How to Polish

There's nothing like a super shiny finish on your pride and joy.  The best part of it is that nearly anyone can do it for only a small investment.

With a bit of time and elbow grease, great things are possible.

Anyone can polish nearly any surface with little experience and know-how.
Before you start always ensure you have appropriate PPE - wear a dust mask/respirator, eye, ear and facial protection.  Polishing will get you dirty !
 

Start Here - Prep the Workpiece

Prepping the piece you want to polish is highly important.  Removing any surface imperfections now will mean that when you're polishing it you're not going to be highlighting those marks or abrasions later !

So start with some coarse grade paper and work your way up to 2000 grit in 200 grit increments.  Sanding will also flatten and smooth out the metal, making it easier to polish later.  I use Wet and Dry paper, I find it gives the best result.  The fine grade paper can clog easily, so keep it wet.

Polishing Alloy Wheels?  You should read this

If you're polishing alloy wheels, bear in mind that your rims may a clear coating on them and this will need to removed prior to polishing.  If you have clear coated rims and unsure how to remove then follow these steps.

Firstly, I would recommend that you take the wheels to a tyre shop and get them to remove the tyres from the rims.

Set your rims on a flat, well-ventilated work surface such as a driveway and have a bucket with soapy water. Grab a cleaning brush, dip it in the bucket and gently scrub each of your rims to remove brake dust and grime that have accumulated on the surface. Rinse with water from your hose and allow the rims to dry.

Next you'll need some liquid sandpaper and steel wool.  Supercheap Auto and Bunnings sell liquid sandpaper.  It is like a cutting compound but in a liquid form. 
Apply enough liquid sandpaper to dampen the steel wool and buff the rims to remove any light scratches present in the metal. Liquid sandpaper has a fine, gritty texture that grinds down shallow scratches without digging too deep into the rim.

Wet a rag with rubbing alcohol and wipe down each rim, cleaning off any tiny metal particles produced during the sanding process. Rinse the rims again with the hose to wash away any remaining paint or dirt that might cause your clear coat to bubble or peel.

Now, assuming your rims are in good nick, you can proceed with the polishing process.  If not, you may need to follow the preparation process and sand them.
 

Selecting the Right Buff and Compound

Choosing the correct buff and compound is an important step in achieving your desired outcome different metals have varying characteristics. It is essential that the correct compound and buff are used together to achieve the best results and desired finish.

How to Polish

With the buffing wheel mounted on your power tool and the wheel turning toward you, gently press the compound against the wheel. Don't overload the wheel—unless you want compound flying all over the place and smearing your workpiece. You'll get a better result by applying a little compound more often.  If you overdo it, remove excess compound by running the wheel on a hand file.  This is also a useful trick for removing metal or other debris that can accumulate on the wheel.

After your wheel is evenly coated with compound, you are ready to start buffing. Here are a few tips to help you achieve stunning results:
  • Hold your workpiece firmly and move it across the edge of the wheel in a downward angle.
  • Keep the workpiece in constant motion and contact the buffing wheel below its centre.
  • Don’t apply too much pressure! Instead, let the wheel and compound do the work.
  • As you buff, the compound will wear off, so you’ll need to reapply.

Start Cutting

Start with a sisal wheel and a grey Fastcut cutting compound. This will diminish light scratches, surface imperfections and corrosion. Take your time in this stage and don't rush it.

When all scratches and imperfections are removed you should be left with a dull finish.  Use a clean cloth and detergent to remove any residue compound left on the workpiece

 Now onto Polishing

A soft calico loose leaf wheel is ideal for the final stage of polishing.  Depending on what type of metal you're polishing will depend on the compound you use.  Aluminium and Alloys are best to use White (SS) Compound.  Most other metals including Stainless Steel, Brass, Copper, Mild Steel are best to use Green (SSX) Compound.

This will deliver a bright, gloss, mirror like finish.  The longer you polish during this stage, the brighter and better the finish will be.  Once your satisfied with the finish, use a clean cloth and mild detergent to clean off excess residue.  At this stage you may want to apply a metal polish to finish the job.  If you have removed a clear coating you should reapply this to protect your workpiece.

Hot Tip: Don't mix different compounds on the same buff.  If you want to polish different metals that need different compounds, then you're best to use separate buffs for each.

Lastly.... Polishing takes time, don't rush it !