Polishing aluminum

admin

A newlywed couple bought dining room furniture. 50 years later the chairs are still in good shape. They still love the chairs, but they weigh 35 LBS each. The base made of 8 pieces of 1/2" X 1-1/2" stainless bar, is a simple design. Each base weighs 24 LBS. They want it replaced in aluminum. The change to aluminum will shave 15 LBS from each. They don't like Zank's style where the stack of dimes is left as a decorative touch. These welds would be ground away. My question is the polishing technique, what machine would work best? My idea would be a 4-1/2" grinder fitted with a stacked cloth pad used with polishing compound. Where would I buy such a pad? Is there a better way?
Reply:I would think the same stuff car guys to clean old "Mag Wheels". Maybe Flitz with one of the various Felt pads they use on them??
Reply:If you really want it polished I would think you would need to start with 100 grit and work your way up to 2000
Reply:100-200 grit paper to get the rough spots out, work up to about 600 grit Untill all the scratches from the 200 grit are gone, then depending on how shiney they want them final sand with 1500-2000 grit and finish with a liquid polish.I speak from a lot of polishing experience but not everything works out the same, sometimes you won't need the first or third step. After I'm done sanding I will either put the piece on a polish wheel or hand polish with a compound called "white diamond".. Dosent get much better for aluminum, it's literally the best thing I've ever come across for a final polish on aluminum.I've never had much luck with any hand held polisher, if the polish wheel dosent cover the entire piece in one shot you will wind up with lines in the finish when your done.Hope his helps.!Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:If you got the forearm time and patience go for it. But it might just be worth it to just powder coat it chrome. Because it takes a long to polish stuff. If your gona do it the most important part is the beginning getting every thing smooth. Then start with about 100 grit and make sure there are no pits or scratches or else they will really show in the end.  My 2 cents
Reply:Normal grinder spins way too fast for polishing.Yer gonna have a heck of a time at it trying to polish any jointsThis is just a little clamp that I knocked off the blue and then sanded on my bench top belt sander and then on to a polishing wheel.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Might wanna go with a  Brushed Alooominum look Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:I know it is said that you shouldn't use a grinder but I setup a white cloth wheel on my 7", used various grits of polishing compound after filing out gouges and pits in the 100 gal aluminum diesel tank of my truck. Filed only the high   spots (sides of he gouges) and kept the wheel moving to prevent heating. The domes were in tough condition but the tank came out great! I have heard there is a potential hazard from aluminum dust so I used an air supplied respirator most of the time. I would do it again on my stuff, I would buy a buffer if I were to do it for somebody else.Thunderbolt AC/DC330AB/P + Bernard coolerSyncrowave 250Oxy/Ace torchDayton 160 MIG6CF pot with 185 compressorToo much big equipmentEven more small tools
Reply:Originally Posted by OMBI know it is said that you shouldn't use a grinder but I setup a white cloth wheel on my 7", used various grits of polishing compound after filing out gouges and pits in the 100 gal aluminum diesel tank of my truck. Filed only the high   spots (sides of he gouges) and kept the wheel moving to prevent heating. The domes were in tough condition but the tank came out great! I have heard there is a potential hazard from aluminum dust so I used an air supplied respirator most of the time. I would do it again on my stuff, I would buy a buffer if I were to do it for somebody else.
Reply:Ebay.Now that I think about it, I also bought a synthetic wheel with a coarse grit to start with then progressed to finer grits on a cloth wheel to polish. The really bad spots I used a DA starting with 320, working up to 600 I think. Probably spent about $45 on the polishing wheels and compounds to get setup. Be aware of using low speed wheels intended for a buffer in a high speed grinder if that is what you are doing... and the potential for metal dust inhalation... and static discharge.I started on the back side facing the frame to get the technique and if it didn't work it wouldn't show. It took about 5 hours for an aluminum tank about 22" diameter and 4'+ long in OK condition without much pitting(physical impact, not chemical pitting). Worked so well I did all the other polished finishes on the truck including the stainless.Thunderbolt AC/DC330AB/P + Bernard coolerSyncrowave 250Oxy/Ace torchDayton 160 MIG6CF pot with 185 compressorToo much big equipmentEven more small tools