What's the trick to getting a mirror finish on a piece of previously polished billet aluminum? I have a billet bowtie which was hit by a rather large stone which made a nice gash in the metal. I sanded the gash out starting with 400 grit sand paper and going lighter to 800, 1000, and finally finish sanding with 2000 grit. I then used some Mother's aluminum polish. After about 4 applications I have a nice finish but it's still not as clear as the original polishing. Any tips?

 

Do you have a dremel tool? If so go to Lowes, HomeDepot, WalMart, where ever they sell dremel accs around you and get a polishing bit and some polishing compound. That should do the trick for ya.

 

If you don't already have a dremel, get a buffing wheel (round white cloth thing) and an adapter to make it so you can put it on your drill. ask a salesperson for that adapter I know Home Depot has these. the best stuff I have found is Wenol metal polish I ordered from Summit. that stuff is unbelievable.

On a side note to polishing parts...I hate doing the work, but it only has to be done once and it lasts forever. I will have pics soon, but I polished my Whipple SC, it took me three seriously greuling days, but it looks sweeeet

 

I agree with Ryan.The wenol is great and I have used a polishing cloth on a drill on some wheels.You can make an adapter for the drill.

Thanks,
Mike

 

So basically the key is something that spins faster than I can rub it out by hand? I have a Dremel but it's an older 1 speeder. It has too high an rpm to polish. I need to pick up the model with different speeds. By the way, I do have the Dremel polishing kit.