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best way to polish metal?

Vengeance

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2012
1,990
138
63
Keswick, ON
Guess you forgot to bring the stuff eh Tim? :)

If you want to drop by some other time just let me know, my door is always open.
 

Vengeance

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2012
1,990
138
63
Keswick, ON
Although his post does start off with

Brian Kelly said:
Re-graining ball guides....I think I'd rather be kicked in the nuts. Yes, yes I would.

So if you enjoy being kicked in the nuts go to town :)

I was at one point thinking about offering metal polishing services since I have the proper tools and supplies, but I'm too lazy and critical of my own work, so I'd rather just offer to help people out instead :) That way if something doesn't turn out exactly as expected, you get what ya pay for :mrgreen:
 

cdnpinballer

Member
Nov 15, 2012
342
13
18
I've had good success using a product called Autosol to polish metal by hand.

No buffer required and not much elbow grease either.
 

Chris Bardon

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2012
1,307
167
63
Mississauga, ON
I've just used some stuff that I got from Marco a while back (NevrDull), and it's pretty good for doing rails and ball guides. Not as good as what you'll get with a buffer, but at least better than doing nothing to them at all.
 

superjackpot

Active Member
Nov 19, 2012
342
45
28
Mississauga, ON
A buffing wheel was the way I used to buff all metal... Remove a bunch of parts and go into the garage with compound(s) in hand and work the cloth wheel.

Since then I found that for regraining ball guides, ball troughs, metal ramps... even touching up wire gates that have lost their lustre, or controlled gates with rusty flaps the sanding pads are awesome. I still use the cloth wheel, but not all the time.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/glit-sanding-pads-3-pk-0542186p.html#.UyUB0T9dUn8

Pads are just that much quicker, and often you don't even have to remove the parts. I've carefully done ball guides and metal ramps in game after taking some time to protect the PF. It really depends on whether you are stripping the PF in the first place, or doing some touch ups. Of course it's always best to remove the part from the game and work it on the bench. The sponge pads work great on curved parts, fold nicely into places like ball troughs, and they seem to last a long time. Price is right too.
 

ALJO

Active Member
Apr 6, 2013
384
74
28
St.Romuald
I use 4 different methods to polish metal depending on the piece and condition of the piece as well.
I soak overnight rusted screws and pinball legs in Evapo-Rust (see pic).
If the the metal part is in not bad condition like brass parts for example (tilt mecanism), I only use a polishing paste (see pic)
If the metal part is quite large or big and especially if it's stainless steel, I use a sander and start with 320 grit sand paper and go through 400, 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000 grit sand paper.
I used this method on my BR side rails and lock down bar, check the results on the the pics.
And lastly use the buffing wheel method also.....
http://www.maaca.org/download/file.php? ... &mode=view
http://www.maaca.org/download/file.php? ... &mode=view
http://www.maaca.org/download/file.php? ... &mode=view
http://www.maaca.org/download/file.php? ... &mode=view
http://www.maaca.org/download/file.php? ... &mode=view