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Stainless Steel


The best polish for stainless steel is based on the abrasive you need the most common is 143 a medium cut (gray) stainless steel compound or polish (good for a consistent finish and light scratches) or 126 white bar for a mirror finish on stainless steel. These compounds both work well with an 8 inch X cs (concentric sewn) buffing wheel X 40 ply the tighter the stitching the more aggressive and faster it will polish. Then using the same type of buff with less stitching for mirror finish.

Stainless steel


Polishing stainless steel requires two steps to polish. First step cloth covered sisal buffing wheels and 143 stainless steel compounds and second 126 chrome rouge with a tight sewn 1/8 or 1/4 stitched buffing wheel.


Brass


Tripoli 327 is the first step to polish brass and copper, the second step is 130 jewelers rouge with a separate buffing wheel for each. We recommend a 40 ply concentric sewn buff 3/4 stitched you choose diameter and arbor to fit your buffer.


Copper


Tripoli 327 is the first step to polish brass and copper, the second step is 130 jewelers rouge with a separate buffing wheel for each. We recommend a 40 ply concentric sewn buff 3/4 stitched you choose diameter and arbor to fit your buffer.


Polishing


When polishing aluminum, brass copper, pot metal, and soft non-ferrous metals, use tripoli or gray compounds by holding the bar up to the wheel while it is spinning. Let the buff spin about three or four turns on the compound, while moving the compound in a clockwise motion. (NOTE: Do not use water with compounds). If you can hold the part under the wheel after loading, you'll notice the compound spitting on the part when there is enough on the wheel. At this point your wheel is loaded and your ready to begin the polishing process. It is very important to load your wheel every 20 to 30 seconds and keep the heat up on your part. Keep the part moving under the wheel, this will keep you from burning the metal. Never touch the edge of the part to the wheel, this will keep the part from being pulled from your hands.


Emery Compounds


These compounds contain emery grit, a very fast cutting action. It is used for coarse buffing, removing scratches, and buffs from iron and other hard metals. Use with sisal or a tightly sewn buff to bring from cast to smooth surface.

Gray Compounds


Gray compounds are for cutting ferrous metals (iron, steel, stainless, and aluminum.) They have cutting action to remove minor scratches. Use with sewn buff.


White Compounds


White compounds are primarily a coloring compound to produce a brilliant mirror- like shine for all metals. This is the final step before plating. Use loosely sewn or loose buff.


Yellow Compounds


This is primarily a coloring compound that produces a brilliant mirror-like shine for all metals. Use a loose buff to add a high luster and color to all metals.


Tripoli Compounds


Tripoli is for general cutting of non-ferrous metals (aluminum, brass, copper, and zinc die-casting), and mild cutting action. Use with sewn buff.


Jewelers Rouge


Jeweler's rouge is a fine abrasive for gold and silver. It is a final color for all non- ferrous metals, and is excellent for high gloss on soft precious metals. Use on a loose buff. Works well on plastic at 1800 RPM or less.


Green Compound


These are Ideal for tail light refinishing. Great for color action and removing scratches from plastic. Use with loose, flannel, or string buffs to avoid heat build up. For deep scratches simply block sand the imperfection. Then buff to a shine. The ideal speed is 1800RPM, a faster speed will build up heat. Keep your buff clean and soft, rake every 20 to 30 seconds, and keep the part moving under the wheel.


Glass Polishing


Glass polishing is used to clear wiper haze. Try this simple test to find out if you can remove the scratches. Run your fingernail over the damaged area. If your nail does not get caught then your windshield can be renewed. Use a buff at a low speed (1800 RPM or less). Keep the glass as cool as possible, never hold buff in one spot, move around the buff to avoid heat build up. Keep a spray bottle of water near by to prevent heat build up with the glass polishing compounds.


Anodizer Remover


This solution will strip the anodized coating from aluminum trim. This leaves a satin finish that can be buffed to a mirror finish with the white compound. Use loose or canton flannel buffs.


Preparing The Part


First, prepare your part by stripping any anodizing, clear coats or paint, etc. from the part. This can be done by using our Anodize remover. Paints and clear coats can usually be removed by using paint or aircraft stripper. Wash the part with soap and water to remove the extra grit from the part, this will save you from adding any extra scratches to the part that will have to be buffed out later. Another way to prepare the part is to sand the clear coat, anodizing, or paint off the part.


Removing Dents


To remove dents, start with a small tapping hammer, tap around the dent in a circle until coming to the dent itself. The dented piece can be hammered with a sandbag under the dent, this will help to form the piece you are working on. Check the dent after you finish, file away any high spots and always crosshatch to prevent the metal from gualing or rolling. Sand the area starting with 120 grit, 180 grit, 240 grit, 320 grit, till you reach 400 grit. Remembering always cross hatch to prevent the part from gualing and rolling. Now your ready to buff once you have removed the dent.


Sanding


All of your sanding operations you will generally pick a coarse enough abrasive to smooth out or remove imperfections in the part you want to buff. For example, on a cast aluminum intake you would start off with 80 grit and follow up with 120, 180, 240, 320, and finish with 400 grits. If you are working on a part that is stainless steel you will be better off taking it to a 400 grit finish before you begin buffing. Always use grinders grease when working on aluminum, and be sure to use a crosshatch sanding motion to prevent the metal from gualing or rolling. Sand all large areas first, saving the smaller tighter areas for last. Once the part has been sanded completely, rinse off and let dry, this will remove any grit from sanding. Now you are ready to buff.


How Do I Tell What I Am Buffing?


The first step in polishing is to determine what type of metal you are working with, such as cast aluminum, billit aluminum, or stainless steel. If you are dealing with aluminum wheels, but not sure which type, do a test patch on the part where the tire goes. Sand a patch with 2000 grit sandpaper, then buff to see if the scratches buff out. If they don't buff out, you are probably working with billit aluminum.


Billit Aluminum


Buff the part or wheel with emery first, with a sewn wheel, then switch to a sewn stitched buff with a white compound, then switch wheels again and go to a yellow compound, with a loose buff. Make sure you rake the wheel every 30 seconds to a minute so you don't get any scratches.


Buffing Plastic


Apply the blue compound or jewelers rouge to a canton flannel buff or a loose section buff. Apply compound as you did when you used the gray or white compound. ( 3 to 4 turns on a spinning wheel, for 20 to 30 seconds.) On a plastic lens heat is not your friend, keep the lens as cool as possible, and keep the plastic lens moving. Do not use too much pressure against the wheel, let the compound and the wheel do the work. Too much pressure will build up heat and could melt your lens.


Super Sisal Wheels


Super sisal wheels are made of layers of woven tampico and cloth, and are aggressive. Extra firm buffs are used mostly on stainless steel. The emery compound (gray) is used with this buff to remove heavy scratches, sandpaper scratches and marks after straightening. You will need to tame this buff before its first use. Do this by placing the buff on a motor and turning the motor on, allowing it to run between 30 seconds and one minute. Turn off the motor and then trim the wheel with a pair of scissors (not a knife). You are now ready to apply compound. It is important to work the part by criss crossing your passes, you will actually leave scratches. These are easily taken out in the next step using the sewn wheel. Approximately 40 to 50 percent of your time will be spent with the sisal buff and the gray compound. Do not use too much pressure against the wheel, let the compound and the wheel do the work.