Help with polishing cav slabs please

[novamadcars]

Hi ive stripped one cavalier gsi alloy (cav slab) of paint using nitromorse i would like to know whats the next step to take to start polising it?
also if anyone on here has a set of polished cav slabs please show me your pictureshttp://www.migweb.co.uk/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

[ade]

when you say polish do you literally mean polish the alloy in bare metal?

Not sure what the composition of the alloy is but I'd say diamond cut them but I dont know if the alloy theyre made of is suitable...

Ade

[novamadcars]

i just want a diy polished look

[lj]

wire brush in grinder? possibly...

[novamadcars]

what would i use on the gringer a flap wheel? what about the hard to get places with a grinder though?

[lj]

if u go to halfrauds you can buy wire wheels for grinders mate.... have a look... get most off i would of thought....

[belly257]

i think a flap wheel in a grinder will mark the alloy best off useing a wire brush end in an electric drill and being carefull :)

[novacabrio]

Start off with a heavy grit wet and dry and work your way down to a very fine grit like 1200 or 1500, then get a machine polisher onto them

[craig green]

As Cabrio says. Wire brushes will reap the surface totally.

There is a GSi kitted Red mk3 Cav hatchback local to me with mirror polished Cav slab rims, looks good. Show us when its done.

Btw; ebay is good for cheap polishing kits, soap & mop wheels etc.

[novamadcars]

Thanks lads i think i will go with cabrio on this.
Yes once done i will upload some pictures There not going on a nova as i dont own one anymore

[mikey14sr]

Be prepared for a sore elbow! To get a good result means lots of hard work.

[novamadcars]

Im willing to put it in mikey as my mk1 golf's not going to be ready for a while yet

[peester]

good luck mate.. im doing summat similar with my slabs, but getting a company to do it properly..

polished a wee too blingy for me, but could look like this when done...
*ah bum. ' t bucket is down..

[novamadcars]

i know poxy maitenance lol

[novacabrio]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/electric-sheet-sander_W0QQitemZ320213789617QQihZ011QQcategoryZ207 82QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

may come in handy

[novamadcars]

Thanks mate i have one of those. Anyone know what grits of paper i should use?

[novacabrio]

start with 500 and work your way throw every grade down to 1500 or 1800 then some autosol on a buffer

[novacabrio]

mind you, metal polishers usualy only charge about ?30 per wheel

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=metal+polisher&near=Kent&fb=1&view=text&sa=X&oi=local_group&resnum=4&ct=more-results&cd=1

[novamadcars]

mind you, metal polishers usualy only charge about ?30 per wheel

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=metal+polisher&near=Kent&fb=1&view=text&sa=X&oi=local_group&resnum=4&ct=more-results&cd=1

Ill have a look in to this as it will be easyer

[craig green]

then some autosol on a buffer

Autosol is abrasive though. Great on chrome but too harsh for Alloy IMO. Use a liquid polish like Brasso. less work & better ultimate shine.

[novamadcars]

craig are you on about this stuff?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-X-150ML-BRASSO-METAL-POLISH-LIQUID-BRAND-NEW-STOCK_W0QQitemZ160205960902QQihZ006QQcategoryZ1170 2QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem.

[walshc]

I did this quide on another site, might help you a little :) http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=92887

[novamadcars]

Thanks walshc im actully a member of that forum (1stgolf) and ill have a look through that later on.
Anyway i had a few spare hours today so i though i would get started on one wheel I know ive still loads to do on this wheel but heres some pictures anyway.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b71/novamadcars/ebay1273.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b71/novamadcars/ebay1277.jpg

[dannyb]

Try the 'filament' type drill attachments (see below)

http://www.silverlinetools.com/shop/POWERTOOLACC./DrillAccessories/d34/sd209

You can get in all the gaps, they are easy use accurately and they are cheap. I used one on the polished lip on the Audi's Ronal alloys and they came up a treat, ready to be polished out to a perfect finish before lacquer.

[peester]

.. i have a question..

what does one do with the plastic centre caps then.. if polishing such a wheel?
find the shineiest paint?..

[Stoo]

good call peest

i know you can get plastic chromed

[peester]

chromed is waaay blingier than polished..
there is a 'chrome paint' -its crap, compared to chrome, but is quite shiney/reflective for cheap paint.. sell it at halfords..
might look ok against the polished wheel..?

[Stoo]

or you could do the centres matt black with the emblem picked out in the cars colour??

[peester]

ide actually, if i could be ****d; get a new / custom badge made of metal made up, (using original plastic as a template) get it polished up - hey, it'd make a change.. people would go 'wow'.. high 5

[Stoo]

good shout

[novamadcars]

Thanks for the info.
I was going to paint the center caps the same colour as my mk1 golfs going kawazakie green.

[hybridturbo]

Did 40 mins on one of my cesaros tonight

Wasnt as hard as i thought lol

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c139/gsijoe/DSC00270.jpg