| Author | Message | ||
     Taxman |
I have a few questions about polishing my frame. I’m tempted to make this a winter project. But I want to make sure its not beyond my abilities. I guess I have two main questions. First- what would be the best method. I thought I heard someone mention on here that all they did was start off with rough sand paper and then keep moving on to finer and finer until I’m polishing it with a baby diaper and windex. But from talking with a friend they said use paint stripper to take the paint off then just use some polishing agent (suggestions on wich ones would be helpful). I’m kinda lost here on the process. Second- How much disassembly is required to do this. Is it a simple matter of removing a few parts, or am I about to have my bike in my living room laying on the floor in pieces while I’m at the kitchen table staring blankly at a half sanded frame wondering what I got myself into. As far as what I think of my capabilities… I’ve taken the body plastic off the bike to mess with turn signals and air filter, and I felt pretty comfortable doing that. but I’m not so sure I’d feel comfortable doing any sort of engine work. By all means, if polishing my frame is beyond my capabilities let me know before I screw this up. | ||
| Buellbozo |
taxman...you can "shine" a cast finish surface with polish and goop,but you can't polish anything without removing metal.and that takes hours and days of elbow grease and obsessive behavior.in my trade,i've become proficient at polishing everything from aluminum to hardened tool steel.personally.i love polished alum and stainless-hate chrome-but as much as i admire the polished frame bikes,thoe guy re nut!!loltry a little spot on the bottom of your swingarm.start w/180 grit,then finer to 400.i use wd40 to wet sand.you must remove all traces of one grit before m0ving 0n.then i use red scotch brite with mother's polish,THEN you're ready to start polishing!!do this complete on a small hidden spot,then ask yourself if you really want to spend hudreds of hours at it.some do,and i admire them for it,but you gotta be nuts!!hope this helps,greg | ||
| Mountainbiker90 |
I just did my bike. it took a LLOONNGG time!! it looks great now, but if you have some cash, chroming would be the best, in my opinion. if you're gonna do it, it is pretty easy. get you a power sander, 150, 220, 400 and 1000 grit paper, and polishing bonnets and polish (i used 4" bonnets on an electric drill). there are a ton of articles on polishing alum, just google it. the methods are pretty much all the same, and the more time you put in, the better the results. the swingarm sucked. it is cast and it doesn't shine quite as nicely as the frame, and it was severly pitted. my whole bike had about 1/8" of paint on it from the factory. paint remover is a messy must. the process involves complete disassembly of the bike to do it right. label it all as you take it off- you'll forget what goes where by the end of it. (Message edited by mountainbiker90 on February 17, 2006) | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
What about just the wheels? I have an 03 XB9S without any fancy coloring. I've thought about really polishing them. Any issues? | ||
| Desertted |
Polishing = heat NOT good for your gazillion dollar design italian frame (asumming this is an XB) Maybe try paint, carbon covers, mylar? Nobody will know exactly what the alloy the frame is made of, and IF it will polish up and shine. Yes I think the guy who said he did is full of BS. Wheels and swingarm get 'em chromed or just buy that harley you seem to want |
