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Buffing Your Aluminum Wheel
Buffing Aluminum is making the rough surface smooth. There are as many steps in buffing an Aluminum wheel as there are in polishing a car - rinse, wash, dry, wax and buff. It requires careful planning as well as concentration to achieve the lustrous metal polish. If the wheel is in excellent condition then rinse and wash may be the only steps required but if the wheel is in a weathered condition we can put the buffing machine to use. To get the mirror finish on these much used wheel, we need to use buffer polishers and buffing machines extensively. Strip the wheel The first step in buffer polishing is to strip the wheel of any paint, rust or plating after we clean and rinse the grime and dirt with soap and water. We can use any stripper for the purpose though Eastwood paint strippers have been found to give the best results. Spraying stripper and rubbing with steel wool is ideal to get the maximum benefit. The first application of the stripper may not yield the metal polish effect and stripping may need to be repeated until we get the expected finish. Once the surface is stripped clean we can wash the stripped area with clean water and non abrasive pad. If the wheel is not painted or plated the above process is not required. We can pre finish Aluminum with emery/sand paper or compounds and progress to use of buffers/buffer polishers. Proceed to buffing We can use a series of compounds in the buffing of Aluminum. Often metal polish and buffer polishers are used interchangeably. The grit of the buffer compound can be decided depending on the roughness of the metal in question. We can start from a 400 grit and reach 2000 grit to get the desired effect. Rough surfaces dissipate light and smoother surfaces reflect light. We need to view the metal from many angles while using buffing machines to ensure a regular metal polish. Working at a 90degree angle, we can achieve the mirror finish by using a smoother grit buffer compound with every buff. The buffer polisher process is complete when as many of the flaws have been removed as the combination of buffer polishers, metal polish, and compounds provide. When imperfections have been removed, we proceed to color buffing to bring out the high luster of the metal. Precautions to be taken while using buffers/ buffer polishers/ buffing machines • Dismount the wheels from tyres (should be tires) • Most paint strippers are toxic and may cause irritation and require attention • Use proper safety equipment such as dust mask, gloves and goggles while stripping • Wear suitable eye protection while using buffer machines • Follow safety precautions given with the buffer products • Buff only at room temperatures as frictional heat makes compounds melt • Greaseless compounds dry out; seal in air tight plastic freezer bags • Buffer machines operate at over 2000 rpm and could potentially throw off bits of cloth and compound. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Automotive repair tools and automotive accessories from Eastwood since 1978. The Eastwood Company provides unique automotive tools, paints and supplies, as well as expert advice and solutions, for the classic car restorer and hot rod enthusiast. |
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