Cleaning metal??

DrGiggles · 05-11-2009, 08:02 PM

I just installed a cold air intake which is chrome and the rest of my stuff like the air conditioner, alternator, etc... are just grimy, built in dirt and look like crap. (I will try and post pics of what I mean later) I just bought a dremel and was wondering how I can use it, in steps, to polish each one up. I also bought the flexible shaft for the dremel so I can get in tight corners. Which attachments do I use in order to do this correctly? I bought this kit. http://www.utopiatools.com/-strse-42...ies/Detail.bok

DrGiggles · 05-11-2009, 08:22 PM

beaniebmx · 05-11-2009, 09:31 PM

youll want some soft polishing type attachments, usually fabric, and a metal polish.

some of those are aluminum and you can just sand it with sandpaper going from say 400 to 600-800-1000-2000 to get it polished, then use the dremel with polish to shine it up more

DrGiggles · 05-11-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by beaniebmx

youll want some soft polishing type attachments, usually fabric, and a metal polish.

some of those are aluminum and you can just sand it with sandpaper going from say 400 to 600-800-1000-2000 to get it polished, then use the dremel with polish to shine it up more

I will try that. Can I keep the components on while I do this?

Erff · 05-11-2009, 09:50 PM

ya youll just have less access

DrGiggles · 05-11-2009, 09:58 PM

Is there any techniques to polishing these? I mean how I sand them or what I sand them with?

Kovz · 05-12-2009, 11:02 AM

Sandpaper by hand. Then use a polishing wheel on your drill or dremel. I use Blue Magic polish.

beandip · 05-12-2009, 01:34 PM

The AC accumulator will not need to be sanded, just polish it with a rag (mine looked the same way). the AC lines going to the compressor are the same way, no need to sand (if you do sand with a high grit). also it helps to cut a strip of rag about 1" wide and 1 foot long, then rub the blue magic on the tube and wrap the piece of shirt around it once, then pull on each end (like a flossing action) and that seems to be the easiest way to polish those lines.

Quote: Originally Posted by Kovz

Sandpaper by hand. Then use a polishing wheel on your drill or dremel. I use Blue Magic polish.

x6354865 on that, love the stuff.

DrGiggles · 05-13-2009, 05:23 PM

So I got the Dremel 400 in today and some 228pc rotary kit. The problem is they didn't label anything and I have no clue what accesories do what. This is going to be fun. I am going to start polishing my alternator friday if you guys want me to post some pics.

This is the kit I got http://www.utopiatools.com/-strse-42...ies/Detail.bok with
http://www.utopiatools.com/-strse-27...ent/Detail.bok

DrGiggles · 05-13-2009, 05:42 PM

I tried to polish the a/c tubes to no vail. That black crap you see on them in the first picture won't come off.

beandip · 05-14-2009, 01:55 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by DrGiggles

I tried to polish the a/c tubes to no vail. That black crap you see on them in the first picture won't come off.

With sandpaper it WILL come off

. Polishing isnt easy and its very time consuming, so dont give up if the first pass changes nothing, it may take a few more to bring out the shine.

pearldrop · 05-14-2009, 02:08 PM

Steel wool works very well for cleaning those parts. It will give them a decent shine, but not polished. I used #0000

05-11-2009, 08:02 PM	#1
DrGiggles Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 98 Location: User is: OffLine	Cleaning metal?? I just installed a cold air intake which is chrome and the rest of my stuff like the air conditioner, alternator, etc... are just grimy, built in dirt and look like crap. (I will try and post pics of what I mean later) I just bought a dremel and was wondering how I can use it, in steps, to polish each one up. I also bought the flexible shaft for the dremel so I can get in tight corners. Which attachments do I use in order to do this correctly? I bought this kit. http://www.utopiatools.com/-strse-42...ies/Detail.bok
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-11-2009, 08:22 PM	#2
DrGiggles Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 98 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning metal??
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05-11-2009, 09:31 PM	#3
beaniebmx Has Training Wheels Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,465 Location: Iowa User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning metal?? youll want some soft polishing type attachments, usually fabric, and a metal polish. some of those are aluminum and you can just sand it with sandpaper going from say 400 to 600-800-1000-2000 to get it polished, then use the dremel with polish to shine it up more
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-11-2009, 09:37 PM	#4
DrGiggles Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 98 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning metal?? Quote: Originally Posted by beaniebmx youll want some soft polishing type attachments, usually fabric, and a metal polish. some of those are aluminum and you can just sand it with sandpaper going from say 400 to 600-800-1000-2000 to get it polished, then use the dremel with polish to shine it up more I will try that. Can I keep the components on while I do this?
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-11-2009, 09:50 PM	#5
Erff Autobody Apprentice Age: 21 Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 32 Location: Calgary, Canada User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning metal?? ya youll just have less access
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05-11-2009, 09:58 PM	#6
DrGiggles Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 98 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning metal?? Is there any techniques to polishing these? I mean how I sand them or what I sand them with?
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05-12-2009, 11:02 AM	#7
Kovz I RIDE LO Age: 24 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 10,220 Location: Pittsburgh, PA / Youngstown, OH User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning metal?? Sandpaper by hand. Then use a polishing wheel on your drill or dremel. I use Blue Magic polish.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-12-2009, 01:34 PM	#8
beandip I'm Back!! Age: 21 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,991 Location: Somewhere, OK User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning metal?? The AC accumulator will not need to be sanded, just polish it with a rag (mine looked the same way). the AC lines going to the compressor are the same way, no need to sand (if you do sand with a high grit). also it helps to cut a strip of rag about 1" wide and 1 foot long, then rub the blue magic on the tube and wrap the piece of shirt around it once, then pull on each end (like a flossing action) and that seems to be the easiest way to polish those lines. Quote: Originally Posted by Kovz Sandpaper by hand. Then use a polishing wheel on your drill or dremel. I use Blue Magic polish. x6354865 on that, love the stuff.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-13-2009, 05:23 PM	#9
DrGiggles Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 98 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning metal?? So I got the Dremel 400 in today and some 228pc rotary kit. The problem is they didn't label anything and I have no clue what accesories do what. This is going to be fun. I am going to start polishing my alternator friday if you guys want me to post some pics. This is the kit I got http://www.utopiatools.com/-strse-42...ies/Detail.bok with http://www.utopiatools.com/-strse-27...ent/Detail.bok Last edited by DrGiggles : 05-13-2009 at 05:29 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-13-2009, 05:42 PM	#10
DrGiggles Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 98 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning metal?? I tried to polish the a/c tubes to no vail. That black crap you see on them in the first picture won't come off.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-14-2009, 01:55 AM	#11
beandip I'm Back!! Age: 21 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,991 Location: Somewhere, OK User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning metal?? Quote: Originally Posted by DrGiggles I tried to polish the a/c tubes to no vail. That black crap you see on them in the first picture won't come off. With sandpaper it WILL come off . Polishing isnt easy and its very time consuming, so dont give up if the first pass changes nothing, it may take a few more to bring out the shine.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-14-2009, 02:08 PM	#12
pearldrop Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 152 Location: Mount Vernon, WA User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning metal?? Steel wool works very well for cleaning those parts. It will give them a decent shine, but not polished. I used #0000
	[Reply w/Quote]