Anthony
04-17-2006, 02:53 PM
I made this write up as comprehensive as I possibly could and I did not use anything that is not easily accessible for those of us with a limited income. This was done fairly cheap. I used a valve cover that I bought off of mike93boost@honda-tech.com. Great Seller. So here is my how-to.
Here is a list of the items you will need (I will explain each when I use them):
Sandpaper (240, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, 2500 grits)
Mothers Aluminum and Mag Polish
A 20oz. Pepsi Bottle
6 inch Lag bolts
Aircraft remover
2 Flapper wheels (1 coarse and 1 fine)
2 old white t-shirts
Elbow Grease
You can get all of this stuff from Wal-Mart, except for the sandpaper, you have to get it at a paint supply store.
First, If whatever you are polishing has any paint or clearcoat on it, I highly recommend this stuff.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39601-l-O0Hv0I0bm7WMHuEYw91Q.jpg
You get it at Wal-Mart in the same section as the automotive touch up paint. Follow the instructions on the can, and your good to go.
Once I removed all of the paint I went over the area to be polished with 2 flapper wheels, 1 coarse and 1 fine. These go in a drill and can smooth out any gouges in the metal.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39600-l-98Whgy6VwYxJn46Xv2QFSA.jpg
Next, you are going to start to wet-sand the area to be polished with the 240 grit sand paper. Alot of people say to use a spray bottle for wet sanding, but since we are doing this on the cheap, grab an empty pepsi bottle, poke a hole in the lid and use it for your sprayer.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39603-l-Wnt75s6pwpEK8bCtWqjSQ.jpg
The sanding will be much easier if you have the valve cover fastened down to keep it from moving. I used lag bolts and fastened it to the table.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39602-l-0G5fnsYZ7SpkgKSF7cbow.jpg
The wet-sanding procedure is the same for all grit levels. Begin with 240 grit, and work your way up to 2500 grit. Use plenty of water, and move your hand in a circular motion. If you see an area that looks rougher than the rest, sand it down. Once you are finished using a particular grit, rinse the area and wipe it to remove the leftover dust from the metal. Here is a good example of what each grit level should look like once done.
240 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39581-l-5sYcpiWaCvOlORslOo7mbA.jpg
320 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39582-l-xWTwZGkSbvbtUyzcnyDcw.jpg
400 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39583-l-cdcCTc9pqwfVCksOIA7Q.jpg
600 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39585-l-y2Drr1xdOTj4zngABr9xHw.jpg
800 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39586-l-QJUti7HUOK4TijxMgqOHkA.jpg
1000 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39587-l-JGrU8DwqJDydh8oHgpBIxQ.jpg
1200 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39588-l-ZvK28DasklpxvwVgrjM7xA.jpg
1500 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39589-l-VjhlHjAuDJPu17UNSdTmsA.jpg
2000 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39590-l-sFaI09kIEp9A2dHqIiGAKQ.jpg
2000 grit is where the valve cover really is beginning to become smooth. Here is a pic at a different angle with the mothers polish on top of the valve cover. Notice the reflection.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39591-l-QXYYhA1u6qBxwKgiROtKKw.jpg
2500 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39592-l-0yLi993qqYLTXs12GHueMw.jpg
Now that is basically what the valve cover should look like after each step. Now, on to the polishing.
This pic is to show you how smooth the valve cover is before polishing.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39594-l-bUasgJW1SrHcZqfEZXA.jpg
Now, to polish the valve cover I used Mothers Aluminum and Mag Polish (the stuff on top of the valve cover in the pic above) and a couple of old hanes t-shirts cut into small rags. T-shirts work well due to how soft they are.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39605-l-5DHQE3T0CHm9WEe6oNtyvw.jpg
Take a cloth and put a little bit of polish on it and apply it in a circular motion using slight pressure.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39596-l-KeTRbq7TWlgxR3vSJpXg.jpg
Do NOT use too much polish. If you use too much it will dry and be harder to buff off.
Continue with the circular motion until the polish turns black. Do not use the dirty cloth to apply polish to any other surface.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39604-l-rPm9qmGJJU72nCS66JGVVA.jpg
Then take a clean cloth and buff the spot until it shines. Continue this step until you reach a desired luster.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39595-l-aGEF3Ffc2maElM3kQqGVw.jpg
And here are a few pics of the finished area at different angles.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39597-l-N9PZHKJwIT9xFTXclEzrg.jpg
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39599-l-nkdBhgNuBA9mzWuCE1Ardw.jpg
Notice the reflection of the stuff that is hanging on the wall in this pic.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39598-l-ftwKQdnk3zYNdRuEZ248Qg.jpg
In all actuality, this is a really easy thing to do, just time consuming. I hope that you guys can understand this write-up. If there is anything that I may have missed or that isn't clear enough, just ask. I look forward to your questions/comments.
Here is a list of the items you will need (I will explain each when I use them):
Sandpaper (240, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, 2500 grits)
Mothers Aluminum and Mag Polish
A 20oz. Pepsi Bottle
6 inch Lag bolts
Aircraft remover
2 Flapper wheels (1 coarse and 1 fine)
2 old white t-shirts
Elbow Grease
You can get all of this stuff from Wal-Mart, except for the sandpaper, you have to get it at a paint supply store.
First, If whatever you are polishing has any paint or clearcoat on it, I highly recommend this stuff.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39601-l-O0Hv0I0bm7WMHuEYw91Q.jpg
You get it at Wal-Mart in the same section as the automotive touch up paint. Follow the instructions on the can, and your good to go.
Once I removed all of the paint I went over the area to be polished with 2 flapper wheels, 1 coarse and 1 fine. These go in a drill and can smooth out any gouges in the metal.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39600-l-98Whgy6VwYxJn46Xv2QFSA.jpg
Next, you are going to start to wet-sand the area to be polished with the 240 grit sand paper. Alot of people say to use a spray bottle for wet sanding, but since we are doing this on the cheap, grab an empty pepsi bottle, poke a hole in the lid and use it for your sprayer.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39603-l-Wnt75s6pwpEK8bCtWqjSQ.jpg
The sanding will be much easier if you have the valve cover fastened down to keep it from moving. I used lag bolts and fastened it to the table.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39602-l-0G5fnsYZ7SpkgKSF7cbow.jpg
The wet-sanding procedure is the same for all grit levels. Begin with 240 grit, and work your way up to 2500 grit. Use plenty of water, and move your hand in a circular motion. If you see an area that looks rougher than the rest, sand it down. Once you are finished using a particular grit, rinse the area and wipe it to remove the leftover dust from the metal. Here is a good example of what each grit level should look like once done.
240 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39581-l-5sYcpiWaCvOlORslOo7mbA.jpg
320 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39582-l-xWTwZGkSbvbtUyzcnyDcw.jpg
400 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39583-l-cdcCTc9pqwfVCksOIA7Q.jpg
600 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39585-l-y2Drr1xdOTj4zngABr9xHw.jpg
800 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39586-l-QJUti7HUOK4TijxMgqOHkA.jpg
1000 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39587-l-JGrU8DwqJDydh8oHgpBIxQ.jpg
1200 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39588-l-ZvK28DasklpxvwVgrjM7xA.jpg
1500 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39589-l-VjhlHjAuDJPu17UNSdTmsA.jpg
2000 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39590-l-sFaI09kIEp9A2dHqIiGAKQ.jpg
2000 grit is where the valve cover really is beginning to become smooth. Here is a pic at a different angle with the mothers polish on top of the valve cover. Notice the reflection.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39591-l-QXYYhA1u6qBxwKgiROtKKw.jpg
2500 grit
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39592-l-0yLi993qqYLTXs12GHueMw.jpg
Now that is basically what the valve cover should look like after each step. Now, on to the polishing.
This pic is to show you how smooth the valve cover is before polishing.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39594-l-bUasgJW1SrHcZqfEZXA.jpg
Now, to polish the valve cover I used Mothers Aluminum and Mag Polish (the stuff on top of the valve cover in the pic above) and a couple of old hanes t-shirts cut into small rags. T-shirts work well due to how soft they are.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39605-l-5DHQE3T0CHm9WEe6oNtyvw.jpg
Take a cloth and put a little bit of polish on it and apply it in a circular motion using slight pressure.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39596-l-KeTRbq7TWlgxR3vSJpXg.jpg
Do NOT use too much polish. If you use too much it will dry and be harder to buff off.
Continue with the circular motion until the polish turns black. Do not use the dirty cloth to apply polish to any other surface.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39604-l-rPm9qmGJJU72nCS66JGVVA.jpg
Then take a clean cloth and buff the spot until it shines. Continue this step until you reach a desired luster.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39595-l-aGEF3Ffc2maElM3kQqGVw.jpg
And here are a few pics of the finished area at different angles.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39597-l-N9PZHKJwIT9xFTXclEzrg.jpg
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39599-l-nkdBhgNuBA9mzWuCE1Ardw.jpg
Notice the reflection of the stuff that is hanging on the wall in this pic.
http://is.rely.net/1-3418-39598-l-ftwKQdnk3zYNdRuEZ248Qg.jpg
In all actuality, this is a really easy thing to do, just time consuming. I hope that you guys can understand this write-up. If there is anything that I may have missed or that isn't clear enough, just ask. I look forward to your questions/comments.