Need help with final caliper polishing!
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: RTP, NC
Need help with final caliper polishing! I got them 99% done and they look... good <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> Nice and smooth. I just got a polishing kit for my dremmel tool, but it didn't come with directions <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> so I'm not sure what to use last. I tried one of the cloth bits with some of the polishing compound (which is hard unless you use the bit above 10000 rpms...), but it didn't make the claiper shine. I tried the stiff bristle attachment and the steel bristle attachement with/without polishing compound and some parts would shine for a while, but would become cloudy if I ever went over it again <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> Parts of it shines more than before, whereas most of it was as dull as it was before I started. I really don't know what I need to do to get them to shine like a mirror <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> Is there a web page or something I'm missing?
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Nawf Carolina
Re: Need help with final caliper polishing! Brandon did a write up on how to do it.
Brandon B's Polished Caliper Write up
I used it to go by when I did mine. I went up to 2k grit paper when I did mine. You don't really have to, but that's how you get the "mirror" finish. Also I use a angle grinder with a buffing wheel and the tripoli compound and then follow with some mothers aluminum polish to finish it off. Mine have been done for 2 months and still look like they did the day I finished them. Good luck. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
Brandon B's Polished Caliper Write up
I used it to go by when I did mine. I went up to 2k grit paper when I did mine. You don't really have to, but that's how you get the "mirror" finish. Also I use a angle grinder with a buffing wheel and the tripoli compound and then follow with some mothers aluminum polish to finish it off. Mine have been done for 2 months and still look like they did the day I finished them. Good luck. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: RTP, NC
Re: Need help with final caliper polishing! </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">High Polished Calipers: To get a high shine on the calipers, I used a cotton buffing wheel and Tripoli Compound. The calipers need to be very smooth for them to look right. Several times I had to go back over a few areas so they looked good when polished. If the areas weren't completely flat, they trapped compound and appeared dull and black. I used the cotton wheel mounted to an electric drill. I started out using a cordless drill, but the juice ran out faster than it could be recharged. The tripoli will be hard as a brick. You just get the cotton wheel spinning and hold the tripoli to it. The heat of the wheel will soften it enough for it to transfer to the wheel. Just push the polish up from the tube and hold the wheel to it. I applied the compound several times until I was happy with the shine. In between applications, I wiped off the excess polish with a rag. Let the compound do the work. There really isn't any need to apply heavy pressure. If you don't have a high shine after several applications, just keep applying it. They will shine up. I use Mother's Metal polish to keep them looking good. They do get dirty and water spotted. When I have the wheels off the car, I use the metal polish. Otherwise I just clean them with a rag through the wheel spokes. If you clean the water and dirt off of them, they look almost as good as when they are freshly polished. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is what I was looking for... Thanks! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
