Polishing questions

[wastedincome420]

I would like to polish some of my bike (frame.swing arm,etc0 and want to know what grits of sand paper I should start & finish with
IS the sanding done wet?? or dry?? Most of the frame,etc is pretty smooth to begin with so I dont need to start with too much of low grit.....
I know a few of you have done your own polishing so some one must have some advice

[Kip]

What bike do you have? If there is paint on anything use Aircraft paint stripper to take it off, then use like a 1,000 grit or just a buffing wheel and some mothers polish and you will see a shine.

[RevHappy]

Kips right most likely your frame has an anodized covering to protect from the elements. I would start of using 800 grit then 1000 and then 1500 and finish off with 2000. Then grab a polishing wheel with mothers aluminum polish and lighty go over all sanded area's. Dont use an electric sander it wil put waves into your frame. Make sure you take your time and go over the entire area's before going up to the next grit. If you need any pointers while your doing your project shoot me an e-mail at revhappyr6@aol.com.
Good Luck

[wastedincome420]

Originally posted by kip
What bike do you have?

Its a 86' Honda VFR 700 w/ nice flat square frame. Shouldnt be any paint to remove, although there maybe a coating on it.

[wastedincome420]

Originally posted by wastedincome420

IS the sanding done wet?? or dry??

[Collision pro]

Wet. DON'T DO IT!!!! Unless you have a lot of time to keep it up. It's alot of work. Good luck!

[beet]

i used 2 clear coat trophies its the only way 2 go 2 make it last
i rather ride then clean

[Kip]

I agree if you don't like to keep your bike clean don't do it. It is a lot of work to keep it shiny looking.

[wastedincome420]

Well as far as I'm concerned it all ready looks like shit....Not sure why (maybe some of the coating has come off,etc....17 years old its not surprising) but I have allready tried to clean it up w/ mother's and few other thing w/ no success to make it look better.
I figure I can compare the PITA cleaning of the frame to the white rims I have and plan to keep so it requires frequent cleaning any how.
Besides I think it really needs some "flash" cause its an old bike and it'll look sweeet

[Keepitreel]

Polishing is very hard to keep up unless that bike is covered from the elements or parked indoors.......I had my frame polished and it looks like chrome.....but i have to stay up on top of it all the time....this winter i am sending the frame out to be chromed, thats the best bet if you like your bike looking clean...

[Brian_C6]

keepitreel doesn't know crap. I've seen his work and he "IS NOT GOOD" hehehe JK Shel!! Whatup PLaya? You on this board too? Damn kid... I can't get away from you.

LAta,
Bri

[Keepitreel]

Originally posted by Brian_C6
keepitreel doesn't know crap. I've seen his work and he "IS NOT GOOD" hehehe JK Shel!! Whatup PLaya? You on this board too? Damn kid... I can't get away from you.

LAta,
Bri

I am everywhere...U cant hide forever....not much going on just keepingitreel.

[RevHappy]

I dont think its that bad at all, I give it about 5-10 rides before I hit the frame and swing arm with more mothers. I think the key is to use mothers wax after the polish gives a bit of a protection layer. I just wash my bike then air dry it with a leaf blower etc....
Looks good.

[GixxerRydin2K2]

Dont chrome your frame, polishing is the way to go. It's cheaper and easier to do. I polished my frame over the winter and it took awhile but it was worth it. I started with 100 on the smooth part and 36 grit on the rough stuff. I worked my way up to 220 then switched over to wet and went 220-400-600-800-1000-1500-2000. then I used the two polishing compounds, white and red i think, to finish it up. Leave chroming to your rims and swingarm, those are easier to replace incase you get a chip in the chrome

-John

[alfred]

I tried a few items when I polished my frame. Stay away from the sand papers., aircraft paint strippers. The thing i found to have worked best for me was the abrasive wheels put out by M3. Takes the protective coat of the frame smooth.