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making carb bodies shiny again

Fuel System: Gas (Petrol) tanks, Carburators
teazer
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Post by teazer » Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:55 am

Carb bodies are made from a zinc based material and it isn't designed to shine - just to stay dull gray.

You can polish them but it's not really worthwhile for most of us. I have done it on some bikes, but now I just use an ultrasonic cleaner and bench grinder mounted wire brush.

Sascha
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Post by Sascha » Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:09 am

These are non-furious metal so you can use a buffing wheel/pad with non-furous wax and it will shine them up big time!

Dana01
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Post by Dana01 » Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:09 pm

I ran them (lightly) on a bench grinder wire wheel, then hand finished them with 0000 steel wool. They look good enough for who they're for ;)
Dana

1966/7 CB-77 Red of course
1976 CB-550F (project over-budget and under-funded)
1985 GS-450S (Land Speed Racer)

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brewsky
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Post by brewsky » Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:14 pm

I've heard of covering zinc table tops with tomato paste and letting it sit for an hour or so....supposed to shine them right up...never tried it myself, but next time maybe.
66 dream, 78 cb750k, 02fz1, 09 wing

Wilf
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Post by Wilf » Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:19 pm

I'm guessing the acid in the tomato paste works to brighten the zinc, but for my money I'd rather have a pizza and maybe a brew.

Wilf

e3steve
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Post by e3steve » Sat Dec 11, 2010 4:10 am

How about Coke? We've all seen, I'm sure, what that does to a copper coin..... Perhaps the same for Mazak?

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brewsky
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Post by brewsky » Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:10 am

The advantage of the paste is that it sticks to the surface and provides a uniform coverage.
Of course it would be possible to completely dunk the carb in coke...not as easy for a table top.

After reading the contents of tomato paste, I counted around 20+ different acids!....almost afraid to eat it now!...might just stick with the brew

We used to coat pennies with mercury from broken thermometers and they really shined bit I think that might be illegal now
66 dream, 78 cb750k, 02fz1, 09 wing

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