I had 3 months worth of weekend and evening work polishing about everything under my hood including the alternator, pullies, piping, upper and lower intake manifolds, turbo housings, brackets, and front housing (18 pieces in all). My wife loved the mess I made in the basement and garage.
Final polish work was done on a 12HP mandrel with 18 inch buffing wheels. I tore ligaments in my right elbow from holding on for dear life.I did let one pipe go accidentally. After bouncing off of the ceiling, I picked it up on the other side of the workshop about 25 feet away.
I will never ever do a polishing job of that magnatude again.