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[Davesax36]

Where can I pick up (borrow/rent whatever) the tools needed to do a polishing job on some parts. I can probably get my hands on most of the sand papers, but i don't have a buffer, wheels, or the rouges. Can I just get a buffing wheel and use it on my drill or do I have to use a super fast buffer? anyway. I might do this before the bike sells. thanks for the help, guys... oh, and I'm in houston, but most of you can read, so that question shouldn't come up too much.

[hooter]

I polished some side cases on one of my Triumph's one time and used a drill. It will work as long as you have lots and lots and lots and lots of time. Need a die grinder to get some RPM

[Davesax36]

how 'bout a roto-zip....? even though I've never seen any buffing attachments for it.

[hooter]

Check with bgreer and see where he got his supplies. Don't know what a roto-zip is unless it's a brand name for a die grinder.

[Davesax36]

yeah. it's a grinder, but it's sorta specialized and small.

[TexPops]

Lowe's has polishing attachments for Dremels and Roto-Zips--saw em Saturday.

[Davesax36]

nice. I'll be there later today.

[bgreer]

  Come by one weekend bro...fix ya right up...or call me 409-474-1063

[lloydofsa]

I've polished out my rims (eventually had them chromed), forks, rear drive, triple trees, and a couple of other parts. If you have an air compressor and a Harbor Freight (discount tool store) you can buy a small grinder for less than $10.00, some polishing compound, (the stick type that can be found at any Lowes or Home Depot for less than $5.00), then you need to find a place where you can get some small buffing wheels (that will fit the grinder, usually 3", and cost less than $4.00 ea.). The results are much better and faster than using a powerful drill. The total cost (less the compressor) should be under or around $25.00 and the results are great, not to mention saving alot of time and energy by using the air tools.

[twistedrcpilot]

I got a 15 dollar kit from home depot that had three grades of rouge.  It also had the attachment for a drill or a die grinder and 3 buffing wheels.  I think it was made by ryobi.  I attempted the drill thing and, well honestly I don't think I'll live long enough to finish it with a drill. 

Also the I bought one of those rotozips, they have nowhere near the power of a dremel. 

[Davesax36]

we must be talking about different roto-zips. mine will eat my dremel's lunch any day of the week, but it's not a precision tool.  oh, yeah. Did all the paper work on one leg tonight. gotta find some drill mounted buffing wheels and some rouge (lowes should do it). I'll try to get the other one done tomorrow, but my shoulder is tired.

how did you guys smooth out the fender mount flanges?

[joe_bob1999]

Air tool is the way to go for parts you can't easily hold up to a pedestal buffer.  Side covers on this XS650 rebuild of mine are polished. Every part I’ve done needed some wet sanding to start with. I go - File (to remove casting seams and deep scratches), 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1200 then fine steel wool with lots of liquid soap as a lube, at this point it will begin to shine then wash with hot water and buff. I have a buffing wheel to start with and finish by hand.  Some people have said that steel wool will get embedded in the aluminum and show up as little rust specs…I’ve never had this problem but I suppose you could use some brass wool if you can find it.  None of this is difficult, just time consuming.

The engine before rebuild                                      After rebuild (still need to put in the cam)
 

[Davesax36]

nice work, Joe. Not only do I not have a pedestal buffer, I don't have a pedestal.... I may go back and redo some of the process, though. It's definitely way brighter and more silver looking, but I think it should be shinier after getting to the 2000 grit paper. I'm sure that polishing/rubbing compounds would help at this point, though.

[cybrhick]

For fork legs, take them to a machine shop, and chuck them ever so gingerly in the lathe. Spin it up to about 500 rpms, and get busy with the paper. 15 minute job tops for both legs. Don't even think about calling me (my lathe is too small.), but I believe we have a member in Pasadena with a small manual machine shop.

[pacrat]

Davesax and Cyberhick-  I think Tajas X Rider is who Cyberhick was in ref to.  He posted on Oct 26 offering his shop for a tech session.  Hope that helps Dave. 
Louis