Polishing

[www.125power.com]

Hey, all I want to polish my footpegs and other bits and bob's later on today, never polished anything to bare metal before (think they are alu too) they are not painted and i have some clear varnish (for metals) that should protect them from weathering and scratches.
Am i missing something or do i just take the surface off and bring on the wet and dry?

Thanks in advance
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[craigs23]

There are different ways of polishing - some favour using chemicals to remove the OE finish and then polish from there, some prefer using sanding discs/polishing mops and what not/other people prefer the pain and blisters caused from wet'n'drying from OE finish to mirror shine.

I used the final method on my RVF, plus a few details on my current Blade - I can get a much better level of control using this method than my lame attempts with polishing mops.

Basically work from a 180 grit up to a 1500, then polished with Autosol, the Belgom Alu. Not laquered or covered with any varnish, as I found this reduces the gleam factor somewhat. Besides, I actually enjoy polishing, so regular cleaning isn't too much of an issue for me (or chore).

RVF:
https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/exhaust3.jpg

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00640b.jpg

Blade:
https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/yoke2.jpg

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00699.jpg

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00775.jpg

More info take a look here:

https://www.400greybike.co.uk/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=37710&whichpage=1&SearchTerms=polish

Here:

https://www.400greybike.co.uk/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=32421&SearchTerms=polish

And here for more info:

https://www.schiebel.ca/Polishing/frame_polishing_101.htm

[www.125power.com]

Cheers craig
What about protection and maintenance though? Just lots of regular autosol do the trick?
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[ISLAND GIRL]

Craig, your bike is so nice and shiny, must of taken hrs?? I have started usiing Autosol on my bits, pardon the expression, did my down pipes last wk and looking better already but still could do with another going over again, I guess I will get there eh but not as shiny as yours somehow.
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[Walloper]

craigs23, do you polish all your bits regularly? Or do you have a friend to help with some of it?
Dead *Bling* Bike BTW
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[craigs23]

Just regular polishing keeps my bikes fresh; the Blade isn't used on a regular basis during the winter (that's all about to change once they stop gritting the roads (plus once I've finished what I've started on it))

I wet and dried my mate's CB1 forks when I helped out (or rather took over) on its restoration project. He doesn't/hasn't got time to keep on top of the polishing like I seem to enjoy to (alittle too much maybe) so I laquered them for him afterwards. Took away a bit of the shine, but he was happy with them; especially as they've now lasted a winter and just needed regular washing (as opposed to polishing).

The RVF took 9 months to get from bob-standard good condition to the article shown in the above pics. The white wheels and the polished frame were the final 'major' pieces of work I did to it before I sold it on. The bike was used differently to the Blade as well - i.e., it was the commuter bike for that 9 months - in all weathers, so the cleaning routine became somewhat religious

[SoND]

Does anyone know anything about polishing stainless to a mirror finish?

Would it be the same as aluminium?
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[craigs23]

Pretty much - although stainless steel is harder than aluminium. Even though gold in colour due to heat - the exhaust system on the RVF was stainless and polished like I polish pretty much anything else (see above).

The Yoshi on the Blade is also stainless, although this only requires a dab of Autosol every now and then.

It's not a perfect mirror and you'll never get as good a shine as you can with chrome work, though doesn't look too bad...

[Dazbo666]

Gotta say that is one sweeeet looking finish
Looks like you must've spent more time cleaning it than riding it??

Only joking - I'm just so jealous

[Walloper]

I just 'polished' off an 8 oz bar of Belgian Milk Chocolate. Mmmmm.
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[quacker_boy]

[craigs23]

[sam.ashburner]

Big respect to craigs for that dedication. I've admired that VFR ever since I first noticed it in exchange & mart section.

My Micron can is looking pretty sorry for itself these days (very dull), I guess this polishing method would work on it? (I think it's stainless)

[Fazerkev]

I keep seeing pics of your bikes Craigs! truly impressive and good on ya.
I wouldn't dream of having that sort of comitment!

Anyway, I thought you;d be a good person to ask about cleaning my metal.
I have fazer6 and am starting to notice a few smal marks on the heel plates, swingarm, forks etc.. grease spots, small scratches etc. The usual wear.

Now I don't have a drill and polishing it, not do I want to make it supershiny (you mustbe shocked, I know! ). But what can you reccomend for making it look tidier.
Thanks.
Kev
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Kev

[craigs23]

Sam - the chap who makes my exhaust cans can also supply exhaust parts as well - including can sleeves. Mail him on [email protected] to see if he can get a replaceable sleeve for your Micron. If it's just 'dull', a small amount of polishing (Autosol is good for general use) should bring it up nicely.

F'Kev - a similar topic came up on 400greybike; I don't polish all metal surfaces to a mirror finish (don't like my bikes to look too bling) - only detailing is done this way. Metal work (and paintwork) can be polished up to a standard where the material beneath isn't affected - you can soften/blur masks out if you're very careful.

I used a similar technique on my pre-mirror-polished days on my RVF. Heelplates; polished, but only to remove scuffs:

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC490.jpg

This is done with a VERY light dusting of Brasso (Autosol might work if you're careful, but liquid metal polishes are best for this kind of work) as to not take any metal off - I use a similar method (but now with Belgom Alu) to remove light scuffing/scratches from paintwork).

For metal, this isn't a permenant remedy - you can either repeat the process every few weeks (or when the scuffs appear) or I may recomend a light coat of laquer to give better protection next time round (don't spray laquer in cold/damp conditions though, it won't dry properly).

[sam.ashburner]

Thanks for the advice, I'll give him a try

[riichy]

god dam the rvf it clean
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[craigs23]

[UrbanRacer]

Craig23, i'll bring the bike down to yours tomorrow and i'll come back down to collect it on saturday. just the down pipes and the can to be done cheers

[quacker_boy]