Polishing my rocker cover

[Gladio]

Ok before I get flamed or anything, I didnt wanna Hijack someone elses thred.

So I been wanting to polish a rocker cover for my car and got hold of a spare one last week. It was painted in the 2pack paint. So I started wet/dry sanding it and didnt get far. Soon after I used paint stripper on it a few times and worked alot better.

Now I wanted a mirror finish sorta look on it and got some quick advice from a guy at the shop, About using high grade ( like P1500) paper then once it looks good give it a buff with the polish in a tube on the buffer and see how it comes out.


At this time once the paint was removed I could see how crap the make of the item was with all crack lines etc on the cast was so I though Id scratch them out with more coarse paper and work my way up with the higher grade.

So this is how I started off:

http://i44.tinypic.com/11sefj7.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/2aka1ag.jpg

Then after ALOT of sanding I got this:

http://i39.tinypic.com/29o26ab.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/2ikwfq1.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/34nql2v.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/212iujs.jpg

(this part I hadnt done the back part yet)
http://i39.tinypic.com/fbyljr.jpg

Now the front part of it looks pritty good but the rest of it where all the bad cast marks are isnt the greatest looking. Will I need to keep on sanding it with the higher grade stuff to get it more nicer looking? It just looks way too dull compared to the front end...

The product guy gave me is in a little tube, made in germany plasterd all over it got some pink on it and stuff. I seen on the other threds alot of people are recomending the polish PURPLE. Will it make that much of a diffrence or should I just keep to this?

Ive just about had it actually lol, felt like taking it to get it done by a proper place but ive come too far and its nearly there I think...

[kurbn]

you should of used one of these on a drill
http://img.directindustry.com/images_di/photo-g/flap-wheel-362029.jpg

will even take lettering off in no time! just be carefull you dont gouge down too deep into the cover or you will get a dip. They are brilliant for removing casting marks or aluminium dags ect around the cover

apart from that.. once its shiny metal work at it up to a wet and dry 1200 grit then move to a fine steel wool with autosol and polish off with a rag.. note: Polishing will need to be kept up to keep that shiny look as the polish oxidises and will go dull again

[Tocchi]

ceramic coat it :)

[Gladio]

Oh cheers dude! Ill give that ago tomorrow, is there certan grit for it?

Yeh one the guy was saying I should give it a coat in 2pack clear so I wont need to polish it every weekend...

[kurbn]

just dont use spray can clear.. I have gone down that path before and it just flakes up and goes crusty.

Dyson is on the money!

[Tocchi]

zaf,

this is chrome ceramic coating.. its not "smooth mirror finish" but fuck its nice

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9397/16072009479.jpg

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/5216/14072009472.jpg

[Gladio]

Im guessing I should ring the forum sponsor for a quote insted of asking what a rough price would be? :)


Edit.

Matt..... That looks PORN!

[Jiblet]

is it aluminium? if so they won't do any kind of chroming on it... i've tried.. you'd have to send it over east..

clear coat that sexy thing to keep it shiny forever.

looks mint dude, love it

[Tocchi]

zaf, it seems pricey for coating, but its worth it, and probably is cheaper than painting (by a professional).

jiblet, yeh its cast alloy sump

[AGIT8D]

is it aluminium? if so they won't do any kind of chroming on it... i've tried.. you'd have to send it over east..

clear coat that sexy thing to keep it shiny forever.

looks mint dude, love it

FYI there is a company being set up over here at the moment to chrome whatever you want - plastics, metal etc.. When it's up and running I'll let you know the details, shouldn't be too far away now.

[Gladio]

That would be alrite too, I wouldnt mind some plastic stuff chromed up! I had seen the advert for the place over east but dont think its worth it for little items...

Talked to CIC today its gonna be about 200-250 for the engine cover. See how we go soon.