Polishing frames?

[R1stu]

I have just purchased a swingarm to polish up for the summer. Unlike wheels where you can use paint stripper (nitromorse) which would kill the alluminum, what is the best way to polish a frame / swingarm!?
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Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

[Ste]

My best advice would be not to. Trust me, it's going to take you fucking ages!

[Annabella]

Elbow grease.


There really isn't an easy way as far as I know. I used to work for a surface treatment company, and a colleague decided it would be a great idea to polish his frame with the polishing equipment we used in the lab....

...Needless to say we were falling over his blade for the following month while he used the polishing wheel and diamond paste on his frame. Apparently the costs amounted including the polishing papars and the diamond paste totalled over £200 (although it was Moaning Mick who worked that out) .


However you decide to do it - Good Luck
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[R1stu]

I know its going to take ages, thats why im starting it now! What I need to know, is what to use?

eg.

1) Drill

2) Sand paper

3) Some paste

4) get someone else to do it.
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Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

[Kickstart]

Hi

What you are trying to take off is the anodising. This stops the frame from corroding and also makes it marginally stronger. If you want a weaker frame that is prone to corroding then go for it.

As to what to use you are probably best off just using fine wet and dry paper. As the anodising is basically part of the aluminium then the paint stripper will not have any real beneficial effect.

All the

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Ste]

4

[R1stu]

This is where the keeping of the old swingarm comes in! Every winter I can put the old SA back on and keep the other one all nice and shiny!

My bike is comming on now, starting to look good!
____________________
Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

[Robby]

Why bother, you'll only crash it or get it nicked again.

[R1stu]

Dear oh me robby! you are the most cheerfull one! If I crash it, I have a spare swingarm and its upto me!
____________________
Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

[Scotty]

Stu, go for it i say.
If your not polishing the frame, you'd probably end up polishing other bits

and least the frame will tke longer to polish off
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Regards
Scott

[MarJay]

Polished swingarms, Carbon fibre ram air covers, changing swingarms for the summer?

<G/Dusty/MarJay mode> www.tartshandbag.co.uk</G/Dusty/MarJay mode>


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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Hex]

If your doing the swing arm my advice would be not to do it all, only do what you will see ie the outsides of it, you'll not really get any benefit from doing the inside.

That will save you a bit of time straight off.

An orbital sander with some rough wet and dry to start with will take the top coating off so you can then start sanding properly.

Work down the different grits each time making sure you have taken out all the deeper scratches caused by the grade you are using as when you move down a grit you will end up having to go back up to remove the deeper scratch.

Don't use a drill and flap wheel if thats what you where planning as you will probably end up with low spots etc as trying to keep a drill at an even pressure across the surface will be ni-on impossible (thus the orbital sander advice).

When your down to a low grit you may want to move to either wire wool or polishing paste stuff (this is where the super hard work starts by hand).

Other tips would be go along the arm not across it, take your time don't rush and good luck.
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[chunkielad]

When it is done, which will take eons!!!!! Get it powder coated in clear that way it won't corrode as easily!!!
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Remember you always and will ride in your honour.
Big revvs up for Mark!

[Hex]

[Scotty]

The only bit thats polished on my bike, is the foot rest hangers, which have been worn down by peoples feet.
Looks cool though.
Although it has took about 14 years
____________________
Regards
Scott

[divuk83]

Just pay some one to polish it mate, if you want a mirror finish then that is the best way. Most chromers/powdercoaters will be able to do it for you in a fraction on the time it will take you.
I have been polishing stuff myself for the last few days. Just used a quids worth of wet and dry paper then gone over it with a cheapo polishing kit that fits to a power drill, it looks OK, took ages though.
Its a piaggio engine cover BTW

https://www.divuk83.com/images/bike/cover3.jpg

This is what a my mate paid a polisher about 20 squid for, its like a mirror!

https://www.divuk83.com/images/bike/cover4.jpg

[Hex]

Your mates looks like it has been chromed not polished though. Theres quite a difference.
____________________
The BCF's very own Party boy! Though he's getting old and feeling it!
Monkey hanger, Born and bred
My little photo portfolio

[divuk83]

yeah, its well impressive. but believe it or not, it has only been polished. cost him about 20 squid and was done in a few hours. where as mine took yesterday afternoon and this morning!

[Hex]

Fair enuf, you cant beat a nice polisher though to do the job in a fraction of the time.

I'm planning on doing my mini moto frame (time allowing) I know I could do it here, but if I took it up to my fathers garage I know i could do it in half the time on the buffing equipment.
____________________
The BCF's very own Party boy! Though he's getting old and feeling it!
Monkey hanger, Born and bred
My little photo portfolio

[Dusty]

Noooo Gav, don't do the mini moto, get it powder coated black, imho it'll look way better.
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Gallery

[Hex]

But that costs money - also I was thinking shiny metal parts and black body work.

Once I get a black tank I'll paint the fairings etc.

There again it all comes down to the point where I go "Hmm can I be bothered", and even though it means I get to polish stuff the answer may still well be no for the moment.
____________________
The BCF's very own Party boy! Though he's getting old and feeling it!
Monkey hanger, Born and bred
My little photo portfolio

[Dusty]

hmmm, might look quite cool with black body work, although I reckon the wheels would have to be shinned up too.
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[Hex]

Hmm hadn't considered the wheels, hmm that could look well cool.

Black body work (few decals maybe or a flash of colour) and a polished frame and wheels, could look nice till I wrap it round a trye wall.
____________________
The BCF's very own Party boy! Though he's getting old and feeling it!
Monkey hanger, Born and bred
My little photo portfolio

[Scotty]

I'll wrap it round a tire wall, i do that well

And polised frame and black body work... it'll look like a mini aprilla.

Get some mini CBR stickers for it, and call it mini me...
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Regards
Scott

[R1stu]

Ok well here is a picture of the swingarm as I got it this morning! I will be filling you in on the progress of the polishing as we go like the Go-Kart.

So with my cordless sander and wet and dry paper, plus autosol.

We can see how it goes!!
____________________
Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)