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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through March 14, 2009 » Frame polishing- Just a couple more questions. « Previous Next »

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Jdemoxb9r
Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 05:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

First off before i get flamed for not posting on the KV. I tried but couldnt get much of a response so i'm posting here.

I am embarking on polishing my frame during springbreak (march 9) anyway i think i have gathered enough info but i just have a few final questions i couldnt answer by searching badWeb.

1. Anybody know of a good wetsanding tutorial?(i think i got it down but i would like some re-assurance)

2. Is it best to sand with a sanding block or a power sander? (i have access to a wide range of air and power tools.)

3. What kind of RPM's would be sufficient for applying the Mother's metal polish? (I am assuming i'll be using a power drill for this?)

It is an 03 XB9R if thats of any use to anybody.

Thank you in advance for any helpful replies.
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Froggy
Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 05:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)


quote:

First off before i get flamed for not posting on the KV.




People use the KV???
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Jdemoxb9r
Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 05:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

ha exactly my thought when i posted on there a couple days ago...the only reason i posted there in the first place was to have an excuse to post on this board lol.
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Ochoa0042
Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 05:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Anybody know of a good wetsanding tutorial?
progressivly go up from 200grit to 2000grit, switching stroke 90degrees from the previous stroke

Is it best to sand with a sanding block or a power sander?
by hand?

What kind of RPM's would be sufficient for applying the Mother's metal polish?
by hand?
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Jdemoxb9r
Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 08:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

thanks ochoa. i was gonna pm you cuz i know you've done the job b4. ive heard(may be mistaken) that people have been using a powerdrill with a polishing pad mounted.

also did you just dip the sandpaper in a warm-water with a hint of dish soap solution or did you use a spraybottle/hose
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Ochoa0042
Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 08:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

that people have been using a powerdrill with a polishing pad mounted
when polishing: you apply the polish in a a circular fashon untill a black residue appears, once you see that blach stuff wipe it off. If you go past that point you can burn the metal. And when I worked with it, that stuff shows up pretty quick with the bare hand, a buff ball may do the job so quickly that it burns the metal before you know it.... i dont know what burning is, but it doenst sound any good
also did you....
spray bottle

Take your sweet time with everything, if you do a bad 400grit.. the next grit will have to fight the 400's imperfections and take care of its job too
#1 you'll know you did a perfect job sanding if: when you begin to polish, after the first coat it looks awesome.... I took my time with the first side of the frame, and the other side rushed.. and because of that I had to really put an effort in the polishing stage on the bad side, the good-side shined right-up after the first coat..

=================
give extra extra attention to this spot on the frame.... something about how it was manufactured makes this part seem porous.... sand the shit out of that area with the first heavy grit stuff.... i've sinced redone that area


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Mortarmanmike120
Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 09:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I used an orbital disk sander. 200-2000 grit. It did a great job. Then a buffing disk. Then hand. Looks great. Be patient.

WEAR A MASK WHEN SANDING!
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Spacecapsule1
Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 09:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

hey ochoa, where did the wiring go that runs along the bottom of the air scoop you removed? or does the firebolt not have that? my TT has a bunch of wiring attached to the bottom of the air scoop that runs to the back of the frame....

(Message edited by spacecapsule1 on March 05, 2009)
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Jdemoxb9r
Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 10:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

mike, do you happen to know if it was a random orbit sander? and im assuming it was electric and you didnt have any issues with the water while wet sanding?

ochoa, did you use mothers metal polish?
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Ochoa0042
Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 11:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Jerick - Yep, mothers aluminum polish

Jason - the wiring hangs up pretty high on the left side on my bike
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Mortarmanmike120
Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 11:32 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Not really random but the key is to keep moving. Never stop moving the disk. And use a light touch. No issues with water. I would soak the disk first, then use a spray bottle to keep the area moist as I moved around. It was very easy but very messy. I also used that aircraft paint stripper you get at walmart to remove most of the PC first. Started on bare aluminum but if you want to skip that step it's optional. Actually I don't think I went as low as 200 grit. IIRC I started with green scotchbrite. (300 gritish??)

Make sure it's a look you like before you begin cause I'd be a major PIA to go back. I now only polish mine about once a month (20mins max) but I don't mind the light oxidation look. Rain makes it oxidize faster of course but I don't care, I dig it.

I've used several polishers since, mothers, eagle one, cheap crap. It doesn't really matter, results are the same.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.
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Mortarmanmike120
Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 11:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Oh, I big issue I forgot.

DO NOT GRIND DOWN THE WELDS!!! Those big aluminum welds are there for a reason and are required for strength when welding aluminum. I smoothed out the bumps on mine a little on mine just the shine them up. They look good. But I'd caution against removing too much (if any) of the welds.

Oh and there will probably be little pin sized voids here and there in the metal. I wouldn't be too worried about removing them all. You don't want to sand too deep and the little voids are not noticeable once you finish polishing.

As far as rpm, I don't know exact numbers, I used probably 50% of what a regular cheap drill could do. Just go by feel. Sorry.
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Mortarmanmike120
Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 11:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Damn, one more...

If you decide to do the swingarm like I did, be advised. Under that nice layer of PC is a hideously bumpy sandcast hunk of aluminum. It was the first piece I did and almost cause me to say screw it. Mine had some major voids that were filled with some kinda bondo crap. It took forever to get mine to a point that looked good. There are still noticeable voids. I did it by hand. Plus with all the curves it would be very easy to remove too much material with a power tool.

Not trying to scare you, just a heads up.
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Jdemoxb9r
Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 12:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Oh I'm not scared. If I was I would have cancelled my plans weeks ago!

I will not be doing the swingarm as of now.(maybe its cuz im scared, or maybe im just to lazy lol)

You dont happen to have any pics of your finished product do you?
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Mortarmanmike120
Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 12:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Sorry man, I don't have any on this comp and won't be home til Monday. I'll try to post some up then.
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Dooley
Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 03:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I just polished another swingarm lastnight. I went to a 06 style from a 03 style because of a motor swap. I used a grinder with a buffing wheel attached (blew up my die grinder) started with 320 grit then 400,600,800,1500, then 2000, just dipping the paper in a bucket of warn water & soap. then buffed with the wheel, the more time you put into it the better the outcome. like stated above there are different areas that came out with a lot of pits because of casting. I just got to a point were it was good enough for me, there areas that just happend to get more polishing and it is like looking in a mirror...so just depends on how much time you want to put in it....patience..
p.s. i tried to put up some pics but i couldn't get them to re-size correctly...i'll keep trying .......
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03firebolt
Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 01:59 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Mike, how much time would you say you had in all of your polishing? i was just wondering if i should even try this, i started to polish my wheels but all the spokes and crevices just turned me off the idea of polishing those, so i painted the inside blue and left the polished rim, but i was thinking about polishing the frame. but i might wait till next winter when i wouldnt be riding as much.
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Jdemoxb9r
Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 12:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i just started polishing yesterday. stripping the powdercoat is tough!!!
ive only removed about 70% and thats the 'easy' 70%
anyone got any tips on stripping that off? im using aircraft brand paint stripper right now.
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Ochoa0042
Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 02:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

03--bolt

the frame is much much easier then the rims
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