Buffing Sheet Metal

Polishing aluminum is a time consuming process but can be done with great results.

Buffing sheet metal.

Choose the most applicable buffing compound depending on the work surface material to be polished. In polishing 101 the first video of this series i discuss how to buff and polish metal. See our polishing compound and jewelers rouge chart. How to polish metal basic instructions.

This video covers the theory behind buffing and polishing. Start with the coarsest applicable compound. Sand the sheet metal then apply a cutting compound and use a rotating buffing tool to polish the piece. When i turned my tardis model into an infinity box i used some pieces of polished aluminum for some of my mirrors.

Galvanizing metal is the process of dipping it in a solution of molten zinc. For small items like pots and pans first clean the item with soap and water then apply an aluminum polish or a paste made from cream of tartar. Make sure you have the right tools and the patience to complete all of the steps. If it is possible you should repolish the entire surface of the metal so that there is not one spot that is brighter than the rest of the surface.

For sheet metal start with a clean dry piece. Galvanized metal is a specially made material that provides added protection against corrosion and oxidation characterized by an outer coating of zinc oxide. Metal polish soft rags garden hose wax uses for galvanized metals vary wildly from large sheet metal pieces to small screws that are used in wood projects. You can restore shine.

Once dry the metal usually iron or steel is protected from corrosion and rust. However at the very least you need to polish the area that you sanded to restore the finish. A typical sheet of metal that you purchase from a metal supplier is dull and flat. When you are done you should have a piece of metal that no longer bears any traces of.

In the picture you can see the other side of. I polished that aluminum myself but i didn t polish the whole sheet to a mirror finish. Metal finishing systems l 1 800 747 2637 introduction to buffing buffing is the process used to shine metal wood or composites using a cloth wheel impregnated with cutting compounds or rouges. The surface of galvanized metal is usually shiny but over time the shine can become milky or cloudy.

The cloth buff holds or carries the compound while the compound does the cutting.