View Full Version : frame polishing, thought i'd give it a go...
troutslayer
28-05-2004, 04:14 PM
couldn't be bothered to go out and buy a 'proper' kit for doing it, so i set about the frame with some wet n dry paper and some t cut...
http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/album_pic.php?pic_id=468
not too bad! this is taken when 3/4 done on that side. i've since removed the riveted plate and the fairing mount, and finished it off. i've left the indented bit in the original paint. dunno wether to polish that bit out, or paint it red, or leave it as it is...
still got the other side to do though!
gixer400
28-05-2004, 07:18 PM
looks good. how long did it take? im thinking of doing my wheels and forks
troutslayer
28-05-2004, 10:37 PM
forks are a bugger, cos they get a lot of pitting and theres a lot of hard to get into area's... i did mine, took about an hour per leg, but mine were well manky! the frame (i've still only done one side...) took again, about an hour.
wheels - yuck! i have heard of a technique using nitromorse...
gixer400
28-05-2004, 10:52 PM
whats nitromorse?
cshan99
31-05-2004, 11:46 AM
paint stripper, careful when using it though very very strong.
I was told be a Scrute that you weren't allowed to polish (as in mirror finish) your frame as you cant tell how mush has been tacken off and it is very reflective.
Looks good though.
gixer400
31-05-2004, 05:06 PM
ill get some of that tomorow then. i spent a few hours getting the paint off my forks yesterday and it was very hard and is nowhere near done.im gonna take my time though and get them shining.
gixer400
01-06-2004, 05:33 PM
its not looking too bad right now. it will be much better in a few weks, the forks need most work and i havent even started the rear yet. as for the nitromors. it kinda burns the skin, but does a good job getting the paint off.http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=469
gixer400
01-06-2004, 05:34 PM
[img]http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=469[img]
troutslayer
01-06-2004, 08:23 PM
dude! just take the forks off, use some fine wet n dry paper (1200 grade) and keep rubbing the fork stanchions with it. keep it very wet. it wont come shiny yet, probably go a pale white-ish. once you are happy that you've wet/dry'ed the whole stanchion, then use t cut - apply with a DRY cloth (not wet like the instructions say) and throroughly tcut the whole stanchion... dont rub it off yet, go over it a few more times with fresh t cut, THEN use a clean cloth and rub the t cut off. shouldn't take you long at all.
gixer400
01-06-2004, 09:03 PM
is it difficult to take the stantions off? if not ill do that and get them shining!
troutslayer
01-06-2004, 10:05 PM
leave the stanchions on the forks, but remove the entire fork leg from the bike. much easier than crawling about on the floor.
cshan99
02-06-2004, 08:19 AM
Your not supposed to get nitromorse on yer hands - it burns the sh1te outta them!! :!:
gixer400
02-06-2004, 05:42 PM
yeah. i found that out. also dont rub your ears with it on your hands.
I was told be a Scrute that you weren't allowed to polish (as in mirror finish) your frame as you cant tell how mush has been tacken off and it is very reflective.
Looks good though.
So does it really weaken the frame that much...? I guess that is the reason why not knowing how much has been taken off would be a problem.
hmm... pretty sure i have a painted frame on my ZXR and cant be bothered with the TZR anyway, but might give it a go in the summer.
I was told be a Scrute that you weren't allowed to polish (as in mirror finish) your frame as you cant tell how mush has been tacken off and it is very reflective.
Looks good though.
So does it really weaken the frame that much...? I guess that is the reason why not knowing how much has been taken off would be a problem.
hmm... pretty sure i have a painted frame on my ZXR and cant be bothered with the TZR anyway, but might give it a go in the summer.
Polishing it up wont weaken the frame that much. The problem is that you could grind the frame down till it was only 0.5 mm thick and the buff it all up and you wouldn't be able to tell. Thats what I was told anyway by the scrute at the endurance race.
oh right!
hmm... suppose it's a fair point! Just wondering...
wowzer
08-06-2004, 09:11 AM
it ok to polish the frame n stuff as long as u dont start with a grinder on a rough grade sanding paper. if u use wet and dry paper after paint stripping u can start with 800 then 1000 then 1200 if u want,(it will make it easier to take off the bits that u never got off with the paint stripper)
and if u wanna make it even better u can then use 1500,2000. the higher the grade the more like mirror finnish. i finnished the bits on my bike in 4000! took a while but looks sweet!
forget T-cut this is good but is made for paint restoration to bring the colour back to life by cutting the top layer of paint off,this is y the rag matches your vehicle after polishing any paint. used too often n ya may need a respray.(will take off the paint!)
I WOULD SUGGEST USING 'AUTOSOL' :idea: its in a tube like toothpaste n its made for polishing only about £2.50-3.00 the gold tube is the best i found as they do a silver which isnt as gritty and takes f##king ages.
OH YEH! THE FIRST PERSON WHO CAN MAKE A HOLE IN THEIR FRAME BY JUST USING WET AND DRY PAPER N A BIT OF ELBOW GREASE I WOULD GIVE MY TZRR TO COZ YA'LL BE MORE OF A MAN THAN ME N LOOK SUMMIN LIKE THE INCREDIBLE HULK! N IM NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT U LOT WITH THE BIG RIGHT ARM ALREADY! :lol: U WONT DO IT!
was told before that mirror finish is eligal because can put off other road users due to reflection of light, i think its due to them steering at me bike :lol: oh well **** happens! ive seen a fully polished R1 and a buelle,tank seat unit wheels the lot so i say f##k em!!!! the seat unit would of been dipt cos its plastic.
wowzer
08-06-2004, 09:22 AM
almost forgot to say ya frame looks nice mate bet ya got a big right arm! :lol:
i worked in a garage when i done mine so i had quality tools to help me! 8)
troutslayer
08-06-2004, 11:49 AM
id've used autosol, but didnt have any in he garage, and it was a spur of the moment decision to do it, but i had t cut laying about. at the end of the day, they're both fine cutting pastes, so do a similar job.
i'll take a pic now the bike is reassembled shortly...
(reassembled minus front brakes... still waiting on my trick disk being made, they best hurry up!)
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