desperado Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 After spending all evening polishing one alternator, bring it from as cast to a dull luster I have a new respect for hand polished parts. Sure they ain't as bright as chrome, but the level of work that goes into taking a part that's cast, sanding and grinding all the flashing off, and bringing the surface smooth with say an 80 grit. Then cutting all the sanding marks out with a 240 then a 320. Then taking it to the buffer, going over all of it with rubbing compound cake stick, then jewelers rouge. Hours, and hours of work and mine was just a simple alternator case. But even if it ain't as flashy as chrome, it looks alot better to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGU Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 i know what you mean, a good polisher makes it look better if your using. what polish did you end up using? how long did it take you to polish your case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
street pilot Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 You stopped at 320? Go up to 1500 or 2000 then polish, and that thing will look like chrome (not quite, but..) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rperry74 Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 5.0 intake. Wanted to shoot myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest racinbird Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Hell yeah, just installed my TB after being ported and polished by a guy named Bo White on LS1tech.com.....looks badass!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desperado Posted July 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Originally posted by 2 Zum: i know what you mean, a good polisher makes it look better if your using. what polish did you end up using? how long did it take you to polish your case?I haven't done the final polish yet, I am up to jewelers red rouge at this point. I am going to try to just use Mothers polish but I don't know how that will work out. As far as time, I have about 4 hours in it at this point not counting taking the alternator apart and reassembly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mowgli1647545497 Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Polished metal always looks better than chrome. Chrome borders on plastic to my eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGU Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Originally posted by desperado: I haven't done the final polish yet, I am up to jewelers red rouge at this point. I am going to try to just use Mothers polish but I don't know how that will work out. As far as time, I have about 4 hours in it at this point not counting taking the alternator apart and reassembly.4 hours only??? damn man took me 23 hours for my valve cover and it looks like crap! i used Mothers incredible billet metal polish. seems to be very good i picked it up from advanced auto parts for $13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lustalbert Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Originally posted by Mowgli: Polished metal always looks better than chrome. Chrome borders on plastic to my eye.Blah. Chrome is good. Btw, are you gona put a sealer on the case when you are done, and if so, what are you gona use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotarded1647545491 Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboTank Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 now u know what i go through everyday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiG BeN Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 not to mention you fit right in with these guys after a big polish job. http://www.tvparty.com/amosandypics/amosandyheader1.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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