Bringing shine back to metal

[EnergyInducti...]

Apologies in advance for the inability to write in paragraphs and such as i'm on my phones browser.
Basically, my valve cover is in a very sorry state. It's a dark shade of grey with road dirt baked on. How can i treat it to a nice shiny finish without forking out for someone else to do it? I was told a rotary sander with a various wire brush attachments and a dremel with finer abrasive attachments will give the desired effect. Is this true?
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Riding: Yamaha RXS100
Aiming for : RD350 + Test
Dream bike: Suzi RG500 Gamma

[Ichy]

Is the cover lacquered?

[EnergyInducti...]

It's an 86 honda cg, so not sure, doesnt look like it, why?
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Riding: Yamaha RXS100
Aiming for : RD350 + Test
Dream bike: Suzi RG500 Gamma

[Ichy]

Because sometimes just stripping the lacquer and repainting will work wonders.

[timjim]

if its an ally engine cover,first start by using a drill with a copper or brass(or soft) wire brush,alternatively buy a set of soft brsuhes(halfords?),look like a set of shiny toothbrushes,brush off the loose crud,follow up with a metal polish..autosol,peek,etc,then spray over witha thin coat of wd40/silicon spray which will prevent or slow down the return of the crud..best bet is to clean it all off,then respray with a hi temp engine paint.hope this is of help.

[ZRX61]

[27cows]

Probably best to wait a month or three before polishing anything Unless the bike in question won't be used in this hideous weather.

[EnergyInducti...]

Well i need to get it running, i need to apply for docs, mot it, fix whatever it fails on, tax it, and insure it lol so could be a month or 2 lol[/quote]
____________________
Riding: Yamaha RXS100
Aiming for : RD350 + Test
Dream bike: Suzi RG500 Gamma

[EnergyInducti...]

Well i need to get it running, i need to apply for docs, mot it, fix whatever it fails on, tax it, and insure it lol so could be a month or 2 lol
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Riding: Yamaha RXS100
Aiming for : RD350 + Test
Dream bike: Suzi RG500 Gamma

[Robby]

Nitromors paint stripper.

Once you've stripped the paint, you may find bright shinyness underneath anyway.

[EnergyInducti...]

Well, i got to work with some thick wire wool, and there are some fragments of grey paint left on around a tenth of the cover, most of it shines up nicely after the wire wool.
There's a lot of dirty pitted surfaces though. it feels smooth to the touch, but i can see the pitting any idea's?
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Riding: Yamaha RXS100
Aiming for : RD350 + Test
Dream bike: Suzi RG500 Gamma

[Acemastr]

Coke and tin foil gets chrome shiny, just saw it on mythbusters lol
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited