Please help!! Fender polishing

[nik0708]

Hi,

I am currently trying to master the art of polishing fenders to remove spider cracking, scratches etc etc.
I have a water fed DA sander and have used discs ranging from 400 - 3000 grit. I don't have any trouble getting a smooth finish, it's getting colour and shine back that is causing me problems.
I have been using a polishing machine with a number of different foam pads of varying density. I have
Tried using the machine on all of it's speed settings and used a variety of polishes designed for polishing plastic/Perspex.
Can any of you offer me any tips or advice to help me achieve a perfect finish???

Nick

[Headsup]

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/81976-How-to-guide-to-painting-plastics-PICS-ADDED This might help you a little bit.

[swampthang]

I've had good results using Mother's Aluminum Wheel Polish on a Microfiber cloth. I usually just use some very fine steel wool like 0000 to finish sand with and polish it out. Seems to work very good on Yamaha yellow plastic.

[nik0708]

Thanks, I want to keep all my bikes 100% and not resort to painting fenders even though it is a far easier option.

Nick.

[bannedbrraap]

This may sound wrong but it works.....after your done your final sanding, take a heat gun and heat the surface just slightly....the heat will bring the original color back out, then polish it with a good metal polish....will shine like new. I would try it out on an old fender that you dont need first, so then you know how much heat to give it.

[Darius1502]

Nick,

If you are getting it smooth then you are almost there. The hardest part is getting that mirror. A round buffer works best. I use one like this:

206063

1) The next thing you need is to buy some Novus Plastic Polish. You'll want the whole set:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOVUS-1-2-3-Plastic-Polish-Kit-8oz-Scratch-Remover-Cleaner-BEST-VALUE-/151016051415?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23294212d7

2) Put Novus 3 on the plastic. Don't allow it to dry.
3) Get a wool pad and put it on your buffer. Keep buffing until all the Novus 3 is gone. You'll start getting some color back and shine.
4) Next run some water over the plastic to get all the Novus 3 (there might be stray bits left)
5) Get one of these pads: Mothers W9000 Finishing Pad http://www.detailing.com/store/meguiars-w9000-softbuff-foam-finishing-pad.html
http://www.detailing.com/store/meguiars-w9000-softbuff-foam-finishing-pad.html

6) put on the Novus 2
7) Keep buffing at a medium speed until you buff out all the Novus 2.
8) Add more and keep going. After about 2 to 3 times you'll see some shine come back (NOTE: I'll spend this is about 45 minutes or more of work on Step #8 for just a front fender...but at about 20 minutes it will look great!)
9) At point you can experiment with a faster RPM on your buffer. You also can go back and forth across an area repeatedly. I've seen exactly where the plastic starts to heat up. Red plastic will look slightly darker at that point you'll actually just barely melt the surface. That can bring in a mirror shine.

Step 9 is not needed always. Its just something I've played with. if you burr the plastic you have to go back to your 800 grit paper and keep sanding it out. So be careful. This should get you to a really nice place. Here's my work:

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165531&d=1363708362
(that shroud was a NOS shroud still sealed in the bag...I pulled it out for that pic. The fender before was well used and had scratches over scratches and even some gouges)

PM me if you have any questions! I'd love to help!