How to achieve satin finish on drum wheel hubs

S

Smartv11

Full member
Location
Meopham, Kent
I've stripped my wheels off the drum braked SF ready for new spokes.

I'm struggling to get a good finish on the hubs, I don't want a mirror finish on the alloy, just a nice clean (satin?) look.

I'm using a polishing kit but its very hard to achieve an even appearance and its getting too shiny! Should I use wet and dry paper 600 - 1000?

Should I give up and go to professional metal polishers for a satin finish!

Paul
 
You could polish as normal, then clean off waxy/oily  residue with brake cleaner and spray with a cellulose satin lacquer to protect.
 
Use a car mag wheel cleaner with phospheric acid in it. Spay it on, wait for it to foam up and scrub with a bristled brush and rinse off with H2O. They'll come up like new. Great for satin finishes like you are after. I used to do my triple cases and barrels and head, everyone asked how I got the motor looking so clean.

Gloves and eye protection is a good idea, cause that shit stings when you get it in your eyes. (pirate) Oh, and if you try this on you motor, a word of warning, it will stain any polished surface white, so be careful where you put it.
 
You will wear your fingers to the bone using polishing compounds and clean linen but that's the only way and after time it's worth it.

Protect it with Wax and dear I say Rust Check while in storage.
 
I put my 350 Desmo crankcases inthe dishwasher, while the lady of the house was out shopping. They came out looking like new. Pots and Pans setting!
 
arp489j said:
I put my 350 Desmo crankcases inthe dishwasher, while the lady of the house was out shopping. They came out looking like new. Pots and Pans setting!
Click to expand...


Now that's living on the edge.. :o :o
 
I can attest to the efficacy of dishwashers on motorcycle parts. Brings up alloy with a nice satin (not shiny) finish and will remove grease and road grime from grubby parts like centre stands very effectively.

No prizes for guessing that I live alone.
 
Kitchen ovens, Dish washers ...etc  when the wife's out - I'm separated now.

But did have a 5 Hp Ingrisol Rand Compressor with a 5'x3' blaster cage.
 
Remember it's the alkaline salt content of the tablets that provide some of the cleaning so maybe worth an extra clean water rinse afterwards.
 
My method is to buy an extra old used oven and a dishwasher from flea market and then use them on garage. Available here quite often for 10? each. Then I don't need to eat my food from tableware cleaned with oil contaminants or bake on oven having contaminants of burnt oil etc. Cleaning them doesn't necessary remove all of the contaminants.
 
Used the dishwasher on Saturday, mixed success as the parts are now thoroughly clean, but slightly dull appearance. So i've re-buffed them with aluminium polish by hand and covered them in ACF 50.

New wheel bearing are in, and off for re-spoking tomorrow.

Paul
 
When I rebuilt my Suzuki Beamish wheels seven years ago I used Rub n Buff on the hubs and rims. Its a wax/ paint mix that you rub on with your finger, leave a few minutes then rub off with a cloth. On aluminium it doesn't peel off like paint and the alloy doesn't corrode, just needs a rub with a cloth now and again.
 
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