Polishing tips?

**placidfemme** · 18th July 2005, 09:30

Hey

I don't own a hog/cruiser but I have a question that you guys will proberly be best at answering seeing as most hog/crusier bikes have a lot of chrome and shiney bits.

I have a silver (not sure what kinda metal it is though) pipe and other small silver looking parts on my bike.

I brought AutoSol polish in the tube that looks like a toothpaste tube... and I've tried polishing my pipe (and other small shiney bits). But I don't know if I'm doing it right, when I first apply the Autosol, it is white in colour, then after rubbing for a while it turns grey/black, and once I'm done my pipe doesn't look a hell of a lot shiner then when I started.

Because the Autosol turns black when applying it, does that mean my pipe is VERY dirty? Should I keep polishing it until it stops turning black?

Any tips and comments regarding this would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

PF

**vifferman** · 18th July 2005, 09:33

That's how the Autosol works, on any metal. Rub the metal with it for a while, then buff it up with a soft cloth. Mix with plenty of grease from your elbows (and knees too, if necessary). Repeat as necessary.

**bugjuice** · 18th July 2005, 09:36

going grey means it's working. Don't do it after a run tho, cos the pipe will be too hot. And I leave it on there for about 10 mins too, let it really dry well until it turns to powder. Then a soft cloth to buff it off.

Anyone know what gets burnt tar off a pipe then, without scratching it up?

**placidfemme** · 18th July 2005, 09:48

Thanks for your replies...

Ok well now I know to rub some on and leave it for a while... I was just putting some onto a cloth and rubbing right away...

*learns something new everyday*

Thanks again

**vifferman** · 18th July 2005, 09:55

Originally Posted by bugjuice

Anyone know what gets burnt tar off a pipe then, without scratching it up?

Plastic scraper, and successive applications of kero. If you heat it first with summat (hot air gun) to soften it, or warm the bike up, that will help the kero to get it off.

**zadok** · 18th July 2005, 10:03

Once I've got my bike nice and clean, I tend to use 'Mr Sheen' polish to touch up the whole bike. Every few days a quick squirt keeps it looking good. I'm more in to maintaining the bike regularly instead of allowing it to get filthy (that's just me).
Whatever the main ingredient in 'Tar-Off' is what you need for any tar stains. Can't remember what it is now, but it's cheap.

**Paul in NZ** · 18th July 2005, 10:29

You need to identify what sort of thing you are polishing.

Autosol (and other abrasive polishes) works by removing the layer of oxide that naturally appears on some metals. It (suposedly) leaves a coating to slow down any more oxidisation.

Hower, you are removing a little material each time and thus it's not such a cool product to use on chrome (at least not regularly)

If it is aluminium (sp) then it's about the best polish bar nothing. I like to apply with a soft cloth until you get the black colour, wipe off with a not so clean cloth and then polish off with a clean dry cloth.

Cheers

**placidfemme** · 18th July 2005, 10:56

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

You need to identify what sort of thing you are polishing.

Autosol (and other abrasive polishes) works by removing the layer of oxide that naturally appears on some metals. It (suposedly) leaves a coating to slow down any more oxidisation.

Hower, you are removing a little material each time and thus it's not such a cool product to use on chrome (at least not regularly)

If it is aluminium (sp) then it's about the best polish bar nothing. I like to apply with a soft cloth until you get the black colour, wipe off with a not so clean cloth and then polish off with a clean dry cloth.

Cheers

Thank you

I now know what I was doing wrong... no wonder I couldn't get it to shine all bright... Sam was sitting there laughing at me...

ME: Damn shit autosol crap isn't work *rub rub rub rub rub x 100000*
SAM: haha! keep going
Me: *rub rub rub rub x 10000* Grrrrr
Sam: Keep going

lol

**isDeadly** · 18th July 2005, 11:41

Steelo Pads are the ultimate in bringing a shine out on any blemeshed metal. Trust me.

**Waylander** · 18th July 2005, 11:44

Originally Posted by placidfemme

Thank you

I now know what I was doing wrong... no wonder I couldn't get it to shine all bright... Sam was sitting there laughing at me...

ME: Damn shit autosol crap isn't work *rub rub rub rub rub x 100000*
SAM: haha! keep going
Me: *rub rub rub rub x 10000* Grrrrr
Sam: Keep going

lol

Must... resist... dirty... thoughts!!!

**bugjuice** · 18th July 2005, 11:50

Originally Posted by isDeadly

Steelo Pads are the ultimate in bringing a shine out on any blemeshed metal. Trust me.

on polished metal, that'd scratch the crap out of it, wouldn't it..??

**placidfemme** · 18th July 2005, 11:52

Originally Posted by Waylander

Must... resist... dirty... thoughts!!!

lol I was waiting for a comment on that

You resisted well young grasshopper

**isDeadly** · 18th July 2005, 11:54

Originally Posted by bugjuice

on polished metal, that'd scratch the crap out of it, wouldn't it..??

Yea, You'd think that - if you run it with the "grain" of the metal it comes up nice'n shiny, you just have to buff the metal afterwards with some polish to remove the microparticles of the steelo, so that it wont spark up rust.

**Big Dave** · 18th July 2005, 12:12

You are on the right track with the autosol - it is the best polish for a motorcycle. Meguiars and Mothers make good products too.
Except for putting on your exhausts - it will cause them to discolour when it burns on. Use it only occasionally as a last resort on pipes.

everywhere else it give an outstanding result - the more you use it the less black it turns.

If you are really serious (ly anal) then you use a dremel tool and buffing pad and it comes up bewdiful

**bugjuice** · 18th July 2005, 12:19

Originally Posted by isDeadly

Yea, You'd think that - if you run it with the "grain" of the metal it comes up nice'n shiny, you just have to buff the metal afterwards with some polish to remove the microparticles of the steelo, so that it wont spark up rust.

mine is a clean buff/mirror type polish.. no grain in it, aside from the scratches of stones pinging past... but I know what you mean