Removing Scratches from Aluminum

[Spargett]

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The cover is polishing up pretty nicely, but it sure make any scratches highly visible. Is there any way to remove the scratches without ruining the aluminum? I don't want to just wing it and cause irreversible damage.

-Scott-

[LOUD MOUSE]

You can use different grades of good (wet or dry) sand paper and then buff the part on a bench grinder with white or green bar compound. .lm

Click to view larger


The cover is polishing up pretty nicely, but it sure make any scratches highly visible. Is there any way to remove the scratches without ruining the aluminum? I don't want to just wing it and cause irreversible damage.

-Scott-

[Goodysnap]

I have found that the red scotch brite pads (Fine) also do an excellent job of taking out scratches and the dull grays prior to polishing.

[Spargett]

Excellent. Thanks guys. I'll post results.

[eyedragaknee]

Start with 320, 400, then 600 and then you should be able to buff it. Put a little dishwasher soap in the water you are using. Just a couple of drops in a bowl and that will help you a lot. Go to 1000 and 1500 if you really want it nice. You CAN't hurt it.

Don't use anything heavier than 320 or it will be a bitch to get the scratches out by hand.

[eyedragaknee]

Just did these tonight. This is only a 600 grit finish and buffed. Not show quality, but better than anything Honda did back then, I believe.

[Spargett]

Wow, excellent results you have there.

I worked on a piece I had tonight. My oil filter cover (CB77). Man it was a pain. I wet sanded with approx the same grits you suggested. Some of those must be really deep, alot of the little scratches remain. I spent about two hours on it. Maybe I'm impatient or doing it all by hand isn't the proper method.

Did you buff by hand or using a bench grinder?

P.S. I'm about to pull the hubs off and strip the lacquer off, the polish them. Hopefully I'll have this all figured out by then.