Polishing Stainless Steel By Hand

[Alex]

I thought this was awesome, so here is what you can achieve..

source : http://thevapersshed.boards.net/thread/2747/polishing-stainless-steel-hand-pics
Hi everyone,

Just a quick guide for anyone who wants to achieve something like this:

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but doesn't have access to, or the inclination to use, power tools.

What you will need is:


Some wet and dry sandpaper - I used 4 grades (320, 800, 1500, 2000)

Some autosol metal polish

A cape cod polishing cloth (optional)

A rainy Sunday


All of these are available at ebay, except the rainy Sunday but there's no shortage of those!

I wanted to do a nice step-by step pictorial guide but was sabotaged by my lack of photography skills and my camera phone but I think what follows is relatively clear.


OK, heres the item I was working on today, it's a topcap for the fogger v2, note the flat, dull, uninteresting matte finish.

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If you look real close like you can see that the brushed effect is like a series of tiny horizontal lines running around the cap. The first thing you want to do is get rid of those. Use the lowest grade sandpaper (I used 320) and get to work.

I sanded the topcap at a right angle to the existing brush marks until they were pretty much dealt with. Keep adding water to your paper, keep the whole thing nice and wet. This is a messy process!



I got to this stage after about 30 mins:



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I repeated the process with the 800 paper for about 15 mins - this time sanding horizontally:



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Then the 1500 paper for about 10 mins:



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The 2000 paper for about 10 mins:



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That'll do for the sanding. Got the autosol out and gave it a damn good rub for 10 mins:



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And that's me about done, gave 'er a quick wipe with a cape cod cloth and she's good to go:

As you can tell, it's not perfect. I cut a few corners. To get a perfect mirror finish by hand you're going to have to spend more time, use more grades of sandpaper.

It's good enough for me though, if you want really startling results try it with brass, you can slash those sanding times by more than half and end up with something like this:

OK thanks for reading this, hope it was of some use/interest.

Have a great day,

 

[Alex]

Another before and after using the same "technique", this time with an aqua rip off.

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polished up an old 3.1 rip off

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[Hein510]

Nice! Gotta do my KFLP!!

 

[johan]

Very nice @Alex I just love shiny things and Cape Cod Cloth is awesome to maintain any shiny metal, use it regularly on my wrist watches & mods.

 

[Riaz]

WOW you really brought them to life @Alex

(i use autosol on my tail piece of my exhaust, it works wonders!!!)

i might just brush up my nemi

 

[steve]

I use autosol to clean my mods . Polished up the reo yesterday but swear I didnt clean it well enough initially afterwards and vaped some autosol

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[Riaz]

I use autosol to clean my mods . Polished up the reo yesterday but swear I didnt clean it well enough initially afterwards and vaped some autosol

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polishing is one thing, but u needed to wash it off afterwards bro

also, using mutton cloth works wonders when using autosol

 

[steve]

polishing is one thing, but u needed to wash it off afterwards bro

also, using mutton cloth works wonders when using autosol

I did . But not well enough . In the end I had to do it twice . Whats mutton cloth ? I use like a very soft towelling cloth .

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[Riaz]

yip mutton cloth is similar to towelling cloth, its like a creamish colour with small holes in it

 

[steve]

yip mutton cloth is similar to towelling cloth, its like a creamish colour with small holes in it

Okay cool . Cheers riaz . Ill try and acquire some for my next clean

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[Riaz]

Okay cool . Cheers riaz . Ill try and acquire some for my next clean

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i wouldve sent you a pic, but im not home at the moment

wherever you bought the autosol, you should find the mutton cloth as well.

most motor spares should stock them as well

 

[steve]

i wouldve sent you a pic, but im not home at the moment

wherever you bought the autosol, you should find the mutton cloth as well.

most motor spares should stock them as well

Thanks mate for the useful info ! Love this forum

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[Riaz]

Thanks mate for the useful info ! Love this forum

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no worries bro

ive got a decent stash of mutton cloth

if you close to Ottery, pop in by me ill give you some

 

[Rob Fisher]

ive got a decent stash of mutton cloth

I assume the mutton cloth is covering the study books?

 

[steve]

no worries bro

ive got a decent stash of mutton cloth

if you close to Ottery, pop in by me ill give you some

Too kind sir . Or maybe at the vape meet .

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[Riaz]

I assume the mutton cloth is covering the study books?

HAHA nice one

im actually waiting to have lunch before i log off here, then hopefully you dont see me until later again

group financial statements are all that will be in my head

 

[Riaz]

Too kind sir . Or maybe at the vape meet .

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yes sure, just send me a reminder to bring some along bro

 

[steve]

yes sure, just send me a reminder to bring some along bro

Will do . Will do ! Cheers

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[BhavZ]

HAHA nice one

im actually waiting to have lunch before i log off here, then hopefully you dont see me until later again

group financial statements are all that will be in my head

Those are a bit of a pain in the behind, do you have to cover all three statements? for me cashflow statements were the worst. And then still having to account for goodwill when there is a buy over in the group or when a partially owned subsidiary does an acquisition.

Asset transfers can also be a pain, but inter-company and inter-branch transfers were for me the most fun.

 

[RezaD]

I use autosol to clean my mods . Polished up the reo yesterday but swear I didnt clean it well enough initially afterwards and vaped some autosol

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Your first experience with 0% nic??? How was it?

I had a similar experience last night although the product was call M-Type tobacco made by TFA (The Flavour Apprentice)....Actually I think the Autosol would taste better..????????

 

[RezaD]

As for the original post.....that is some stunning results and testament to your patience.....

I think Alex should be given the title of "Polish Master"????

 

[Alex]

WOW you really brought them to life @Alex

(i use autosol on my tail piece of my exhaust, it works wonders!!!)

i might just brush up my nemi

Well I didn't do this yet, but I plan on getting stuck in tomorrow. Got all the sandpaper ready

 

[Andre]

Well I didn't do this yet, but I plan on getting stuck in tomorrow. Got all the sandpaper ready

Awesome, we must see before and after pictures please.

 

[Alex]

Awesome, we must see before and after pictures please.

Indeed.

 

[Gazzacpt]

So this thread inspired me. My buddy @steve was kind enough to give me some of his autosol and this happened.

They were looking a bit shabby.

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