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Polishing aluminum pipes.

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militarymaxx

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My pipe is looking a little ragged and I want to strip the flat black paint off of it exposing the bare aluminum underneath. I'm looking for some 'how-to' guidance on polishing it to a shiny new look. I have a dremel with the cloth buffing pads, but that's it.
What else do I need and what is the procedure ? Thanks.
 
Originally posted by militarymaxx
My pipe is looking a little ragged and I want to strip the flat black paint off of it exposing the bare aluminum underneath. I'm looking for some 'how-to' guidance on polishing it to a shiny new look. I have a dremel with the cloth buffing pads, but that's it.
What else do I need and what is the procedure ? Thanks.
Click to expand...

You need a buffing/polishing compound.
 
I just TRASHED a perfectly fine Chrome THS pipe by trying to polish it up. I guess I chose the wrong polish. It was metal polish too. Slapped it up on the polishing wheel of my dremel and it actually dulled it :(

Just be careful.
 
Ok, now that someone is asking about metal polishing/buffing ... this is my area of work.

A dremel will work, to a point. The main thing that gets a peice of metal polished is the pressure applied and heat, along with the type of compound and it's abrasiveness.

Do you have a bench grinder? That would actually work better with a buffing wheel and polishing/buffing compound. If you do have one, Travers has a couple of polishing kits available. Just plug in "polishing compound" into the search tool. Here is a sample of what I did with a set of raw aluminum louvers I bought from RAMTech-RC

The raw is on the left, polished on the right.
2044B4nAfter.jpg


If this is a one time thing, I would be willing to polish it for you at work.This polishing work was done on a 3700 RPM buffing machine with a 14 inch, 5 layers of buffing wheel and green cut/polish solid compund. It makes quick work of metal work.

You pay to get it here and I'll polish it for free. I'll take care of senting it back. Lemme know. Otherwise, check out travers since I know you'll get a better result. Dremel's good, but not god enough to really put on a mirror polish.
 
Originally posted by Çh®i§tiªñ
If I send you the pipe and a few bucks can you hook me up?
Click to expand...

Send me the pipe, you take care of shipping and I'll do it for free. If you like the work, we'll figure out a price for anything done inf the future. How's that sound? I want you to be satisfied with the work and also know what you're getting before paying for anything. Consider it a free trial for evaluation.
 
Originally posted by Çh®i§tiªñ
I just TRASHED a perfectly fine Chrome THS pipe by trying to polish it up. I guess I chose the wrong polish. It was metal polish too. Slapped it up on the polishing wheel of my dremel and it actually dulled it :(

Just be careful.
Click to expand...

are u going to the Florida bash so i can see how bad u messed up? lol. :jk:

Driver that looks good. how much would it cost to have something un anodized and polished? not trying to get off topic or ne thing.

later
 
I think the easiest way is, (this is what I do and it works great!!)(I also use this technique at my detail shop). Get all the black stuff off with some sand paper or pic it off if its peeling. Then once its all off get some 1500 grit sandpaper and soak it in a bucket of water. Then with the wet sandpaper, sand the whole pipe down. make sure to hit every spot. Then after that, dry off the pipe. If you use some compound squirt a dime shaped ball into a rag and rub the piece with it. Id suggest 3m's finess. Otherwise use this eagle one stuff its like cotton in a can soaked with polish and that works good too. (Probly the easiest) otherwise use mothers polish in a can.
 
Originally posted by Maxx Trooper


are u going to the Florida bash so i can see how bad u messed up? lol. :jk:

Driver that looks good. how much would it cost to have something un anodized and polished? not trying to get off topic or ne thing.

later
Click to expand...

BTW, its DIVER not driver. Cost? same deal for you as christian ... if it's for the pipe. If you're talking about bulk heads and stuff like that ... $5/item. If shipped all in 1 box, not a prob ... you take care of shipping. BTW, I do take paypal :cloud9:

PM me for further details.
 
Originally posted by Diver6127


BTW, its DIVER not driver. Cost? same deal for you as christian ... if it's for the pipe. If you're talking about bulk heads and stuff like that ... $5/item. If shipped all in 1 box, not a prob ... you take care of shipping. BTW, I do take paypal :cloud9:

PM me for further details.
Click to expand...

oops sorry. i just figured it was Driver sence this is a R/C forum.. ya know. lol. maby i will send u my Paris pipe sence the anodizing is getting scraped off and stuff. would i need to cover shipping sending it to u and for u to send it back? I'm assuming thats the way u want it.

later
 
Originally posted by Maxx Trooper


oops sorry. i just figured it was Driver sence this is a R/C forum.. ya know. lol. maby i will send u my Paris pipe sence the anodizing is getting scraped off and stuff. would i need to cover shipping sending it to u and for u to send it back? I'm assuming thats the way u want it.

later
Click to expand...

Yeah, pretty much. You tell me how you want it shipped and I'll do the math and give you a quote based on weight and zip code I'm sending to.
 
Originally posted by militarymaxx
My pipe is looking a little ragged and I want to strip the flat black paint off of it exposing the bare aluminum underneath. I'm looking for some 'how-to' guidance on polishing it to a shiny new look. I have a dremel with the cloth buffing pads, but that's it.
What else do I need and what is the procedure ? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Grab a little neverdull and watch some tv while polishing it, it's going to take a while but the results are well worth it in the end.
 
Only takes me 3 minutes to get it mirror polished. Takes longer to smoke a cigarette.
 
Originally posted by olds97_lss
I like the dull scratched to hell look! That way it looks like I drive it occasionaly.
Click to expand...

yea i know the feeling.. brand new shinny skids and chassis and chassis braces, dont want to scratch it all up. looks so nice and pretty compared to someone around here. lol j/k

later
 
There's nothing wrong with the dull scratched look. That's the way I kept my pipe till someone asked about polishing. So, I just went down to the shop and polished it up. BTW, it's back to being a satin sinish again.

When I get my savage, all the parts are going to be satin finished. I don't want any anodizing. I like the look of raw metal. If I get some wild hair up my butt, I might polish everything but that's pretty unlikely.
 
polishing

Chrome is chrome.....you can put a sealer on it or wax or whatever but its not going to get any better. If chrome is scratched its going to be tough to get it out, its not like aluminum or stainless. 3M scotchbrite pads work well for slicking down alum. or stainless before you actually polish. One thing about chrome if it chips or scratches badly its there for good unless you get it rechromed.
 

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