learning to Polish

Keeping it sharp - paint, wax, detailing, etc.
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Exit98

learning to Polish

Post by Exit98 »

I’ve been wanting to try polishing for a while now. I have an old bench grinder and I bought the polishing wheels and compounds and watched some videos. I had a few steering wheel center caps and one tail light I bought on ebay a couple years ago. Here’s how they turned out.

Later I spent a lot of time preparing a wheel beauty ring but my set up isn’t going to work. The guards on the grinder don’t allow me to get the surfaces onto the buffers. A real bench polisher is like a bench grinder but it has longer shafts and no guards so you have full access. I’m going to see if I can find one on Craigslist.


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donerehart
Posts: 344
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 9:29 pm
Your car is a: 1976 spider

Re: learning to Polish

Post by donerehart »

Wow - those look really good! Thanks for sharing pics...may have to try something similar!
76 Spider
St. Louis, MO
baltobernie
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 3466
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:00 pm
Your car is a: 1973 Spider [sold]
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: learning to Polish

Post by baltobernie »

Cool! Are you using the "stick" type red and white compound that you dress on the wheel?
NJFIAT1981
Posts: 1490
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:55 am
Your car is a: 1970 SPIDER AND A 1976 SPIDER
Location: New Jersey

Re: learning to Polish

Post by NJFIAT1981 »

Now I know where to go to have my plastics polished :D
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azruss
Posts: 3659
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: learning to Polish

Post by azruss »

my biggest complaint about polishing on a wheel is the high rpm mess it makes. I much prefer using a low speed buffer or polishing pad on a variable drill. less mess, less waste of polish. They did come out very nice.
Exit98

Re: learning to Polish

Post by Exit98 »

Bernie,

Yeah I got little sticks of compound at Home Depot. If I can get a better polisher I'll order a better supply on line along with some more wheels. You are supposed to have a dedicated wheel for each compound, but there are also at least 3 or four different wheels you are supposed to have. It's endless, you know?

Azruss, I heard it makes a mess so I set it up at the door to the garage, facing out. But it really wasn't bad at all. Much less than I expected.
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azruss
Posts: 3659
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: learning to Polish

Post by azruss »

what i want to know is if you have a streak of compound running from the middle of your forehead to your belly button :mrgreen:
Exit98

Re: learning to Polish

Post by Exit98 »

I guess I didn't use enough compound.
akavinn1

Re: learning to Polish

Post by akavinn1 »

Can u give me some pointers doug ?
Exit98

Re: learning to Polish

Post by Exit98 »

Hi Eric,

Sure, but right now I can only do small stuff. Plus I'm just learning remember.

I'm looking for a real bench polisher on craigslist.
NJFIAT1981
Posts: 1490
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:55 am
Your car is a: 1970 SPIDER AND A 1976 SPIDER
Location: New Jersey

Re: learning to Polish

Post by NJFIAT1981 »

I have a really nice one. You can have it. Ralph said it looks like it belonged to my daughter. Said I need to get a manly one
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: learning to Polish

Post by fiat218 »

NJFIAT1981 wrote:I have a really nice one. You can have it. Ralph said it looks like it belonged to my daughter. Said I need to get a manly one
Lol oh my, it time too get rid of it then
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
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giuliot60
Posts: 715
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:39 pm
Your car is a: 81 Fiat Turbo removed Spider
Location: Concord, NC (Charlotte area)

Re: learning to Polish

Post by giuliot60 »

Stuff looks great.

I've got 2, a Sears and one from Home Depot. I haven't used them since I restored my 1929 Tudor in NJ and moved to Charlotte into a new home. Now I know what to do with them! Thanks.
Giulio/Charlotte
1st car '75 pistachio 128 sedan
Owned a '74 Spider, '68 Firebird, a '65 GTO convertible, and a customized '74 650 Yamaha
Currently own an '81 Turbo (removed) Spider
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