Would like to know what I need for polishing metal parts. I was at a local hardware store and they different kinds of buffers in all shapes and sizes. I think most of them were made of felt. A few made of rope. And many types of compounds.. packaged in the shape of a brick. Some were labelled fine..medium ...etc. Not sure where to begin.
First, it depends on the metal and its condition.
In Pinball, many pieces are Nickel Plated, Stainless Steel, etc.
Once these are cleaned, one can buff the metal, but it wont replace plating, so what you buff will dull if the plating is gone, unless clear coated.
Youll want at least a medium size motor, face mask, stitched and light stitched or half stitched Muslin wheels.
Compounds are Brown - Course, to Green for High Polish....There is white or other colors mentioned for stainless, if you wish to try. Avoid Red at all costs.
An Ultrasonic helps immensely.
Harbor Freight is great for non professional, and they have a pack of wheels and rouge blister packed,
along with affordable motors and Ultrasonic.
Around $100-$150 for everything you need.
Home Depot sells a compact buffer kit that fits on the end of a drill motor. Worked great on my rails and ramp. The other thing I did was put them in the dishwasher when I was done. But if you do that, be careful there is nothing but metal. Even welds will throw some rust
Quoted from wolfemaaan:Home Depot sells a compact buffer kit that fits on the end of a drill motor. Worked great on my rails and ramp. The other thing I did was put them in the dishwasher when I was done. But if you do that, be careful there is nothing but metal. Even welds will throw some rust
Thanks. What department would that be located in? With the tools I reckon?
Quoted from yellowghost:Thanks. What department would that be located in? With the tools I reckon?
Hardware. I’m not a fan of Ryobi, but this kit works
Here it is and these are the rails o polished
2AFFADF0-BD83-4B72-93B6-F6A0A0664C1D (resized).jpegAC78D7F9-8F75-4711-A3A3-784DEB4CF6A5 (resized).jpegC0F0C792-DEBF-46F5-A472-E0431C07F7CD (resized).jpegD3475997-DF62-4551-B5CD-49C32C330451 (resized).jpegQuoted from Davi:Before/after
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
[quoted image]
Dayyaum. What did you use? Those look better than new
Quoted from wolfemaaan:Dayyaum. What did you use? Those look better than new
Ingredients 
0.7 HP buffing machine.
Saturn flap wheels to remove ball marks, surface issues.
8" 1st stage cut wheel with black compound.
8" 2nd stage wheel with green compound.
8" 3rd stage with white compound.
Lot of time. I mean LOT.
Patience.
Dust mask.
Goggles.
Quoted from Davi:8" 1st stage cut wheel with black compound.
8" 2nd stage wheel with green compound.
8" 3rd stage with white compound.
I thought that white comes before green for stainless? Please tell me I haven't been doing this backwards for years.
Quoted from jsa:I thought that white comes before green for stainless?
Green is final buffing on steel, White is polish finishing for s/steel.
For small pieces I like to use the compounds with felt wheels on my Dremel.
Consider Everbrite Coating on Buffed pieces not in contact with Ball, to keep shine, if one has buffed off the nickel plating.
Quoted from Davi:Before/after
[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
[quoted image]
What tool did this? Awesome
To get a mirror shine, you need to look at the deepest scratches, and choose the right grit to remove enough metal to the scratch depth.
Then you need to move up the grit ladder, as far as you are OK to go, before you can polish.
You can skip the super fine sanding and go right to cutting tripoli, but if you cant hold perpendicular by hand, youll need a jig, to avoid fine waves.
For flat objects, sometimes easier for some to anchor flat, and wrap emory in block of wood to ensure
smoothness.
Same as wood, just different paper.....The finer the grit, the less work on the wheel.
Quoted from Davi:White is after green.
Bought the bullet and bought some compounds. Mine say white before green. Should I still use "white diamond "last?
20181003_193716 (resized).jpgQuoted from yellowghost:Bought the bullet and bought some compounds. Mine say white before green. Should I still use "white diamond "last?
[quoted image]
Usually white is polish finishing.
However, white 'diamond' is for fast cutting on hard metals.
"Made with fine abrasive powder that produces a final satin finish on chrome, stainless steel, carbon steel, brass, and aluminum. Also use to remove rust, scale and carbon deposits on metal surfaces."
Try the order listed...green to finish, although personally, I have not tried Blue.
Please avoid red (especially Chinese/overseas)....it can be toxic, and a pain to clean off.
Quoted from yellowghost:I noticed that using white after green seemed to go hazy again. So now I stop at green. This is piece that I've done so far. Do not own a " saturn flap" so the machine mark on the steel are still there.
[quoted image]
What kind of mop do you have for green?
Quoted from Davi:What kind of mop do you have for green?
Not using a mop. Its a wheel thing that inserts into a corded drill. About 2 1/2" in diameter. About a inch thick. Should I use a different wheel for every color? The wheel just looks black now. The outlane trim did not turn out too good. I guess the scratches were too deep for the compounds
IMG_20181005_140957_246 (resized).jpgQuoted from yellowghost:Not using a mop. Its a wheel thing that inserts into a corded drill. About 2 1/2" in diameter. About a inch thick. Should I use a different wheel for every color? The wheel just looks black now. The outlane trim did not turn out too good. I guess the scratches were too deep for the compounds[quoted image]
I use following sequence:
1. Saturn wheels to remove scratches, ball marks. 120, 240, 320 grits.
2. Sisal Wheel.
3. Colour Stitch Buffing Wheel.
3. 'G' Loose Fold Buffing Wheel.
One wheel, one compound only, don't mix.
20180802_190654 (resized).jpgIf a piece of metal does not have heavy scratches, but needs cutting, start with brown on stitched.
The courser, gritted wheels are abrasive and used for deep scratches, pitting, etc, before getting to cutting and polishing compounds.
One should use a different wheel, for each color.
I start with actual sandpaper to get rid of deep scratches and work up in grit.
3M green pad and metal polish get you somewhere after that. Finish up with a polish wheel or simply a rag and metal polish if you are not anal about a mirror finish.
I said anal.
Quoted from Davi:I use following sequence:
1. Saturn wheels to remove scratches, ball marks. 120, 240, 320 grits.
2. Sisal Wheel.
3. Colour Stitch Buffing Wheel.
3. 'G' Loose Fold Buffing Wheel.
One wheel, one compound only, don't mix.[quoted image]
So once you get to "sisle" wheel, you apply compound to that? Or compound only on last wheel? They look pretty clean.
Quoted from yellowghost:So once you get to "sisle" wheel, you apply compound to that? Or compound only on last wheel? They look pretty clean.
Yes, black for sisal, green for color stitch, white for last one.
That pic is about brand new wheels.
Quoted from Davi:Yes, black for sisal, green for color stitch, white for last one.
That pic is about brand new wheels.
Oh ok thanks
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