Polishing engine parts

[Steve_H]

I have seen some pictures of Clios recently where the Renaultsport logo on the engine and inlet manifold were nice and shiny like chrome. This is done by polishing. How do you go about polishing it, do the different parts have to be taken off so they can be put on a machine, or is there some kind of hand tool which will do the job? I think it looks really nice, and as someone who is only semi technical is it an easy job for me to do by myself?



Thanks

 

[2863]

dremmel?

 

[Nick Read]

Any metal can be polished, its basically a case of supplying enough friction. Often something like brushed aluminium can be polished with just some Silvo/Autosol and a rag. With bigger jobs or if youve got a rougher textured surface to get through you need mechanical means, i.e maybe wet & dry paper first to get it flat, then a polishing wheel/mop.

 

[Winston]

by hand

Start with wet and dry 120? grain to get rid of all the pits and work your way down to 2000 grain

eg, 120 - 320 - 600 - 800 - 1000 - 2000 - Metal polish

Polish till it looks like a mirror,

IMO the dremel would butcher it, unless you had the correct bits

 

[Lunner]

From machine mart you can get a kti for a 115mm angle grinder whihc consists of two polishing wheels, and two polishing compounds for about £15...something that is on my list

 

[pigme1000000]

look mate dont worry about what these others are saying,just get the parts chromed!! as in the long run it will save you alot of hassle having to repolish them again!!! ps you polish these things up and they will tarnish!!

 

[Winston]

^^2 true^^

have to polish mine every 2 weeks

 

[Ben H]

What about the visible metal bits on the front of the 172s engine? Are these easily polished?

 

[2863]

^isnt tha wot we were on about^

 

[Steve_H]

Yes, that is wot were on about.......



Can anyone give me a rough estimate of how much it would cost to chrome the inlet manifold then?

 

[Nick Read]

LOL Pigme yes chroming is a lot better but thats not what he asked about...

I had my inlet manifold polished because the shape is too complex to chrome. The basic thing is that the surfaces need to all be totally flat and smooth to take chrome properly, so unless you can polish the whole thing up anyway, you cant really chrome it.

 

[gunnergibson]

winstons sells tubes of -L-8OW grease for £4.99, top tontch for polishing purposes

 

[Steve_H]

Quote: Originally posted by Nick Read on 10 February 2005


LOL Pigme yes chroming is a lot better but thats not what he asked about...

I had my inlet manifold polished because the shape is too complex to chrome. The basic thing is that the surfaces need to all be totally flat and smooth to take chrome properly, so unless you can polish the whole thing up anyway, you cant really chrome it.





So how was your inlet manifold actually polished then Nick?

 

[Lunner]

Quote: Originally posted by pigme1000000 on 09 February 2005
look mate dont worry about what these others are saying,just get the parts chromed!! as in the long run it will save you alot of hassle having to repolish them again!!! ps you polish these things up and they will tarnish!!


Ill quote exactly what Nick said, you have to polish it BEFORE you can chrome it anyways!

just find a local place that does chroming, go and see them and ask them about chroming it, most places that do this type of work are small companies and will be more then willing to giver you advice on if it is possible and if so the best way to go about polishing it up

 

[Winston]

http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1103579827__Kif_0392.jpg

Start with wet and dry 80 - 120 grain (depending on the qulilty of the ally) to get rid of all the pits/imperfections....

Work your way down to 2000 grain till its nice and smooth.....

Then polish it about 10-20 times with metal polish for a nice mirror like shine.

eg, 80 - 120 - 320 - 600 - 800 - 1000 - 2000 - Metal polish

High Jack!!!- Be interested to know how you did yours Nick? How offten do you have to polish it.

 

[Mike@Rentech]

mate done mine for me

I might see if I can polish the spare manifold I have see how it comes up.

http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1106492835__PICT0011.jpg

 

[Steve_H]

Ur engine bay looks mint Mike!!