Polishing/Sanding aluminum

[biker_reject]

Oh hell, the cam cover wasn't even done yet. My mop was used up so I decided to take a couple of pics! The piece for the drill bit was bought at the Home Despot (I just like saying Despot) for $2.95 just like a member suggested a page or so back in the thread. The Dremmel just used the cut off wheel/sanding disk attachment arbor thingy.

 

[GoBears0305]

I finally got around to trying the sanding mop idea. I like it! Beats hand sanding for sure. Just for shits and giggles, I made a miniature one for my Dremmel tool. I have to say, I think this is where the sanding mop really shines (Ha! get it?). I was not looking forward to polishing my cam cover because of its many contours, but the Dremmel really did a great job of getting in those tight spaces. It is kind of tedious cutting paper, though...

i didn't even think about using my dremmel!! Genius!!! i bet the high rpm's really cut down the time too.

 

[dcmspikes]

ok. i am retarded. earlier in the thread its says to cut strips 1" by 2". none of theses mops appear (to me) to have these strips. could someone please post a pic of one strip. thank you im sorry.

 

[biker_reject]

I wouldn't sweat the details. My layers of sand paper just had sort of fringes cut on opposite edges. I folded sheets of sand paper lengthwise into four strips, separated those and then folded those into four roughly equal rectangles. Then I cut the opposite edges into four or so strips. I stacked them together, drilled a hole in the center and stuck the bit through it. When you make the first couple of passes, the layers of sandpaper will look like a ball on the end of your drill or whatever. As for the Dremmel, the larger mops for my drill were too wide a diameter to get into the tight spots in the cam cover. It just seemed natural that a miniature mop on a Dremmel would work. There are still spots too tight for even the Dremmel to get into.

 

[dcmspikes]

I wouldn't sweat the details. My layers of sand paper just had sort of fringes cut on opposite edges. I folded sheets of sand paper lengthwise into four strips, separated those and then folded those into four roughly equal rectangles. Then I cut the opposite edges into four or so strips. I stacked them together, drilled a hole in the center and stuck the bit through it. When you make the first couple of passes, the layers of sandpaper will look like a ball on the end of your drill or whatever. As for the Dremmel, the larger mops for my drill were too wide a diameter to get into the tight spots in the cam cover. It just seemed natural that a miniature mop on a Dremmel would work. There are still spots too tight for even the Dremmel to get into.

thanks reject. i was just confused. i should have just done it up as you said. guess i have something to do this weekend.

 

[slushie07]

So did you use the gator grit paper backed water proof sandpaper or something else?

 

[biker_reject]

I just got water proof sandpaper in 400 and 600 grit. I wish I could have found some cloth backed stuff. I bet that lasts a hell of a lot longer.

 

[SammoT120]

my waterproof paperback stuff is still holding together fine.. lost a couple itty-bitty tabs, but nothin major. Still on my original 2 mops (400 and 600)

S