Cleaning swingarm, what's best?

[insomnia01]

I'm stripping down my BB for a freshup & wondering whats a good/best product & method of cleaning the swingarm, rims are being powder coated & brake calipers are been painted so looking for a showroom finish. Autosol maybe?

[HenryDorsetCase]

Why not powder coat it?

[insomnia01]

Why not powder coat it?

was thinking of doing that IF the cleaning process doesn't come up to what I'm looking for, the swingarm looks in good condition so I thought about giving it a really good clean first then take it from there. I've heard about giving it a good clean with engine degreaser then brush clean with mag cleaner, any other methods?

[imdying]

Vapour blasting.

[skippa1]

​the misses and a stick to motivate her

[bogan]

What finish is it currently? painted? cast? extruded/welded?

[FJRider]

I'm stripping down my BB for a freshup & wondering whats a good/best product & method of cleaning the swingarm, rims are being powder coated & brake calipers are been painted so looking for a showroom finish. Autosol maybe?

HOT soapy water ... with a little dish washing liquid for cleaning.

Autosol is an abrasive cutting paste. Brasso is a finer cutting liquid. A coat of polish (or clear) after using either is needed to "Seal in" the shine ... otherwise it will dull quickly. (back to square one then)

[insomnia01]

Vapour blasting.


thought of doing the Hydrograhics thing on the swing arm & wheels as that would look cool :2thumbsup unsure of pricing though



What finish is it currently? painted? cast? extruded/welded?

Alloy finish straight from the factory, I thought about painting it as well but leaving some clean alloy on scooter with newly painted fairings would look mean , I'll post up a pic of swing arm later

[bogan]

Alloy finish straight from the factory, I thought about painting it as well but leaving some clean alloy on scooter with newly painted fairings would look mean , I'll post up a pic of swing arm later

Autosol then, that shit is magic.

[pete-blen]

for casting with the rough surface...
heat them with a heat gun... oven cleaner..
after a few hours scrub with a srcubbing brush & hot water...

[insomnia01]

came up ok with degreaser & elbow grease, getting it powder coated now along with the frame 300236300237

[sil3nt]

came up ok with degreaser & elbow grease, getting it powder coated now along with the frame 300236300237You missed a spot.

[insomnia01]

tar sticks pretty good :eek5: had to scrap it off in the end which made it look a little better than whats in the pics, pick up wheels & subframe from powder coaters tomorrow :woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[TLDV8]

for casting with the rough surface...
heat them with a heat gun... oven cleaner..
after a few hours scrub with a srcubbing brush & hot water...

Don't forget the good old brass bristle hand wire brush for rough cast.

Sixty year old covers off the Sunbeam.

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[hayd3n]

tar sticks pretty good :eek5: had to scrap it off in the end which made it look a little better than whats in the pics, pick up wheels & subframe from powder coaters tomorrow :woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

butter (i kid you not ) removes tar :P

[nzspokes]

Butter? Im gunna try that.

[bogan]

Butter? Im gunna try that.

Looks like you've tried it before, fatty :eek::bleh:

[Pro Blast 2015]

Vapour blast does and awesome job get in touch with me.

[nzspokes]

Forgot about this thread but im doing the same right now.

Trying to make up my mind to paint our polish.

[bogan]

Forgot about this thread but im doing the same right now.

Trying to make up my mind to paint our polish.

Looks too greebly to get max benefit from a polish. Though it depends more on what you want to do with the main frame, as they generally look a bit shit if they are done in different finishes.

[bogan]

Vapour blast does and awesome job get in touch with me.

How? I too am in Palmy North and may require a frame soda blastered shortly... Do you have a website or email?

[nzspokes]

Looks too greebly to get max benefit from a polish. Though it depends more on what you want to do with the main frame, as they generally look a bit shit if they are done in different finishes.
Agreed. It would need a deep rub back to get a good finish. And I would only do the smooth surfaces not the rough at the front which cant be seen anyway.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk

[Shaun Harris]

Forgot about this thread but im doing the same right now.

Trying to make up my mind to paint our polish.



I would give it a good going over with AUTOSOL and see the result after that, it may be good enough for you?

[Shaun Harris]

How? I too am in
NORTH PALMESTON and may require a frame soda blastered shortly... Do you have a website or email?


Fixed it for ya

[insomnia01]

Trying to make up my mind to paint our polish.

Gave mine a good cleaning before having it powder coated, came up well

[bogan]

It would need a deep rub back to get a good finish.

Phrasing...


I would give it a good going over with AUTOSOL and see the result after that, it may be good enough for you?

Autosol will just make it shinily rough, need to smooth it out first. Raplock surface conditioning pads are the tits for that.


Fixed it for ya

??? Too much milo today, I'm southern palmy north anyway.

[Shaun Harris]

Phrasing...



Autosol will just make it shinily rough, need to smooth it out first. Raplock surface conditioning pads are the tits for that.



??? Too much milo today, I'm southern palmy north anyway.


I guess I must have MISSED the part where the OP asked how to Polish his swingarm then. I thought he was looking at cleaning it up immaculate like. Which the Autosol will do.

[bogan]

I guess I must have MISSED the part where the OP asked how to Polish his swingarm then. I thought he was looking at cleaning it up immaculate like. Which the Autosol will do.

Yeh, you did, it was even in the bit you quoted.

And autosol won't clean up a shit surface to immaculate condition; it just makes it shiny; which looks fucking stupid if it just highlights all the marks on it.

[Shaun Harris]

Yeh, you did, it was even in the bit you quoted.

And autosol won't clean up a shit surface to immaculate condition; it just makes it shiny; which looks fucking stupid if it just highlights all the marks on it.



My bad then

[nzspokes]

Phrasing...

Autosol will just make it shinily rough, need to smooth it out first. Raplock surface conditioning pads are the tits for that.


Whats this Raplock Surface pad of which you speak?

Im new to the world of polishing. Which I have decided to have a go at. If it sucks i will get it painted.

Already hit it with some sandpaper to get the worst of and my plan was to just keep going up in grades of paper until I get to 1000grit then polish it.

But open to better ways.

Wont be touching the rough cast part but may try the oven cleaner idea on it.

[bogan]

Whats this Raplock Surface pad of which you speak?

Im new to the world of polishing. Which I have decided to have a go at. If it sucks i will get it painted.

Already hit it with some sandpaper to get the worst of and my plan was to just keep going up in grades of paper until I get to 1000grit then polish it.

But open to better ways.

Wont be touching the rough cast part but may try the oven cleaner idea on it.

http://www.euromarc.co.nz/category.aspx?cid=286

I haven't tried 3D Trizact Sanding Disc so if you get some let me know how they go.

Rap locks go on an angle grinder mounted backing plate (quarter turn to change discs, hence the name) and finish up to a pretty reasonable level, I go from fine raplock to a sisal polishing mop, so it's probably around a 600grit finish from the raplock.

[Madness]

http://www.euromarc.co.nz/category.aspx?cid=286

One of many knock-off's of the 3M Roloc(tm) system & Scotch-Brite surface conditioning discs. This particular one just happens to also fund the Exclusive Bretheren cult church.

HP Wheels are often much better for polishing aluminium. Being a wheel, rather than a disc, you get a linear grain finish, rather than a swirly one. You need a straight grinder though, $$.

[FJRider]

Whats this Raplock Surface pad of which you speak?

Im new to the world of polishing. Which I have decided to have a go at. If it sucks i will get it painted.

Already hit it with some sandpaper to get the worst of and my plan was to just keep going up in grades of paper until I get to 1000grit then polish it.

But open to better ways.

Wont be touching the rough cast part but may try the oven cleaner idea on it.

Low/no soap Polypads do the trick.

String them out and wrap it around a piece of wood dowling ... and use a drill. (PLENTY of Autosol) ... slow speeds and regular changes of the pads ... ;)

[nzspokes]

http://www.euromarc.co.nz/category.aspx?cid=286

I haven't tried 3D Trizact Sanding Disc so if you get some let me know how they go.

Rap locks go on an angle grinder mounted backing plate (quarter turn to change discs, hence the name) and finish up to a pretty reasonable level, I go from fine raplock to a sisal polishing mop, so it's probably around a 600grit finish from the raplock.

Will these get through the anodizing? Ive got through it on the sides and its coming up ok. The Ano is the hard part at the moment.

[bogan]

Will these get through the anodizing? Ive got through it on the sides and its coming up ok. The Ano is the hard part at the moment.

Yeh, pretty sure they would. Test it out with one of those green scotchbrite pads, if that can mark it, those discs will get through it.

[Shaun Harris]

Yeh, pretty sure they would. Test it out with one of those green scotchbrite pads, if that can mark it, those discs will get through it.

Those discs WILL rip through it

[nzspokes]

Slowly getting there but the finish is a little milky in places. Thinking not enough polish compound?

[Shaun Harris]

Got any update pics man?

[Shaun Harris]

eyerless, what is the rep about to me dude re this thread, No comprendo dude

[Erelyes]

eyerless, what is the rep about to me dude re this thread, No comprendo dude

Your 'North Palmerston' fixed-that post. It was green dude, dafuq you worried about?

[Shaun Harris]

Your 'North Palmerston' fixed-that post. It was green dude, dafuq you worried about?



Not worried dude, was just curious to what it was about. Sorry re the spelling on ya sign in, but it was close lol

[Erelyes]

Not worried dude, was just curious to what it was about. Sorry re the spelling on ya sign in, but it was close lol

Ain't no thang but a chicken wang

[nzspokes]

Got any update pics man?

It came up well, happy with it for a home job.

[Shaun Harris]

It came up well, happy with it for a home job.




Cannot really see it in that Photo dude, would be great if you had one before assembling it again

[nzspokes]

Cannot really see it in that Photo dude, would be great if you had one before assembling it again

Yeah not my best work. Dont always think about taking pics. But happy with it. Already had comments on how different the bike looks to "what is it?".

Its so old its new again. :lol:

[BASS-TREBLE]

On the topic of polishing, is there a trick to 'keep' something polished?

Aluminium tends to go hazy after a while, is there any way to reserve it other than polishing it again?

[Shaun Harris]

Yeah not my best work. Dont always think about taking pics. But happy with it. Already had comments on how different the bike looks to "what is it?".

Its so old its new again. :lol:




LOl, I am piss poor with a camera also. Traveled the entire world a few times, and never taken a photo anywhere

[Shaun Harris]

On the topic of polishing, is there a trick to 'keep' something polished?

Aluminium tends to go hazy after a while, is there any way to reserve it other than polishing it again?


I've always thought of clear lacquer spray, but will be interesting to follow this again, to learn some more info