sorry but i dont know where else to put this so i guess this is its new home,
i was wonderig, what the steps are to polishing engine parts like the engine cover and fuel rail. i have seen people do amazing things but i could never duplicate it so i was hoping so one could post a how to with pictures
thanx


many changes in the making
my favorite part about doing bodywork,.......... bondo bugers

Wet sanding with a low grit sandpaper all the way to like, 4000 grit.

Or you could take it to a machine shop (I think) and have them do it.

I start with a wire wheel on an angle grinder. Coarse if's its very uneven, then fine. Follow that with wet-sanding to 2000 grit (comes in a pack). Then using a buffing wheel on the grinder again to get it all purdy. Power tools are your friend.

C.T.S wrote:I start with a wire wheel on an angle grinder. Coarse if's its very uneven, then fine. Follow that with wet-sanding to 2000 grit (comes in a pack). Then using a buffing wheel on the grinder again to get it all purdy. Power tools are your friend.

I'd actually use a variable speed drill or a buffer instead of a grinder. Unless one really knows what they're doing a grinder will burn through the metal pretty quick, and maybe do more harm than good. To buff, definitely use a buffer instead of a grinder. Same thing, a grinder is not your friend.

I dunno what you guys are talking about with wire wheels and such..its easy...start at 100 grit to get out casting flaws and keep going up to 600 grit with dry snadpaper or wet..but id usea orbital or something to get it done quick....then start with 600 wet and go all the way up to 2000 or higher if you want..then use a buffer and polish and bam its lookin good...phil

Here just to "cut" around it all. if your going to use a grinder first know that there are different stones verses disks and different uses for them if you going with a 24 grit wheel that would work on welds and cast iron and cuts them down pretty quick not recommended for alummuin are other light metals if you were looking at the engine block I'd go with a 80grit grinding disk made for metals and grind lightly on a angle moving the grinder back and forth and after 20 sec, take a look and see if its working out ok. Then use a 120 disk followed by a 180grit paper on a sander 220, 240, 320, 400. high temp primer, hand block that with 400grit wet sand paper and add a high temp paint and wet sand up to 2000 grit and then a fine rubbing compound the out come we be show room sparkle! as for using a wire wheel well yes you will have to use one to get those angle and pockets that a grinder will never reach but try phoning around for a place that does automotive sandblasting and get a quote! you'll find that its sometimes cheaper (time/money wise) i myself buy engine parts at the scrap yard I.E. exhaust manifold, valve cover etc etc and take them home and sand them down and paint they then add them on the car that way theres no down time working on the car hope it helps p.s theres a 4000 grit? i work in a body shop and never heard of anything over 2000 grit 24grit means 24 pieces of sand per 1 square inch of paper 4000 pieces per square inch ? .....wow


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