Restoration Progress On My 1955 Greenie

[dusty]

How do you folks get all the handles and locks etc to look so much like new. I have gone over mine with green scotchbrite and steel wool but can not get them as shiny as yours. I was looking at Mikes and see how nice they look. Any suggestions?

BarryHe cheats. He has one of those barrels of "elbow grease".

[ddvann79]

How do you folks get all the handles and locks etc to look so much like new. I have gone over mine with green scotchbrite and steel wool but can not get them as shiny as yours. I was looking at Mikes and see how nice they look. Any suggestions?

Barry

This is the post (http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showpost.htm?p=33988&postcount=42) where Mickyd explains how he polished the aluminum. Primarily, he sanded the parts and then polished them. The SS parts are brushed and don't have smooth surfaces so it takes a LOT of sanding to get to that point. Basically, you have to sand deep enough to remove all casting lines, gouges and scratches. I really wanted to achieve that mirror finish but after some experimentation I found it to be time consuming but worse, the butterfly nuts and such become slippery and not as easy to grip in practical use.

This is a set of instructions I compiled when I was looking into it.
11970

I'm not advising one way or another, that's just my two cents.

[judaspre1982]

This is the post (http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showpost.htm?p=33988&postcount=42) where Mickyd explains how he polished the aluminum. Primarily, he sanded the parts and then polished them. The SS parts are brushed and don't have smooth surfaces so it takes a LOT of sanding to get to that point. Basically, you have to sand deep enough to remove all casting lines, gouges and scratches. I really wanted to achieve that mirror finish but after some experimentation I found it to be time consuming but worse, the butterfly nuts and such become slippery and not as easy to grip in practical use.

This is a set of instructions I compiled when I was looking into it.
11970

I'm not advising one way or another, that's just my two cents.
Mickyd did do a beautiful job on his restoration.
The problem with polished alum is it's hard to keep it looking that way.
I wonder if Mike would ever want to do that process over again:D

Dave

[mickyd]

Mickyd did do a beautiful job on his restoration.
The problem with polished alum is it's hard to keep it looking that way.
I wonder if Mike would ever want to do that process over again:D

Dave

Maintenance isn't a problem Dave. They still look PPPPEEERRRRFFFEEECCCTTTTT. Tom K turned me onto NEVR-DUL available at my local Walmart that removes the subtle oxidation on polished aluminum. It's in pad form. Wipe it down once a year and your good to go.

Thanks for the compliment.:) Worked hard at it as you know.

Oh, and would I ever do it again.....ABSOLUTELY!!! It looks beautiful and worth the labor. Just make sure to use power tools vs. doing it by hand. I learned that the hard way. I got pretty fast once I brought electricity into the process.

[judaspre1982]

Maintenance isn't a problem Dave. They still look PPPPEEERRRRFFFEEECCCTTTTT. Tom K turned me onto NEVR-DUL available at my local Walmart that removes the subtle oxidation on polished aluminum. It's in pad form. Wipe it down once a year and your good to go.

Thanks for the compliment.:) Worked hard at it as you know.

Oh, and would I ever do it again.....ABSOLUTELY!!! It looks beautiful and worth the labor. Just make sure to use power tools vs. doing it by hand. I learned that the hard way. I got pretty fast once I brought electricity into the process.
That's good to know she still shines!
Never tried Never Dull before. Sounds like good stuff.
I have a polished alum GMC hitch receiver cover that needs polishing once a month. But it is outside on my truck most of the time.Polished alum kept inside would be easier to take care of I imagine.
I will try the stuff and see how it works
ps
good to here from you again!

Dave