter housing, then the head. . . I'd better leave well enough alone!

    Looks good though.
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    SÜNDE REISEN



  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mpowered95 View Post

    Quote Originally Posted by savage217 View Post
    Thats sick
    thanks
    Quote Originally Posted by onrailsm3 View Post
    Just a tip.

    If you use white rouge then jewelers rouge on a loose buffing wheel in between the 1500 and the mother's you could save yourself from alot of rubbing and get a much deeper shine.

    If you use the rouges you only have to do the final polish by hand.
    baller

    Quote Originally Posted by Socci View Post
    Damn that looks nice
    thanks

    Quote Originally Posted by stradmaster View Post
    I could definitely see this project getting out of hand very quickly if I were to do it in my garage. First the thermostat housing, then the oil filter housing, then the head. . . I'd better leave well enough alone!

    Looks good though.
    I know what you mean. I don't know that I will do anything else. I was just bored and at work and had just gotten the housing in the mail. maybe i will do the engine hook or the vanos cover.
    I may get in the mood to do something else but it will have to be another rainy day project.

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by DTM Derek View Post
    lol. its 5 or 6 years old and gets used daily... most things in a shop don't stay "pretty"

    thats my dad's anyways
    My toolbox has stayed pretty, but then there's capital punishment for anyone going near it! I like to keep it tidy for when I sell or upgrade.
    The church is close, but the road is icy, The pub is far, but i will walk carefully

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