Lancer,

MSC.com -or many others- sell an abrasive polishing compound just perfect for this. It`s got grit in it and you dress a sewn wheel with it and let it dry for 10 minutes. It`s like a big crayon, comes in a lot of grits, but start with a 220, then a 400, then go to a black compound just made for steel, then tripoli, then rouge. It will give you a mirror finish. At that point you can go back and hand rub in a satin finish with steel wool or 600 W/D paper.

Be careful on the buffing wheel, tho!

Or you can do the whole job by block sanding-using W/D paper, and use WD40 for a lube as you work thru the grits. You can start w/ 220, 400, 600, 1200, 2000 and it will gleam pretty good at this point. Theres is nothing like a final rouge buffed finish for a real deep shine.

Hope this helps...

WB

I really do appreciate all the info, especially from you Billy, and if I were going for a mirror finish then I would certainly back up and do the FULL MONTY.  In this particular case though, I am after the look of a World War 2 fighter plane which was a bit on the rough side with just a touch of a glossy shine.  The planes were bare aluminum which were buffed slightly to improve air speed.  Some of the marks and irregularity's in the metal add to the character.

Yonuh Adisi FSO wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-OUT-DENTED-CHOPPER-HARLEY-BOBBER-GAS-TANK-...

ausmerican wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:


No, the frame will need to be cut and rewelded on the back end.