Polishing tunnels. A bit of advise.

[toddt]

Nice work on the sleds, also alot of great advise.

 

[Tuesday]

I am confused about the orbital sander- are people using a powered sander to sand or are they sanding it by hand?

Also are you considering the power ball a powered polisher?

Some of the google hunting came up with some very expensive tools. What is reasonable to spend on tools for this project? Or is it just hand wet sanding following with the power ball and elbow grease?

 

[chevmal67]

Some of the google hunting came up with some very expensive tools. What is reasonable to spend on tools for this project? Or is it just hand wet sanding following with the power ball and elbow grease?

have you checked out cubbys advise as mentioned earlier? in his faq's he mentions a buffing wheel kit for around $10 at sears. he has a good method of polishing, and it doesn't cost all that much either. and yes, it does take work, no matter what way you do it! but its worth it imo!

 

[Tuesday]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00928650000P

 

[yammiman]

I'm polishing the tunnel on my sled and I have some questions for Cubby or who else wants to chime in;
-are you guys polishing the whole tunnel with a 4" wheel - if so, how are you getting into the tight areas and where the vertical part meets the footrails? - I'm doing the tight areas by hand but I'm not getting the same lustre in those areas as I'm getting with the wheel - I have about every product in my cabinet, Mothers, Nuvite, Simechrome, Fitz...they all give the same results with the wheel but can't quite get it by hand.. I did the whole wet sand thing, 400, 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000

 

[lammarwell]

Use a small Mothers Power Ball for the tight areas

 

[eightpilot]

The Mothers Power Cone works well too...8

 

[TVBrian]

I used a 4inch for the sides, a 2 inch for the running boards and a mushroom top for the other areas. I used Busch Aluminum Polish.

 

[SledFreak]

Nice work dude... Did you wet sand...

 

[TVBrian]

yup... 1000 & 2000, then polished 3 times on the sides and 2 times on the boards. Sled had only 500km on it, so the tunnel was mostly like new, other than a few small scratches.

 

[yamahahaha]

What if I were to wet sand my tunnel and clear coat it after. Would it be shinny?

 

[shadow44]

What if I were to wet sand my tunnel and clear coat it after. Would it be shinny?

I don't think that would work out, not sure if the clear coat would adhere properly...and probably alot more work to do. Once you get the tunnel polished it pretty much stays that way...you do have to touch it up every now and then but it's like a 30 min job. Alot of guys swear by Zoop Seal, I use Zaino Clear seal and it holds up pretty good....I only toughed up my F7 tunnel once during the season...and only cause the exhaust side had a hazy oil film on it ( but it was still shiney )

 

[Superman]

This tunnel polishing is easy. Just about brought a tear to my eye when the kids asked if they could do some polishing.

 

[Apex809]

Superman! what kind of buffer are you using there and where did you get it?

 

[Superman]

Mother's from a local auto parts. Jims Alpine Auto. But Advanced Auto has them also. I also have one that is shaped like a cone from Mothers.