Metal Polishing - Help Needed

[Bishbash]

Hey chaps,

Been learning to metal polish recently for my current project, I can polish it down perfectly, removing scratches, and blemishes fine. It's the after care that I cant figure out.

I recently polished the rear brake lever until I could see my face in it, it looked great, in fact, like chrome. So, I wanted to keep it like this so I lacquered it, left to dry etc. Came back to it last night and it looked exactly the same as I started, like a dull alloy colour.

Does anyone have any tips on how to finish and preserve the work I have done? I did a Google search, but nothing came up that helped.

Thanks


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My current bikes are - YZF-R1 & GS 500 E

Trackday videos - https://www.youtube.com/user/bishbash13

[kingsmith]

there is some stuff out there that the guys who have polished there car wheels...
its like some sort of wax stuff i think .
never used it so cannot tell you properly.

i do know its very hard work to keep them looking good specially in winter, but then you might only use bike at weekends ????

tell you what i want to see some pictures
____________________
honda cg 125 copy cheap and crap, perfect for work..
suzuki gsxr600 srad 2000
passed 12/11/09 happy boy

[kingsmith]

there is some stuff out there that the guys who have polished there car wheels...
its like some sort of wax stuff i think .
never used it so cannot tell you properly.

i do know its very hard work to keep them looking good specially in winter, but then you might only use bike at weekends ????

tell you what i want to see some pictures
____________________
honda cg 125 copy cheap and crap, perfect for work..
suzuki gsxr600 srad 2000
passed 12/11/09 happy boy

[Bishbash]

Sure, I will post some pics up this weekend regards my project and my polishing. Still after any answer, lacquer does not leave the finish I am after. I will take a look at the wax stuff.


All that work lost, kinda frustrating!
____________________
My current bikes are - YZF-R1 & GS 500 E

Trackday videos - https://www.youtube.com/user/bishbash13

[Vincent]

That's why I don't bother polishing ally anymore. I never found a laquer that doesn't fade after a while and maintaining the shine is just too much work. Try some Belgom Ali or Maguires polish. Both are supposed to last longer than other polishes.

[Bishbash]

Cheers Vincent, that's helpful.

As stated above, I am new to this, so what do you use on steel and other metals? Lacquer? Or Polish?
____________________
My current bikes are - YZF-R1 & GS 500 E

Trackday videos - https://www.youtube.com/user/bishbash13

[Vincent]

[Bishbash]

No, not chrome, I wont be chroming anything, just polishing and then coating to try to keep the finish I have created.

Found two pics of the pegs off of the project if your interested at all;

Before;
https://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/Neileng/2009_110210174.jpg


After;
https://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/Neileng/2009_110210175.jpg


____________________
My current bikes are - YZF-R1 & GS 500 E

Trackday videos - https://www.youtube.com/user/bishbash13

[Vincent]

If you polish steel, it will just rust. The only way to protect a polished ally surface, (and steel I guess), is with clear powdercoating but you would loose some of the finish so it defeats the object slightly. You've certainly done a good job on the pegs but keeping them like that is a lot of work I'm afraid. Like I said, Belgom Ali polish is supposed to be the best for longer lasting shine. You can get laquers for polished ally but they won't last that long and look horrible when they start peeling and fading.

[Bishbash]

That's what I was afraid of, OK, I will try that alloy polish, it will certainly have a better finish than the lacquer I tried on the rear brake, after it dried it literally looked like I just wiped the muck off. It was soul destroying!

Thanks dude!
____________________
My current bikes are - YZF-R1 & GS 500 E

Trackday videos - https://www.youtube.com/user/bishbash13

[ms51ves3]

Maybe you should concentrate more on how tidy your garage is rather than your shiny footpeg

[Bishbash]

It's an organised mess! I know exactly where everything is.
____________________
My current bikes are - YZF-R1 & GS 500 E

Trackday videos - https://www.youtube.com/user/bishbash13